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DANISH NEWS IN ENGLISH CPHPOST.DK VOL 20 ISSUE 11 1 - 14 September 2017

NEWS Submarine killing takes sinister turn for the worse

BUSINESS

A total rethink? Maersk sale signals shipper is sticking to its strengths

BUT CAN HE EXORCISE THE RAIN? Foreigners making their mark in Denmark

HISTORY How the barrels have kept on rolling down Carl’s bjerg

16 INOUT

Paintings and parties Art exhibitions and making an exhibition of yourself

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200,000 full-time employees boosting employment growth … and now more incentives could be on the way

OR THE first time ever, over 200,000 foreign workers have full-time employment in Denmark – the equivalent of almost every tenth worker in Denmark hailing from abroad – according to a new report from the confederation of Danish industry, Dansk Industri The numbers have taken off in earnest since 2013, when 150,000 foreigners were employed in Denmark. Poles don’t lie THE LARGEST share of the 201,461 employed foreigners come from Poland (26,055), followed by Germany (16,335), Romania (14,177), Sweden (13,600) and the UK (8,442).

Nielsen contended that foreigners are a significant part of the reason why Denmark has enjoyed significant growth in employment figures in recent years. Tax scheme expansion AND THINGS could be getting even better for foreigners looking to stay in or come to Denmark. The business minister, Brian Mikkelsen, has indicated that he intends to extend the socalled ‘forskerordning’ – the tax scheme for foreign researchers and highly-paid employees earning more than 63,700 kroner per month – from five to seven years. The beneficiaries enjoy a tax bracket of just 26 percent (excluding the 8 percent labour market tax). The move aims to help attract and retain international talent. However, not everything

is rosy. Foreigners may find it harder to obtain a number of benefit payments, such as the education benefit SU, in the future. The government plans to restrict access to them, as well as introducing criteria that make payments dependent on how long a person has been actively employed in Denmark. Producing a profit THE TAX scheme will be expanded so that foreigners can use the beneficial tax bracket for an additional two years – but at a raised 27 percent, so the change won’t put a dent in state coffers. Figures from the think-tank DEA showed that the average profit an immigrant on a ‘forskerordning’ brings to Denmark is about 225,000 kroner a year. (CPH POST)

4 More prone to disorders NEW RESEARCH from Aarhus University reveals that eating disorders are more prevalent among ethnic Danes than first and second-generation immigrants. The research, based on over 1.1 million people, showed that the risk of an ethnic Dane developing an eating disorder was about 0.8 percent – twice as high as the risk among first and second-generation immigrants.

Most expensive hotels A NEW SURVEY by online hotel room compare site Cheaprooms.co.uk showed that Copenhagen is the most expensive city in Europe when it comes to hotel prices. The average price in September for the most affordable available double room (minimum 3-star hotel) is 189 euros. Amsterdam and Munich followed while the cheapest was Istanbul (32).

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NEWS

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

ONLINE THIS WEEK A NEW FIVE-A-SIDE street football league for youngsters, which includes ten teams from different districts competing in under-18 and 15 age groups, has been launched in Copenhagen. The ten teams hail from Amager, Nørrebro, Østerbro, Nordvest, Sjælør, Valby, Vesterbro, Vanløse, Bellahøj and Husum.

Priest faces charges A 47-YEAR-OLD priest from Tømmerup in west Zealand faces 30 charges in relation to his alleged sexual abuse of 12 young people at his residence between 2006 and 2016, reports TV2. Included on the charge list are seven sexual assaults on children. Most of the victims were young boys. His trial is scheduled to begin in Holbæk in October.

Traffic warden exodus THE SHOOTINGS in Nørrebro could prove an unexpected boon to motorists who are illegally parked. For the time being, traffic wardens working for Parkering København have decided to suspend activities in the gang-plagued areas, reports Berlingske Tidende. Traffic wardens have also been targeted in Christiania. However, the police can still issue tickets.

Carlsberg’s birthday IN CONNECTION with its 170-year celebrations last weekend, the Danish brewery giant Carlsberg built a CO2-neutral bar at its headquarters on Gamle Carlsberg Vej in Valby. The bar was driven by an integrated wind turbine to which a bicycle was attached, which guests could cycle to generate electricity to cool the beer when the wind wasn’t blowing. Editorial offices: International House, Gyldenløvesgade 11, 1600 Copenhagen Denmark

From Agatha Christie to Jeffrey Dahmer How the discovery of Kim Wall’s torso has made an intriguing crime totally unpalatable BEN HAMILTON

F ANYONE could empathise with how the vilified Danish socialite Claus von Bülow felt when the whole world convicted him ahead of his 1982 trial for attempting to murder his wife, it is probably Peter Madsen. But that is to presume he is capable of empathy. Following the August 21 discovery of a headless, limbless torso – which police have confirmed is Kim Wall, the Swedish journalist who was last seen alive boarding his submarine on August 11 – it seems increasingly unlikely. The identification of the torso on August 23 marked a turning point. Before, the case had held the mystery of an Agatha Christie novel. Afterwards, it descended into the world of Jeffrey Dahmer. The nasty handle NEVERTHELESS, there are some who support the claim of Madsen, who stands accused of negligent manslaughter, that it was

THE PARISIAN-STYLE Café Summersko on Kronprinsensgade is shutting down. Opened by artist Kenn André Stilling in 1976, the owner Sari Beliverdi blamed poor decisionmaking by the management for the decision to sell. The new owner will convert the cafe into a 1980s-style fast food restaurant called Mät 99. The sub that launched a thousand stories

an accident, like Jens Falkenberg, who helped Madsen build the submarine. “When I heard she was dead, my first thought was that she could have slipped on the ladder leading up to the first hatch,” he told Metroxpress. “Behind that there is a door that is always open, which has a really nasty handle on it, which you can bang the back of your head into.” A lot of care to conceal FOR AN accident, a lot of care was taken to remove the evidence. Lead investigator Jens Møller has confirmed that metal parts were tied to her torso to weigh it down. Additionally Møller revealed

the torso had sustained postmortem damage as if someone was trying to release all the air and gases from the body to ensure it remained submerged. Cocaine connection? ANOTHER theory is that Wall was killed because she was working on a story that implicated Madsen and a worldwide drug smuggling ring. An unnamed source wrote to CPH POST on August 18 to present evidence that Wall had written a story on the cocaine trade in the Americas and that submarines are used to transport cocaine. Furthermore, dismembered torsos are the hallmark of South American drug lords.

