Better Times

I have seen three of the 2005-2006 series while in Denmark. They are just fantastic! Even though my understanding of rapidly spoken Danish is still "under construction" to some degree, the human emotions, the attention to period details in both costumes and set design, and a top shelf script, make the series a delight even to "udlændinge". I would encourage anyone enjoying great dialog, wonderful acting, and terrific script writing, to try to catch this series. Some of Denmark's best actors are in this series, so fans of Danish film will recognize at least some of the principals. If you have been put off by the spare style of the "Dogme" school of film making, this is much more traditional in its "look".

Why, why why?

The concept is great, the acting decent. Even the cinematography works. But the scriptwriting is so sickening that it the whole series deteriorates into a painful farce of both glorifying and gratifying tributes to the great achievements of the Danish Social Democrats and an almost obsessive description of the moral decadence, corruption and demise of the "upper" classes.

Had this production come out of North Korea, the DDR or even the Soviet Union, I could have lived with it. Had it been a 90 minute film, I could have forgiven the producers, but this is 22 torturous episodes of badly scripted, incredible and immature propaganda that is unlikely to have exceeded even Stalin's or Goebbels' quality bars.

My advice is fairly clear: Unless you are either very bored or very brainwashed, don't bother with it. Re-arranging your sock draw is more thrilling!

Danish Television and cinema can do and has done far better than this. Why did they ever produce Kroniken with such a cheesy message?

I've seen the whole of the first series and I think it is just superb. It had been billed as a successor to " Matador" which in my view is one of the best TV series ever made.

All expectations have been fully met. Although it is fiction it gives one an insight into life in post-war Denmark , the way people lived a the attitudes that prevailed.

The series is based around a company that produced radios and then very reluctantly , had to accept that television had become a fact and had to start making televisions in order not to lose ground to it's competitors. For those who enjoyed Matador and the British series Upstairs Downstairs , Kroniken is an absolute must.

Even though Denmark has won two consecutive Emmy's for best non American TV series Krøniken is a much better drama series. The family saga covering a period of +30 years of Danish modern history (1949-1970) is taking up politics family values and all the relevant moral and ethic issues of the time.

If you get the chance you should see this spellbinding piece of work.

One of the finest facets of Krøniken is its authenticity. Every detail is authentic and original and you really feel like being at the exact place at that exact time. Amazing.

Actress Anne Louise Hassing (Ida) got her national breakthrough playing next to Anders W. Bertelsen (Palle) who has already established his position as one of the most popular younger Danish actors after a series of sympathetic roles in films and TV-series. Next to them a lot of popular names appear in the series in minor roles.

I have seen the whole of the first series and I think it is a very worthy successor to Matador.

Although fictional , the series gives one an insight into life and the prevalent attitudes in post-war Denmark. It is very realistic with excellent characterization

There are really two stories side by side. One is the coming of television to Denmark and how the various radio manufacturers adapted to it and the other is the development of the characters and the events that transpire in their lives.

A gripping series and I'm just waiting for the second series to be broadcast.