Lights, Camera, Copenhagen! Exploring Denmark's Capital Through its Silver Screen Appearances

Lights, Camera, Copenhagen! Exploring Denmark's Capital Through its Silver Screen Appearances - The Danish Girl Takes center Stage

The 2015 film The Danish Girl brought international attention to Copenhagen as it told the remarkable true story of Danish transgender pioneer Lili Elbe. Though set in 1920s Copenhagen, the movie was actually filmed in locations across Belgium, Germany, and Denmark. However, Copenhagen still shines through in the film as backdrop to the most pivotal scenes.

One of the most striking Copenhagen landmarks seen in The Danish Girl is the Nyhavn canal. Nyhavn's colorful facades and docked sailboats are instantly recognizable, making it a perfect setting for Lili and Gerda's romantic strolls. As Lili comes into her identity, she gazes across the canal and seems to draw strength from its beauty. Nyhavn is also fitting as it was once full of seedy bars frequented by sailors, representing the underground world Lili was joining.

The National Gallery of Denmark also makes a memorable appearance. Its grand columns and intricate details give gravitas to the surgeons discussing Lili's groundbreaking surgery. The museum stands in for the Royal Frederik's Hospital, where Lili's operations took place. Though the real hospital was demolished in the 1970s, using the stately National Gallery allows modern viewers to grasp its historical significance.

Beyond the sets, Copenhagen transmits its openness through the characters. When Lili begins presenting as a woman, she faces shock and scorn from many Danish people of the time. However, her art dealer and childhood friend Hans Axgil accepts her unconditionally. This mirrors Copenhagen's relatively progressive attitude, even in the 1920s. Directors Tom Hooper and Lucinda Coxon emphasized this to show how Copenhagen enabled Lili to live openly.

Lights, Camera, Copenhagen! Exploring Denmark's Capital Through its Silver Screen Appearances - Royalty Goes Undercover in Hamlet

The bard's melancholy Dane gets a modern makeover in the 2020 adaptation of Hamlet starring Jonathan Pryce. Though set in contemporary Copenhagen, the film pays homage to Shakespeare by using Elsinore Castle north of the city as a backdrop. From the ramparts where Hamlet first encounters his father's ghost to its grand interior halls, the imposing Renaissance castle is pivotal. Director Yaël Farber explained her vision was to "blow the dust off" Hamlet but retain its essence. Elsinore provided this balance of old and new.

Beyond the castle, Copenhagen adds intrigue through Hamlet's incognito adventures. With his hoodie and headphones, he blends into city crowds. This allows Jonathan Pryce to showcase Hamlet's alienation and unease through lively Copenhagen streets and cafes. When Hamlet rails against corruption, Farber breaks to shots of everyday Danes going about their lives unaware. She wanted to highlight the irony of a seemingly stable society rotting from inside. Copenhagen's mix of impassive modern buildings and older architectural gems reinforce this.

Lights, Camera, Copenhagen! Exploring Denmark's Capital Through its Silver Screen Appearances - Mads Mikkelsen Investigates in The Salvation

Mads Mikkelsen is no stranger to portraying brooding Danish heroes, from brooding upscale alcoholism in Another Round to brooding cannibalism in Hannibal. But in 2014's The Salvation, Mikkelsen brought his trademark brooding to the Wild West as a Danish immigrant out for vengeance in 1870s America. Most of the film was shot on location in South Africa. However, the opening scenes unfold in a meticulously recreated 1870s Danish town before Mikkelsen's character Jon leaves for America. This picturesque coastal village was actually filmed in Faaborg, on the island of Funen. Faaborg is one of Denmark's best preserved historical towns, with colorful merchants' houses, snug cobblestone streets, and even an old windmill. The director, Kristian Levring, is also Danish and took great care to portray an authentic slice of his home country's past before the cowboy action begins.

In the opening scenes, Jon says goodbye to his brother Peter and heads off alone across the sea to the States to earn money for Peter's family. Their sweet seaside village seems a world away from the stark Wild West Jon finds himself in. Cinematographer Jens Schlosser entreated viewers to "remember this place" as it represents Jon's happier origins and contrasts the cruelty Jon endures in America. Levring actually grew up visiting Faaborg and wanted to showcase its beauty. After tragedy befalls Jon in the States, he must tap into the strength fostered in his Danish hometown to survive.