Capital’s water contaminated Patient authority confirms pesticide presence isn’t a health hazard CHRISTIAN WENANDE

AST WEEK’S discovery of pesticide in the drinking water in the Capital Region and near Vejen in Jutland indicate that the contamination is more widespread than initially thought. Pesticide was previously found in drinking water in Odense, Esbjerg and Slagelse, and the

ONLINE THIS WEEK Legendary café closing

MIKKEL TIMON BEDSTED – FACEBOOK

New kids footy league

1 - 14 September 2017

Danish water and wastewater association, Danva, shut down the Dalumværket waterworks near Odense. However, the Danish patient authority, Styrelsen for Patientsikkerhed, evaluates that the concentration needs to be far higher before it becomes a health hazard. Echoes of Germany THE PESTICIDE found in the samples is desphenyl-chloridazon, which comes from a

weedkiller that has been banned in Denmark, but which was used from the 1960s to 1996 in the production of vegetables such as beetroot and onion. In Germany the substance has been found in 80 percent of samples, and Danva fears a similar statistic could be the case in Denmark. The sample test at Dalumværket indicated a concentration of the substance of 0.14 micrograms per litre – well over the permitted levels of 0.1 micrograms.

Wurzels foil heist ON SUNDAY night, a getaway from a heist in Vordingborg in southern Zealand was foiled by a combine harvester. Police cordoned off the road to take the machinery across a bridge – the chosen route by thieves who had just stolen Viking artefacts from the town’s Danmarks Borgcenter, which were part of the Vikingernes Metropol exhibition.

Uber drivers fined FOUR FORMER Uber chauffeurs have been fined almost 700,000 kroner for illegal taxi driving in Copenhagen in 2015. The city court fined one of the four, who drove over 5,400 Uber trips in 2015, 486,000 kroner, and the others 110,000, 60,000 and 40,000. The case against the four cited tax information obtained from Uber’s headquarters in the Netherlands.

Tivoli brings the heat THE SCOVILLE units will peak on Sunday 3 September when Tivoli hosts a chilli pepper and tomato tasting day. Among the 40 chilli varieties on offer is one of the spiciest chillies in the world, the Carolina Reaper. The first tastings will take place at 11:00, and access to the event is free with the purchase of a Tivoli ticket.

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1 - 14 September 2017

ONLINE THIS WEEK The Danish dream

FULL STORIES AT CPHPOST.DK

Lending Latinos a helping hand MAYRA NAVARRETE

FILE PHOTO

Oi! Norman Mailer! Over here!

Lorena is on a mission

GAINING traction online is a report that the American Dream is more achievable in Denmark than the US. In their book ‘The Spirit Level’, two professors from the University of York demonstrate a clear research-based link between high levels of income inequality and low levels of social mobility – hallmarks of the Scandinavian model of social welfare, but increasingly rare in a country like the US. However, some researchers have refuted the findings. (SH)

A NEW INITIATIVE lends a helping hand to Latin Americans newly arrived in Denmark. “We help with finding a job or even in adjusting to the food and etiquette here,” explained Lorena Lundgreen, a Venezuelan who moved here in 2005, to CPH POST. Lundgreen regularly lobbies Parliament to push for immigration procedures to be more conducive to those from outside the EU, as well as organising conferences and talks. Find out more at franmar.dk. (LS)

French A-kasse interest

An uninspiring thought

WHEN FRENCH President Emmanuel Macron met with PM Lars Løkke Rasmussen this summer, he was full of praise for the Danish labour market reforms. Now it seems his inspiration has borne fruit in something more official. The French Embassy in Denmark has contacted the Danish A-kasse labour insurance organisation Ase to gain insight into how the nation can adopt an economic safety net for the self-employed and business owners. (CW)

More Poles than ever

PIXABAY

ASE

Mais non, c’est potentialet

LEAPFORCE AT HOME INDEPENDENT AGENT DANISH (DENMARK) POSITION TYPE Independent Contractor

JOB DESCRIPTION This position is restricted to current residents of Denmark that are fluent in written and verbal Danish. This is a PERSONALIZED SEARCH ENGINE EVALUATOR position. As a Personalized Search Engine Evaluator, you will be given tasks that are generated from your personalized content based on your Google account linked to your Gmail address that you use to register with Leapforce. Ideal candidates will be highly active users of Google’s search engine and other products; use Google Play at least once per week; use Google+ more than once per month and have more than 11 people per circle and have a Gmail account with web history turned on. Some projects require that candidates use an Android smartphone or iPhone, not provided, to complete the evaluation work. Only Android smartphones and iPhone’s are acceptable, tablets and other smart devices do not qualify at this time.

No trains the safest form of defence

DANISH railway company Banedanmark and national intelligence agency PET have discussed an article in Al-Qaeda’s magazine ‘Inspire’, which encourages its readers to commit acts of terror by derailing trains. Based on research carried out by a dedicated group for over a year, some 18 pages are dedicated to describing how a train can be forced off the track. Inspire previously urged readers to use vehicles to commit acts of terror. (CW)

Deportation shake-up?

