10th edition CIFF – 10-14 April 2024

Sons of Denmark (2019 Feature Film)

Ulaa Salim | Denmark | 2019 | color | DCP | 120′ | Danish, Arabic | e.s.

Cornered by xenophobia, two young men become embroiled in a devilish dilemma. In response to intimidation, Zakaria decides it's time to act, violently if need be. In Copenhagen, a member of the intelligence community tries to combat the threat professionally.

A year after a deadly bomb attack in Denmark, ultra-nationalist politician Martin Nordahl and his National Movement are leading in the polls. In this climate, 19-year-old Zakaria feels compelled to act to protect his own and his family’s safety. However, to do what he feels is necessary to turn the political tide, he needs to abandon his mother and little brother. He gets involved in a radical organization, where he forms a bond with Ali. The two men are concerned about the current state of the country, which is turning on its own citizens because of their migration background, and decide to act. However, they are both just tools in the hands of people with power.

This political thriller has shades of traditional tragedy and revolves around the question: How do you stay calm when society succumbs to fear and hate? The fact that the film plays out mostly at night, or in places the sun never shines, underlines its dark undercurrent and claustrophobic atmosphere.

Place: The Cinemas 1

Date: 12 April 2019

Time: 17:15

Duration: 1:32

Place: The Cinemas 6

Date: 13 April 2019

Time: 17:30

Duration: 1:32

Year in
Festival

2019

Director

Ulaa Salim

Camera

Eddie Klint

Cast

Zaki Youssef
Mohammed Ismail Mohammed
Imad Abul-Foul
Rasmus Bjerg

Country

Denmark

Editor

Jenna Mangulad

Language

Danish
Arabic

Length

120′

Music

Lewand Othman

Producer

Daniel Mühlendorph Jensen

Production Company

Hyæne Film

Production Design

Silje Dammen

Sales

New Europe Film Sales

Scenario

Ulaa Salim

Sound Design

Rune Kristiansen

Year of Production

2019

Ulaa SALIM (1987, Denemarken) volgde een opleiding aan Den Danske Filmskole. Persoonlijke ervaringen vormen de voornaamste inspiratie voor zijn werk. Samen met partner en producent Daniel Mühlendorph richtte hij de productiemaatschappij Hyæne Film op. Salims korte debuutfilm Our Fathers’ Sons (2015) werd ook al op IFFR vertoond. Sons of Denmark (2019), wereldpremière in Rotterdam, is zijn eerste lange film.

 

Filmography

(selection) Forever Young (2012, short) Min bror/My Brother (2012, short), Det rene hjerte/The Pure Heart (2014, short doc), Vore Fædres Sønner/Our Fathers’ Sons (2015, short), Danmarks sønner/Sons of Denmark (2019)