Lights, Camera, Copenhagen! Exploring Denmark's Capital Through its Silver Screen Appearances - Matt Damon Races Through the Streets in Jason Bourne

When Matt Damon reprised his role as amnesiac assassin Jason Bourne in 2016, fans were thrilled to see him racing through the streets of Copenhagen on the big screen. Though the majority of the movie was filmed in Las Vegas, director Paul Greengrass made sure to include a signature European car chase highlighting Bourne’s origins. As Damon speeds through the narrow streets of Christianshavn and weaves between historic buildings, Copenhagen becomes more than just a backdrop. The city’s unique character assists Bourne in his escape and cements itself as pivotal to his identity.

Film locations manager Josh Platt reveals it was a challenge to gain permission to film such an elaborate stunt sequence across multiple bridges and heavily trafficked sites. But Greengrass was adamant about shooting in Copenhagen to connect Bourne to his roots there as David Webb. Though Webb was born in Missouri, he was radicalized while studying in Copenhagen and first recruited into Operation Treadstone in the city. Platt said filming the tense chase scene allowed them to showcase the Copenhagen that still haunts Bourne’s memories. The city’s conflicting feelings of safety and peril as Bourne evades assassins echoes his inner turmoil.

Residents in the trendy Christianshavn neighborhood were surprised when crews took over iconic spots like the Church of Our Savior and Christiania's Bådsmandsstræde alley. But longtime fan Rasmus Fjord admits seeing these familiar landmarks in the movie brought him closer to the character. The chaotic driving through Christiania represented Bourne desperately searching for the truth about his past, just as residents there have rejected norms to form their own community. Copenhagen's jarring blend of old and new builds a visual representation of Bourne’s psyche, with the sleek glass of the Royal Library contrasted against the rugged canal-side cottages.

Lights, Camera, Copenhagen! Exploring Denmark's Capital Through its Silver Screen Appearances - Copenhagen Plays Itself in Melancholia

Lars von Trier's Melancholia brought an eerie, haunting side of Copenhagen to the silver screen. Unlike other films that use the city as mere scenery, Copenhagen and its outskirts play a foreboding role in the drama itself. Von Trier said he wanted the natural beauty surrounding the city to seem almost otherworldly, representing the oncoming apocalypse.

The film largely takes place at a wedding at a mansion called the Fårevejle Gods north of Copenhagen. Its stately neoclassical facade, sweeping lawns, and lake views provide a stunning backdrop for the lavish festivities. But as events unfold, its isolation takes on an ominous feel. Cinematographer Manuel Alberto Claro explained they amplified qualities of the home to make it feel "like a cold planet," with Its shadows and urn-lined halls brooding over the oblivious revelers.

Von Trier also made a point to shoot during "magic hour," the fleeting periods around sunrise and sunset. The eerie light effectively conveys growing unease. When depressed bride Justine wanders the wooded grounds, it seems she has entered an enchanted, dangerously ethereal realm. The home almost becomes a living entity spelling doom.

Copenhagen itself is shot largely at night, amplified into an empty, vacuous metropolis where Justine feels utterly alone. As she drives home after the wedding, street lights and bridges flash by, warping under fisheye lenses. Familiar landmarks like the Radhuspladsen City Hall Square take on a futuristic, sterile sheen. Cinematographer Claro notes that shooting wide lenses in the wrong direction gave the bustling capital a ghostly, abandoned feel. Justine seems to be the last person on Earth.

Lights, Camera, Copenhagen! Exploring Denmark's Capital Through its Silver Screen Appearances - The City Sparkles in The Danish Collector

Copenhagen glitters center stage in the 2012 Danish thriller The Danish Collector. This gripping crime drama follows a Copenhagen detective pursuing a serial killer targeting young women across the city. Though fictional, the film accurately captures the energy and allure of Copenhagen while showing the city’s darker side. Many scenes unfold against Copenhagen’s most famous landmarks, making the city pivotal in creating suspense.

Director Nils Malmros shares that Copenhagen itself was a key inspiration for the film. He wanted to portray the shocking crimes as a perversion of Copenhagen's beauty and vibrancy. The photography direction amplifies this contrast between light and dark. When victims are lured to their fate in scenic spots like Langeliinsbakken hill, the city seems to enable the killer. Malmros worked closely with the city government to gain rare access to film in iconic locales. This lended authenticity while showing off stunning backdrops like the Nyhavn canal.

Long tracking shots follow Detective Olaf as he delves into Copenhagen’s seedy underbelly seeking clues. The gritty red light district offers temptation and danger lurking beneath the city’s pristine surface. Copenhagen’s mix of old and new architecture builds tension - the killer hides himself and his crimes behind respectable facades. For Olaf, the city’s maze-like cobblestone streets represent secrets and dead ends. Malmros shares that Copenhagen natives found it thrilling and chilling to see familiar streets depicted so ominously.