OVER THE past ten years, the number of Polish nationals registered in Denmark has risen from 14,000 to 38,000, according to Danmarks Statistic. Meanwhile, the number of Poles here in the past one to three years rose from 1,789 to 5,858. Poland was admitted into the EU in 2004. On average, Polish construction workers get 119 kroner per hour – less than the 170 kroner paid to Danes.

SEVERAL political parties are in favour of new measures that would enable the immediate deportation of convicted foreign criminals – particularly in light of the escalation of gangland shootings in the capital. It would replace a ‘yellow card’ system. Already, the Institute for Human Rights has said that a tightening would be possible without the contravention of existing rules.

Løkke laments loss

Kenya applauded

LARS LØKKE Rasmussen condemned the terror attack that took place in Barcelona on August 17, which left 16 dead and about 120 injured. Three Danes were injured during the attacks, but none seriously.

DESPITE the violence that erupted in the aftermath of the re-election of Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta this week, the government has applauded an election process that saw a high turnout for the election.

Leapforce is looking for highly educated individuals able to read and write using Danish for an exciting work from home opportunity. Applicants must be self motivated and internet savvy. This is an opportunity to evaluate and improve search engine results for one of the world’s largest internet search engine companies. Search Engine Evaluators will need to combine a passion for analysis, understanding of various online research tools and in-depth knowledge of the Danish language and culture. Applicants must be detail oriented and have a broad range of interests.

Ideal Search Engine Evaluators will possess the following skills Have in-depth, up-to-date familiarity with Danish social culture, media, and web culture ■ Excellent comprehension and written communication skills in English and Danish ■ Broad range of interests, with specific areas of expertise a plus University degree or equivalent experience (degrees in-progress are acceptable). Advanced degrees a plus ■ Excellent web research skills and analytical abilities. ■ Ability to work independently under minimal supervision ■ Possess a high speed internet connection (DSL, Cable Modem, etc.) ■ Use of an Android phone version 4.1 or higher, Windows phone version 8.1 or higher, or an iPhone version 4s or higher. ■

Search Engine Evaluators provide feedback on search engine results by measuring the relevance and usefulness of web pages in correlation to predefined queries, by providing comparative analysis of sets of search engine results and various other techniques. All candidates are required to take and pass a qualification exam before becoming a Search Engine Evaluator. There are three parts to the exam: a theoretical component and two practical components. Supplied study materials can be used during the exam.

PLEASE NOTE: We are unable to offer more than one Search Engine Evaluator position per household. CONTACT: CATHERINE HUYNH - catherine@leapforce.com

COVER

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

1 - 14 September 2017

The ghost buster whose craft is firmly grounded on planet Earth AARON HATHAWAY

attention. Christensen responds to these paranormal symptoms with compassion – for him, the work is as much about helping the ghost as it is about helping the client. Most jobs are a simple matter of convincing the spirit to release its earthly bonds. Sometimes, this requires action in the physical world, such as moving or securing cherished possessions. Other times, it’s as easy as verbal persuasion – after which, Christensen says, he witnesses the ghost ascending to the afterlife. This ascension is a greatly rewarding event, and one of tremendous emotion – depicted with surprising accuracy, according to Christensen, in the final scene of the 1990 film ‘Ghost’.

Graveyards aren’t prime haunting grounds. After all, the atmosphere’s a little dead

There’s nothing abnormal with the spirit world, contends Danish exorcist Juri Christensen AARON HATHAWAY

OR JURI Christensen, there are two types of people in the world: the living and the dead. And he talks to both. If you were to pass Christensen on the street, you wouldn’t suspect that he moonlighted as a paranormal investigator. Christensen fits the model of the Danish working professional: a trim haircut, a healthy summer’s tan, the understated earth tones native to Danish attire. Put shortly, he looks normal – he just happens to speak with the dead. “To me it is normal to talk to ghosts, higher beings and nature. That might not be what other people do, but to me it is just as ordinary as being good at the cello, even though that too is a specialised skill,” Christensen said. For him, busting ghosts is just another part of normalcy. In fact, he winces at descriptors like ‘para-

normal’ or ‘supernatural’ when discussing his work. “The word paranormal insinuates that there are two sides: a normal and a not-normal,” he said. “That’s why I can’t call it para or super anything. To me it’s all normal, just different shades of normal.” Part-time poltergeists BY DAY, Christensen works in IT. By night, he busts ghosts. Based in Roskilde, he sees between 15 and 20 clients every year, extending his services across the island of Zealand. Having worked ten years in this fringe field, estranged from scientific corroboration and so often refracted through the lens of Hollywood, Christensen paints a picture of the paranormal far different from popular impressions. In a world steeped in subjectivity, Christensen asserts one thing for certain: ghosts are very real. Ghosts occur, explains Christensen, when the spirit of the deceased gets stuck somewhere between death and the afterlife. They remain in our physical world, though limited in their substance and expression. For Christensen’s clients, a ghost’s presence can bring unease, negative energy or daily discomfort. His job is to help these lingering spectres complete their journey

to the afterlife – which starts with figuring out why they’re stuck. “We have to find the root cause of why they’re still here,” Christensen said. “The most common thing I see with dead people I help along is that they have a big attachment to the place they lived and are untrusting of the next generation to take care of the place as well as they did. Other cases could involve the deceased having unfinished business, like living children they want to take care of, or strong arguments or dislikes they either want to settle or continue with.” Defining a phantasm CHRISTENSEN characterises ghosts as individuals with a full consciousness and free will, lingering in this worldly dimension in an otherworldly form. “For me, ghosts have a human form, intelligence, humour and personality, just without a physical body,” contended Christensen. He rejects the notion of ghosts as unfriendly presences, estimating that nine out of every ten ghosts he encounters are benevolent and quite reserved. He says that classic symptoms of a vicious haunting, such as flickering lights and shattering saucers, are more often than not just the ghost’s way of calling for

