The 78-year-old Asbjørn Hall is admitted to the hospital where he is to undergo a surgery in the rectum. As the doctor discovers signs of cancer, he insists on keeping Asbjørn in the hospital for further examination. Asbjørn feels scared and lonely, but then notices a curious painting on the wall depicting a jumping pig with a Mona Lisa-smile. Asbjørn grows very fond of the pig which he feels is becoming his guardian angel and helping friend in his state of fear and loneliness.
Waking up after the surgery, Asbjørn discovers that the painting is gone and that a Pakistani man called Aslam has been placed in the bed next to Asbjørn¿s. Aslam is a Muslim, and it is his family who has requested that the painting be removed as they find the pig offensive and discriminating to Aslam. Convinced that he needs the pig in order to get well, Asbjørn calls his daughter Mona who is a busy, career minded lawyer. Mona arrives and Asbjørn persuades her to help him have the painting hung back up. An argument evolves between her and Aslam's son who is defending his father.
The CEO of the hospital tries to intervene, but it is not until the doctor arrives and informs Asbjørn that he has not got cancer after all, that the fierce discussion ends. Relieved and content with the doctor's news, Asbjørn no longer feels he needs the pig.
After visiting hours have ended and the ward has fallen quiet, Aslam and Asbjørn start to make conversation. It turns out that Aslam is blind.
Original title | Grisen |
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Danish title | Grisen |
Keywords | Hospitals, Pigs, Cultural clashes |
Director | Dorte Warnøe Høgh |
Screenplay | Anders Frithiof August, Dorte Warnøe Høgh |
Based on | Frit efter novelle af Lars Saabye Christensen. |
Producer | Johanne Stryhn Hørby |
Director of Photography | Jens Schlosser |
Editor | Henrik Vincent Thiesen |
Sound | Martin Saabye Andersen |
Composer | Bent Fabricius-Bjerre |
Production designer | Mette Lindberg |
Appearances | Henning Moritzen, Trine Pallesen, Jesper Asholt, Camilla Søeberg |
Production country | Denmark |
Production company | M&M Productions |
International sales | TrustNordisk / Filmbyen 22 / 2650 Hvidovre / t +45 3686 8788 / f +45 3677 4448 / info@trustnordisk.com / www.trustnordisk.com |
Technical info | 16 mm, 1,85:1 - Widescreen, color, Dolby |
TV release | 23.02.2009, DR 2, CPH PIX Film Festival |
Danish theatrical release | 23.04.2009 |
Cinemas | Empire CPH PIX Film Festival |
Danish rating | Allowed for all |
Companies |
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Production company | M&M Productions |
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Direction |
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Direction | Dorte Warnøe Høgh |
Assistant director | Peter Bækkel |
Assistant director | Mette Kærgaard |
Continuity | Stine Monty Freddie |
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Script |
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Script | Anders Frithiof August |
Script | Dorte Warnøe Høgh |
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Production |
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Producer | Johanne Stryhn Hørby |
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Cinematography |
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Cinematography | Jens Schlosser |
First assistant camera | Jesper Find |
Key grip | Henry E. Williams |
Clapper/loader | Andreas Krohn |
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Stills |
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Stills | Jens Juncker-Jensen |
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Electrical dept. |
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Electrical dept. | Martin Riello |
Assistant lighting technician | Josef Perez Lopez |
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Editing |
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Editing | Henrik Vincent Thiesen |
Assistant editor | Nikolaj Rønnow |
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Music |
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Music | Bent Fabricius-Bjerre |
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Production design |
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Production design | Mette Lindberg |
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Wardrobe |
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Wardrobe | Disa Persson |
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Makeup |
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Makeup | Malene Klitte Jensen |
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Sound |
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Sound | Martin Saabye Andersen |
B-sound designer | Lars Lund |
Foley artist | Niels Arnt Torp |
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Appearance |
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Asbjørn | Henning Moritzen |
Mona | Trine Pallesen |
Lægen | Jesper Asholt |
Martha, sygeplejersken | Camilla Søeberg |
Hammid, Aslams søn | Farshad Kholghi |
Aslam | Kadhim Faraj |
Hospitalsdirektøren | Kirsten Olesen |
Sekretær | Mette Agnete Horn |
Dreng | Nadim Mahmoud |
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Award | Year | Festival |
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Nominated for Best Short Film | 2009 | Los Angeles, Oscar Nomination Screening 2009 |
Festival | Festival date |
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Lithuania Scanorama Film Forum | 2010-11-11 |
Reykjavik Film Festival | 2010-10-30 |
Moscow - Royal Danish Embassy | 2010-04-22 |
Warsaw International Film Festival | 2009-10-10 |
Guanajuato International Film Festival | 2009-07-24 |
Los Angeles, Oscar Nomination Screening | 2008-12-12 |
Type | Source | Author | Date |
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Anmeldelse | Politiken-Fonden | Bettina Heltberg | 2009-02-24 |
Artikel | Politiken-Fonden | Politiken | 2009-02-24 |
Anmeldelse | BT | Jeppe Nybroe | 2009-02-17 |
Artikel | Ekstra Bladet | Karen Thisted | 2009-02-07 |
Artikel | Ekstra Bladet | Karen Thisted | 2009-02-07 |
Anmeldelse | Politiken-Fonden | Kim Skotte | 2009-01-28 |
Artikel | Berlingske Tidende | Ebbe Iversen | 2009-01-23 |
Artikel | Børsen | Ritzau | 2009-01-23 |
Artikel | Ekstra Bladet | Allan Lykke | 2009-01-23 |
Artikel | Kristeligt Dagblad | Ritzau | 2009-01-23 |
Artikel | Metroexpress | Nina Ettrup | 2009-01-23 |
Artikel | Morgenavisen Jyllandsposten | Ritzau | 2009-01-23 |