This year’s edition of the film festival Il Cinema Ritrovato, taking place from June 21–29 in Bologna, will shine a strong spotlight on Nordic cinema. The festival – regarded as the world’s most important for classic and restored films – has selected the series Norden Noir, comprising seven newly restored Scandinavian noir titles from the 1940s and 50s.
The series is a joint effort by the film institutes of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, and the films represent the original dark and unsettling Nordic noir that emerged after World War II – precursors to modern Scandi-crime successes such as 'The Killing', 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo', and 'The Bridge'.
“In a historical film context, this is equivalent to having a film in the main competition at Cannes,” says Tine Fischer, Director of the Danish Film Institute. She also celebrates the Nordic collaboration behind the series:
“It is a Scandinavian triumph and arises from growing cooperation among the Nordic film institutes – not only between archives and cinematheques but also in terms of funding. In light of global events and the increasing pressure on our values, I hope this collaboration continues to grow. We need cultural unity and to strengthen and share our Nordic voices – both at home and abroad.”
Download images from all the films