The art of ghost busting CHRISTENSEN insists that engaging in this world, which might seem fantastical to the unaccustomed, is simply a matter of training. He rejects any murmur of gift or instinct. “It’s built much more on being sensitive to signals that might go unnoticed by people who don’t work in the area,” Christensen said. “People call it a gift. To me, that makes it all special, and makes me special – for me it’s nothing special at all, it’s just a hobby that I like.” Christensen’s own training began with martial arts, which introduced him to exercises in meditation and energy flow, commonly known as ‘qi’. Further pursuit of these concepts led him to reiki healing, a Japanese alternative medicine. Reiki, often a pseudoscience punching bag for clinical researchers, has thousands of followers worldwide. For Christensen, reiki’s emphasis on personal and environmental energies served as a natural transition to the spiritual world, where the presence of a ghost is often detected by disturbances in these energy fields. “Healing is sort of the bridge between the unphysical and the physical,” Christensen said. Indifferent to the empirical FREQUENTLY debunked or dismissed by conventional scientists, both reiki and ghost busting are built on a foundation of subjectivity. Without the framework of verifiable

evidence, appealing to sceptics and agreeing with colleagues can be challenging. “Even in the physical world people debate how to measure this and that and so on. They do that also in the alternative world, and it’s perhaps easier to have different viewpoints because it’s more difficult to use hard science,” said Christensen. Truth, then, can be hard to come by. Christensen often finds it through co-operation with fellow ghost busters, who corroborate visions of specific apparitions or energies. Equally important, says Christensen, is trust: faith in his own training, and confidence in the signals he detects. Though in this line of work, getting caught up in the pursuit of objectivity isn’t always helpful. What matters most, Christensen says, is the results. “Whether there is the actual presence of a ghost or just the belief that there is a ghost, it’s still a problem for the people seeking help,” explained Christensen. “I can see that the services I provide do the job, and that the client is satisfied that the issue has disappeared. That’s enough for me.” Within this nebulous trade, Christensen finds stability in normalcy. Approaching ghost busting as a trained skill helps remove its shroud of mystery, dissolving the fear and apprehension so often tied to ghosts. Christensen’s trust in his own methods allows him to work in comfortable indifference to criticism, though his cheerful jokes regarding his own sanity suggest he’s fielded his share of naysayers. In response to the doubtful, Christensen advocates an open mind, along with the willingness to accept and detect what might be lying in plain sight. “Strain your imagination and your senses like you’re trying to hear something distant,” suggested Christensen. “No matter how silly the possibility of fantasy is, go with it. Suddenly, it just becomes normal.”

NEWS

1 - 14 September 2017

ONLINE THIS WEEK THE GOVERNMENT intends to reduce the toll fee for the Great Belt Bridge by 25 percent by 2021. The toll will be gradually lowered every January 1 from 2018 onwards. The connection is expected to be completely paid off by 2031. The finance minister, Kristian Jensen, backed the move, contending the bridge shouldn’t be a money machine for the state.

Sugar site opens DENMARK’S first sugardaddy/ sugarbaby site, RichMeetBeautiful, launched on August 21. It is the brainchild of Sigurd Vedal, the founder of adultery website Victoria Milan. It caters to wealthy elderly men who want to pay young women to be their girlfriends. Numbers are rising worldwide due to a proliferation of websites. They threaten to change the dating arena forever.

IT’S LIKE a US presidential inauguration – Carter, the Bushes, Clinton, Obama, hopefully Trump next time – but Danish-style. For the first time in history, state broadcaster DR has assembled the country’s last five elected PMs to discuss their time in the hotseat. The result is a four-episode series called ‘Statsministrene’, which started last Sunday at 20:00 on DR1.

New LGBT action plan A PRIMARY focus of a new governmental LGBT action plan to prevent discrimination and promote equal opportunity and security for the community is the well-being of new-Dane LGBT individuals, who can face massive personal challenges. Some 20 percent have faced threats of violence from their families and a third have considered suicide.

Final member dies SVEND Egon Andersen, the final remaining member of the Hvidsten Group, Denmark’s most famous WWII resistance outfit, has passed away aged 97 in Jutland. After 14 members of the group were arrested by the Gestapo and subsequently executed in 1944, Andersen fled to Sweden where he he joined the ‘Den Danske Brigade’.

New proposal aiming for self-sustainability

CHRISTIAN WENANDE

HE GOVERNMENT on Tuesday unveiled a proposal to reduce taxation in connection with working, cars and pensions by a total of 23 billion kroner. The proposal, ‘Jobreformens fase II’ (‘Job Reform Phase II’), hopes to push more Danes away from the doldrums of public support and into the realm of self-sustainability. Lower car tax THE PROPOSAL wants to lower car registration tax, so that no-one will pay more than 100 percent in car registration tax, and to make a new job deduc-

tion of 4,500 kroner earmarked for the lowest work incomes. The government also wants to remove the beskæftigelsesfradrag ceiling for employment deduction, which currently stands at 30,000 kroner – to the benefit of everyone with an annual salary of over 340,000 kroner.

Ahead of the negotiations, Liberal Alliance head Anders Samuelsen confirmed that his party was no longer seeking a reduction in the top tax bracket rate. The news will please Dansk Folkeparti, which has been steadfastly against the change.

Pressure on broadcasters growing Both TV2 and DR could see their budgets shrink

RESSURE is mounting on national broadcasters DR and TV2 over their allocation of state funding. Under the terms of the current media deal, which expires next year, DR get around 3.6 billion and TV2 0.5 billion of the 4.4 billion kroner spent. But the overall figure looks likely to fall – by around 20 percent – if certain political parties get their way.