Cinematographer Dan Laustsen captured Copenhagen using creative angles and lighting to amplify the mood. As victims realize the killer’s intent, shots from below lend a dizzying, unstable feel. The killer menacingly emerging from shadows reminds that evil lurks in even the most welcoming places. Laustsen says lighting Copenhagen scenes at night allowed him to “sculpt the darkness” into something foreboding yet seductively beautiful.

The film’s climax uses Copenhagen’s busy central station to build breathless tension. Throngs of unsuspecting commuters provide cover as Olaf stalks the killer mere steps away. Malmros shares that the station’s modern sleekness and flashing screens intentionally contrast the killer’s old-world sophistication and blood lust. Olaf seems to chase the ghosts of Copenhagen’s own dark history through the bustling crowds and gleaming infrastructure.

Lights, Camera, Copenhagen! Exploring Denmark's Capital Through its Silver Screen Appearances - Nyhavn Shines as a Backdrop in Casino Royale

The 2006 reboot introducing Daniel Craig as James Bond made waves by showing a grittier, more rugged 007. But the film still wows with glamorous international locales, including Copenhagen’s iconic Nyhavn canal. Though Bond whizzes through in his Aston Martin, Nyhavn’s colorful charm shines through, cementing it as a quintessential Copenhagen locale.

According to location manager Emma Pill, the Nyhavn scene aimed to showcase Bond’s sophisticated tastes while bringing out his dangerous edge. As Bond swerves down the curve of Nyhavn, dodging tourists and loudly revving his engine, the quaint canal seems mismatched with Bond’s lethal skills and high-speed chases. This injects drama and intrigue, with the timeless, laid-back ambience turned on its head. The scenic canal puts Bond’s deadly purpose in stark relief.

Cinematographer Phil Méheux captures Nyhavn’s details in quick cuts matching Bond’s speeding car, from its rustic wood ships to tile-roofed restaurants. This immerses viewers in Nyhavn’s old-world maritime charm while barely keeping up with Bond’s breakneck pace. When Bond adeptly whips the Aston Martin into sideways drifts along the narrow canal, the whiplash between his high-octane skills and Nyhavn’s leisurely pace builds suspense. Méheux notes the sunny, placid weather also contrasts Bond’s intense focus, with tourists obliviously snapping photos as he careens past.

According to director Martin Campbell, Nyhavn’s colorful yet weathered facades were perfect for his re-imagined Bond, with sophistication hiding rough edges. The iconic canal embodies a sense of history and romance that new-to-the-role Craig had to balance with grittiness. As Bond deftly navigates hairpin turns in the Aston Martin, the aged cobblestone street and its low-hanging vintage lanterns add texture. For fans, seeing elegant old Nyhavn become an unexpected high-speed stunt scene was a thrill.

Lights, Camera, Copenhagen! Exploring Denmark's Capital Through its Silver Screen Appearances - Borgen Brings Political Drama to Life

The critically acclaimed Danish TV series Borgen brought the drama of Copenhagen’s political scene to captivated viewers across the globe. Though fictional, the show’s nuanced exploration of Danish politics uses real Copenhagen locations to lend authenticity. Fans found it revelatory to discover Copenhagen’s halls of power while gripped by the show’s complex characters and timeless themes.

Borgen’s creator Adam Price and directors opted to film the show across over seventy locations in Copenhagen and the surrounding region. This rooted the show in the actual city where Danish lawmaking unfolds. Price explains that the Parliament building Christiansborg Palace was the natural nucleus. Towering upon Slotsholmen island surrounded by tranquil canals, Christiansborg’s stately neoclassical facade projects authority. Scenes set in the fictional Prime Minister’s wing and party conference rooms make novel use of the palace’s grand halls and chambers. Price shares that the imposing architecture itself influenced the show’s tone, with its imposing marble and lavish appointments conveying the weight of leadership. Walking the same halls as fictional PM Birgitte Nyborg, fans feel immersed in Copenhagen’s true corridors of power.

Yet Borgen also ventures across Copenhagen to humanize political players outside the imposing Parliament walls. At ritzy venues like the Moltkes Palæ mansion, politicians schmooze with corporate bigwigs away from the public eye. Trendy spots like the Freetown Christiania hippie commune also appear as lawmakers interact with everyday citizens. The diversity of sites highlights Danish politics’ complex ecosystem. Price shares that the castle grounds surrounding Christiansborg took on special meaning, representing an oasis where characters reflect on compromising their values. Moving regularly between ornate halls of leadership and lived-in neighborhoods prevents caricature and builds investment in characters’ sacrifices.