INTO THE DARKNESS

Synopsis

Through a family and the relation between father and son, the film describes the dilemmas of the danish population during world war ii. like the government, the farmers and the industry, the father, a successful owner of a big electronics factory, tries to make the best of the situation to keep the wheels rolling. however, this leads him into a problematic collaboration with the germans. his son, on the contrary, reacts against the increasing oppression and persecution of jews and communists by joining the rising resistance movement.

Director’s bio

Born 8 April, 1944. Graduate of the National Film School of Denmark, 1969. Father of director Nicolas Winding Refn. Anders Refn has had an unusual career as a director of features and TV series and editor of more than 35 features as well as a long line of shorts and documentaries. In addition, he has often worked as assistant director and technical director. He worked closely with Lars von Trier as editor of ‘Breaking the Waves’ (1996) and ‘Antichrist’ (2009) and as assistant director of ‘Dancer in the Dark’ (2000), ‘Dogville’ (2003) ‘Melancholia’ (2011), ‘Nymphomaniac’ (2013) and ‘The House That Jack Built’ (2018).

Refn made his directorial debut with the police film ‘Copper’ (1976), a huge critical and audience success. Like his next three films, it is about a temperamental, self-destructive man headed for his own downfall. Later followed ‘The Baron’ (1978) and ‘Black Harves’” (1993), historical dramas painted in broad strokes, and ‘De flyvende djævle’ (1985), a circus melodrama with an international cast. Refn’s pioneering TV series ‘Een gang strømer…’ (1987) builds on his debut feature, its rule-breaking editing anticipating the unconventional narrative form of “Breaking the Waves”. Refn also created the concept for one of the biggest Danish hit TV shows of the nineties, ‘Taxi,’ which ran in 56 episodes (1997-99). Refn in 2004 was awarded an Honorary Bodil Award for his overall achievement in Danish film.