ONLINE THIS WEEK Burka ban closer TWO GOVERNMENT parties, Konservative and Venstre, back plans to ban women from wearing facial-covering burka and niqab headwear, but a final decision has yet to be made. “I think it’s just a matter of time,” Marcus Knuth, the immigration spokesperson for Venstre, told DR. Dansk Folkeparti is also in favour of a ban, but Liberal Alliance is not.

It needs to make sense to work, contends the government

FLICKR/WOJTEK GURAK

Five PMs in one show

Government favours tax cuts

PIXABAY

Toll fee to be cut

Working under an ever-growing shadow

Perceived profligacy DR HASN’T done itself any favours. Its perceived profligacy with the public’s purse is well deserved. Recently it appointed a ‘diversity consultant’ with a salary of 2.1 million kroner per year. And who can forget the 70,000 it shelled out to trans-

port a horse belonging to an employee’s wife? Now Danske Folkeparti wants to scrap the licence altogether and raise the money through taxes instead, shaving 25 percent off its budget. DF argues that DR is too dominant and has an unfair advantage, and Venstre and Socialdemokratiet appear open to the idea – a majority in Parliament in fact.

Fake news danger HOWEVER, S is opposed to plans to privatise TV2. Its leader Mette Frederiksen fears the channel could end up in foreign ownership, and that this could lead to a slippery slope of fake news and a pursuit of the lowest common denominator. Frederiksen is concerned the DR debate could distract attention away from TV2 – “Denmark’s favourite channel”. (BH)

Backlash against Henrik

Potential savings galore

Crime perception awry

SOME 63.7 percent of Danes feel Prince Henrik’s civil list payment should be reduced following his remarks about not being buried with his wife, according to a Wilke poll for Jyllands-Posten. At present, he receives 8 million kroner tax-free every year from the state – an amount decided by the queen. A number of MPs back the cut, particularly given his retirement from official duties.

THE MUNICIPALITIES could be 4.8 billion kroner better off a year, if they were all equally good at tendering out services, according to a Dansk Industri investigation. In 2016, the best performing municipalities tendered 40.9 percent of their services privately compared to an average of 26.9 percent. Competition, asserts DI, benefits the environment and increases social responsibility.

BETWEEN 74 and 85 percent of the population are under the impression that there is more violent crime, robberies, breakins, car thefts and juvenile crime compared to five years ago. The opposite is the case. Women are more likely to think the worse. And even bike thefts have fallen. The 52,465 stolen last year was the lowest figure since records began in 1975.

Tallest building proposal BESTSELLER has proposed plans to build a 200-plus metre building in Brande in mid Jutland, the home of its HQ for more than 30 years. If realised the HQ – which would also include shops and a possible hotel – would overtake the 120-metre Herlev Hospital as Denmark’s tallest building. Brande has a population of just over 7,000.

School day “too long” THE 2014 EDUCATION reform has made the public school day too long, according to 50 percent of parents – up from one in three in 2015. Only 18 percent think the reform has improved the system, according to a Gallup poll for Berlingske. With 10,960 hours a year, Danish pupils have the second longest day among the OECD countries after Australia.

Driven until they die A RECORD 18,490 vehicle owners failed to turn up to mandatory car inspections last year – three times as many people as in 2013, according to figures from the traffic authority, Færdselsstyrelsen. Car inspection firm Applus Bilsyn explained to DR that some drivers simply drive their cars until they break down.

Funding for fathers PARTICIPANTS in the annual 12 km Grænseløb race on September 16, which takes in a route across parts of Denmark and Germany, must bring their passports to compete, the Danish police have ruled in a bid to stop illegal immigrants at the Danish/German border. The German police, however, are taking a more relaxed attitude.

NEWS

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

ONLINE THIS WEEK 240 Hiroshimas

Sibling tendency SAME-SEX siblings are less likely to pursue an education favoured by one gender, according to a PhD study at the University of Copenhagen. A boy who has a sister is more likely to study a gender-stereotyped education – something scientific/technical – than a boy who only has brothers. Parents are blamed for interacting differently with their kids.

Battling malaria RESEARCHERS at the X-ray and neutron science department at Niels Bohr Institute have developed a technique to study the malaria parasite in real time using liquid nitrogen. Because the temperature is so low (minus 196 degrees C), the processes taking place in the infected blood cells are slowed down so it is easier to see how the parasite works.

Focus on young dads COINCIDING with an increased municipal focus on men’s health, particular attention is being paid to young fathers. According to the Centre for Economic and Business Research at CBS, fathers under the age of 21 make an average income before tax of 325,000 kroner per year, a long way short of the 450,000 made by dads aged 26-30.

All in the references RESEARCHERS from Aarhus University, the DTU and the Beijing Genomics Institute have released Danish Reference Genome, a platform to check genetic variants, establish causative relations between genotypes and diseases, and facilitate personalised medicine in the future – for example in the treatment of mental disorders.

A seal in wolf’s clothing Cute, cuddly … coarse, cannibalistic – but still we blame the wolves

PIXABAY

UNIVERSITY of Copenhagen research reveals that Lake Catalina in Greenland has had four freshwater outburst floods over the past 50 years – each time releasing energy equalling upwards of 240 Hiroshima bombs and a loss of 3.4 trillion litres. The occurrence was recently noticed via the study of satellite photos from 1966-2016. A new drain is due soon.

1 - 14 September 2017

Falsely accused SO IT WAS no surprise to learn that a pair of wolves in western Jutland have been accused of carrying out 65 attacks on domestic animals, and that research by DR confirms the blame can only be laid at their door in 15 of the cases. In the other 50 cases, the culprit turned out to be either foxes or dogs, while in several cases the animals died of natural causes, the environment protection agency concluded. Nevertheless, shepherds remain worried. One of them, who is awaiting the results of a DNA test on his dead sheep, questioned whether a 120 cm fence erected in Holsterbro to keep the wolves out is high enough.

Meat eating decrease A NEW SURVEY carried out by Coop Analyse and the Danish Vegetarian Association revealed that for at least half the week, 8.2 percent of Danes don’t eat meat. In 2010, the figure was only 3.8 percent. On top of that, 20 percent have one day a week without meat. And only 40 percent of those surveyed said that they would not eat less meat than they do today.

BEN HAMILTON

OLVES get a bad rep. Not only does our language reveal we fear them – from the wolf in sheep’s clothing to lone wolf – but we also manage to associate them with lying (cry wolf ), poverty/ hunger (wolf at/from the door) and sexism (wolf whistles). Not like seals. They’re cute and cuddly and clap their hands when we throw fish at them. Give them a ball and they’ll juggle it. A wolf would only burst it.

ONLINE THIS WEEK

Islands for birds Will Fussy Eater get his just desserts?

biggest nuisance. Weighing up to 300 kilos, they eat at least five kilos of fish a day. Often they have a tendency to rip up the gill nets favoured in coastal waters and eat parts of the fish they like best. On occasion, they can even eat other seals – the common or harbour variety – and porpoises. While numbers have risen by 10 percent in the Wadden, there are 50 percent more in the Danish section: some 221 at the last count. And they are now being seen in inland waters. One fishermen’s association advocates a complete cull.

part of a breeding program – the first appearance of Lucanus Cervus in Danish nature for 50 years. The beetles, which spend the first four years of their five-year life cycle as larvae, can grow to almost 10 cm in length. Children everywhere are believed to be delighted at the prospect of one crawling up their leg.

Complete cull needed SEALS, meanwhile, are guilty of all the crimes they’re accused of – so much so that the sustainable fishing-loving ministry has given permission to shoot 40 of them on occasion. Particularly prevalent in the Wadden Sea, grey seals are the

The comeback kings OF COURSE, there’s never any guarantee they won’t return. Just ask the bluefin tuna and stag beetle. Recently returned to Danish waters after a decades-long absence, an angler fetched a record price at auction for his 204 kilo bluefin tuna catch in Danish waters: 124,440 kroner. Meanwhile Naturstyrelsen has confirmed that four stag beetles have been hatched in Dyrehaven Park just north of Copenhagen as

Buzzing off, sadly BUT NOT everything ends happily ever after. Just ask the nation’s bees. Ben Woodcock from the British Natural Environment Research Council warns that the use of neonicotinoid insecticides, which treat seeds such as rape, are rapidly killing bees in Britain, Hungary and Germany, reports Ingeniøren. The pesticides have a negative effect on both wild and honey bees, and when the bees are unhealthy to start with or are dependent on a monocrop diet, they are more likely to be affected. The bees don’t die immediately but become disorientated, and so have difficulty surviving the winter.

Avoiding a caesarean

IT over GP

New weather atlas

HEALTHY eating and exercise can reduce the risk of women developing pregnancy-related diabetes – the most common reason for a caesarean delivery, according to an international study. Around 13,000 of the 58,208 births in Denmark were caesareans. In related news, tests on pigs suggest UV-treated milk is a better substitute breast milk for prematurely born children than donor milk.

DOCTORS increasingly have to deal with patients armed with printouts from the internet diagnosing ‘their’ disease. According to an Epinion poll carried out on behalf of DR, 25 percent use the internet as a source of information on sickness – often to avoid a visit to the doctor. Experts recommend patients stick to reputable sources such as the public health platform sundhed.dk.

THE GOVERNMENT is setting aside 27.2 million kroner to compile a nationwide ‘atlas’ that will enable people to better prepare for freak weather such as the cloudbursts that have plagued Danish summers of late. The atlas will gather data on changes in the weather at a municipal level and include predictions of changes to temperature, precipitation and sea level.

THE NATURE agency, Naturstyrelsen, has established two new islands near Harboøre Tange fjord in west-Jutland to improve bird breeding conditions for vulnerable species. Some 1,200 cubic metres of sand and gravel were shifted to build the 400 and 600 sqm islands. Ground-nesting birds are particularly susceptible to duress caused by predators.

Predicting cancer A RESEARCHER from Aarhus University Hospital is part of an international team behind a new genetic test which aims to uncover cancer patients before they begin to see symptoms. The new method, which involves genome sequencing, means a simple blood test using just 10mm of blood can reveal signs of cancer mutations.

Not treacle … treasure! WHAT LOOKED like a confectionery wrapper in the middle of the excavation of an early Stone Age palisade in the southern Zealand municipality of Stevns turned out to be an unusual coin treasure from the 1200s. Two local kings, Valdmar Sejr and Christoffer 1, are visible on some of them.

Deep rooted answers THE UNIVERSITY of Copenhagen has launched the Deep Frontier project, research into how deep roots can enable vegetation to find water during droughts and exploit more nutrients. Agriculture is good at extracting nutrients lying 50 to 150 cm below the surface, but not so good at utilising those in deeper layers.

NEWS

1 - 14 September 2017

ONLINE THIS WEEK Europa League for FCK

Watch out Wozzy! THIS TIME last year, Clara Tauson became the youngest ever Danish tennis champ at the age of 13 – beating Caroline Wozniacki’s record of 14 – and right now she is competing in the junior US Open, her first grand slam. Meanwhile in the seniors, Woz moved into the second round on Monday by beating Mihaela Buzarnescu 6-1, 7-5.

Bjørn a red, always a red

Danes move to Serie A

Denmark interested in hosting tournament in 2021 or 2025

UDDENLY everyone wants to host the UEFA European Women’s Championship. Both Denmark and England have expressed an interest in hosting the next tournament, Euro 2021. Their confirmation reflects growing interest in a tournament that was contested in the second half of July, a time when very little competitive football is shown worldwide. Continuing the momentum THE COUNTRY’S football federation, the DBU, told BT that it wants to continue the “momentum” of reaching the final of Euro 2017 by bidding to host either Euro 2021 or 2025. The DBU, which is hosting four Euro 2020 games, is also keen to host a FIFA or UEFA youth tournament and the Champions League final. Unlike the Olympics, which are bequeathed seven years before the actual event, the

Life just got Harder IN RELATED news, the coach of the women’s side, Nils Nielsen, has decided to step down. Nielsen, a nominee for the FIFA women’s coach of the year award, was in charge for four years and

Telling it how it is

Brit-free zone

Hosting 2017 did the Netherlands no harm

Netherlands only found out it was hosting Euro 2017 in December 2014.

his contract was due to expire in January 2018. The form of the team’s star performer Pernille Harder has also been recognised. She finished runner-up in the women’s European Footballer of the Year Award to Dutch player Lieke Martens (CPH POST).

X Factor’s last season EILEENSANDA

Major disappointment DANISH golfer Thorbjørn Olesen stood tied for the first round lead after a four-under 67 in the US PGA Championship, the final major of the year, in Charlotte, North Carolina. But Olesen, who finished sixth at the 2013 US Masters, then shot a 78 to fall out of contention, eventually finishing 12 shots behind the winner, Justin Thomas.

THREE films have been shortlisted to represent Denmark in the ‘Best Foreign Language Film’ category: ‘You Disappear’ directed by Peter Schønau Fog, ‘Word of God’ by Henrik Ruben Genz, and ‘Darkland’ by Fenar Ahmad. The winning candidate will be chosen by the Danish Oscar Committee on September 20.

Bendtner back NICKLAS Bendtner has been recalled to the Danish national squad to face Poland at home and Armenia away on September 1 and 4 in vital 2018 World Cup qualifiers. Currently third in their group, anything but two wins could sink Denmark’s bid. It is the 29-year-old Rosenborg striker’s first inclusion under coach Åge Hareide and his first call-up since 2015.

FCK fined for fan trouble

Motorsport’s new hope CHRISTIAN Lundgaard, 16, looks a good bet to be Denmark’s next star on the motor track following his triumph in the FIA SMP Formula 4 NEZ championships on August 20. Lundgaard won the overall standings thanks to two wins in Moscow, which also netted him the tidy sum of 2.25 million kroner. The youngster is part of the Renault Sport Academy setup.

ITALIAN Serie A side Udinese has signed Danish left back Jens Stryger Larsen, 26, from Austria Vienna where he played 60 games since leaving FCN in 2014. And another Italian club, Sampdoria, has recruited Danish defender Joachim Andersen, 21, from Dutch outfit Twente for around 15 million kroner. Andersen previously played for FCM.

In hunt for Oscar

TV3

THOMAS Bjørn was surprised by fans during the first round of the Made in Denmark tournament when they sang ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ wearing masks bearing the golfer’s face to mark his 500th European Tour event. Bjørn, who is a huge Liverpool fan, said: “I’m not sure I want to see that many faces of myself in the future again.”

ONLINE THIS WEEK HASSE FERROLD

FC COPENHAGEN have been drawn alongside Lokomotiv Moscow (Russia), Sheriff Tiraspol (Moldova), and Zlin (Czech Republic) in the Europa League after being knocked out in the final round of Champions League qualifying by Azeri side Qarabag on away goals. FCM, meanwhile, lost in the final round of EL qualifying to Apollon Limassol.

Women’s Euros bid likely

Liam lets loose

Four stars for new book

A decade of pain

THE DANES might be the second best non-native Englishspeakers in the world, but the country’s news output is a strictly Danish-only affair. Bucking this trend, and with success apparently, is TV3 and its English sports reporter Liam Barker, who is bringing an authentic flavour to the channel’s football coverage with his postcards from the Premier League. The first of his monologue video reviews of the week’s action has already been viewed over 89,000 times and received 771 comments from Danish fans who have mostly embraced his way of telling it how it is. (BH)

STEPHANIE Madsen’s ‘What’s so Special about the Danes’ is an antithesis to the legion of books released in recent years that attempt to explain how various Danish elements – such as hygge, happiness, television shows like Borgen and Forbryldsen, and New Nordic cuisine – have made such a big impression worldwide. Central to this explosion in the popularity of Faroese knitwear have been the British Danophiles, but Madsen doesn’t consult a single one. Instead, most of the interviews are with people from France Denmark and the US. Four stars out of six! (BH)

MOST DANISH children have been reared on ‘X Factor’, the wintertime slik fest that since 2008 has been piling Danish families onto the sofa to munch on confectionery and chew over singing abilities. But now DR is calling time. Although the show was an undeniable ratings hit, with audiences often climbing above the 1.5 million mark on Friday night, from as early as the fourth or fifth series, the xfactor was becoming harder to detect among the contestants. A country with 5.5 million people has a limited pool of talented singers prepared to go on such a show, after all. (BH)

READ THE REST OF THESE STORIES AT CPHPOST.DK

FC COPENHAGEN has been fined 150,000 kroner for the trouble its fans caused at Brøndby Stadium on August 6. Fodboldens Disciplinærinstans also ruled that the team must play without fans against FC Midtjylland at Parken on September 8 and against Brøndby on November 5. FCK, which is taking action against 100 of its fans, has appealed against the decision.

Laudrup close to the end DANISH football legend Michael Laudrup, 53, could be on the verge of quitting football management forever, according to DR. The coach of Qatari club Al-Rayyan, who continues to be linked with clubs in Europe on a regular basis, said he would like to pursue a different career, but did not know whether AlRayyan would be his last or penultimate job

BUSINESS

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

ONLINE THIS WEEK FOLLOWING disappointing Q2 results, wind turbine firm Siemens is laying off 600 workers on September 30, while another 130 will be moved around internally within its Aalborg factory. With 13.2 percent of the global market in 2016, Siemens is the secondlargest turbine producer after Vestas, which holds 15.8 percent.

Mortgage rates to rise? THE NEW capital requirements for financial institutions as a result of the Basel Accords, which increase the ratio of capital to lending, will probably end up costing Danish propertyowners more money. Experts predict banks and building societies will pass on the estimated 28 billion kroner increase – a hike of between 27 and 39 percent – to their customers.

Uber willing to compromise UBER HAS not given up on Denmark, it has told DR. It is willing to ensure that all drivers report their earnings to the tax department, is open to discussing a model that will guarantee its drivers benefits, and agrees that cars should have a taxi meter and a seat sensor, but contained in a Uber app. However, MPs doubt the government will compromise.

A mixed bag AMONG the recent Q2 results, Danfoss has hailed a “two-digit growth rate” in China; insulation specialists Rockwool has upgraded its 2017 profit expectations after a bumper first six months; energy giant Vestas announced a 14 percent decrease in revenue; and telecoms group TDC lost 23,000 household television subscribers and 10,000 mobile phone customers.

Employees unrepresented AT LEAST 250,000 employees do not have a voice on their company’s board despite a 1974 law enabling companies with over 35 employees to appoint worker representatives, reports DR. Pandora, Jysk, Bestseller, Matas and Hummel are among the 25 percent of companies not to have an employee representative board member.

Shipper’s sore summer ends with solid sale Is Maersk offloading its oil and gas assets at the right time?

MAERSK

Siemens lays off 600

1 - 14 September 2017

More effort needed A REPORT by the international Financial Action Task Force emphasises that Denmark ought to be doing more to combat financial criminality – particularly money laundering to the value of 21 billion kroner every year. Nevertheless, it hailed the country’s “foundations for a sound regime to tackle money laundering and terrorist financing”.

AERSK is selling off its oil and gas assets to French energy company Total in a deal worth close to 50 billion kroner. Pending approval from the competition authority, the deal should be completed sometime in early 2018. Norwegian media has voiced concerns Total will relocate workers from its office in Stavanger to Copenhagen, where it will oversee all its North Sea activities, according to the Maersk press release. As part of the deal, Maersk will end up owning 3.76 percent of the French company, which will assume debt totalling almost 16 billion kroner. Right time to sell? THE DEAL alleviates shareholder concerns over the continued fall in the price of oil, which has dogged Maersk’s results in recent years. For some time now, the future viability of oil and gas deposits has been questioned, as it becomes increasingly harder to access supplies. For example, Denmark has so far extracted 4 billion barrels of oil and gas from its North Sea fields, but most of the remaining 3 billion barrels lie 2 km beneath the seabed.

ONLINE THIS WEEK

DI has the medicine

Fair to say this is going to get a Total revamp

as disabling computer systems in various Maersk-run ports around the world, forcing them to remain idle. The company estimates it lost between 1.3 and 1.9 billion kroner as a result.

yellow, red and black), in which the black chemicals are deemed the most hazardous to the environment. African fund IN OTHER news, Maersk has joined forces with three pension firms – PensionDanmark, PKA and Lægernes Pension – to establish a new infrastructure fund in Africa. The four partners have already shelled out a total initial investment of about 3.5 billion kroner for the new fund, which has been given the title ‘Africa Infrastructure Fund I’ and will particularly focus on transport and energy. The fund will open its doors to prospective investment partners from Denmark and abroad over the coming year, and it is expected to make 1015 investments over the next decade or so. (CPH POST)

Hacked off THE TOTAL deal, which was announced on August 21, followed a difficult summer for the shipping giant in which it suffered at the hands of hackers and the environmental authority. At the end of June, the company experienced a cyberattack that hit vessels, as well

Discharge reprimand ADDITIONALLY, Maersk Oil was reported to the police by the environmental authority, Miljøstyrelsen, for breaching the maritime environmental law in connection with its North Sea oil production. According to Miljøstyrelsen, Maersk Oil released so-called red chemicals into the North Sea. It is reported that it was 42 tonnes of the chemical scavtreat, which is used primarily to remove sulfides from oil and gas. The chemicals used during oil drilling are listed via a kind of traffic-light system (green,

Share tax shake-up

Metro ad squabble

Stress among young

THE GOVERNMENT wants to change the level of tax paid by ordinary Danes on gains generated from trading shares. At present, 27 percent is payable on the first 51,700 kroner and 42 percent on the rest. The most preferred option is a 1.25 percent tax payable on the value of all share portfolios. The government is keen to attract more IPOs to Copenhagen. Last year, there were only five.

ADVERTISING agency Out of Home Media (OOHM) is seeking 35 million kroner from competitor Clear Channels (CC) as it alleges a former employee fed CC sensitive information about its bid for a lucrative contract with Copenhagen’s Metro company. OOHM claims the information enabled CC to underbid it and win the contract. The crime carries a maximum sentence of six years.

ACCORDING to a survey by Magasinet Arbejdsmiljø, close to 20 percent of all workers in Denmark under the age of 35 often or always feel stressed at work. Across all age groups, the proportion was one in seven. Experts blamed the demands of a first job and the pressure to start a family, pointing out that those under stress are likely to continue suffering from the problem.

THE CONFEDERATION of Danish industry, Dansk Industri, has revealed details of a package of measures designed to improve Denmark’s economic prosperity by 29 billion kroner and create 35,000 extra jobs in the private sector. Among the measures are lower taxes, investment in research, education and infrastructure along with an improved digital growth strategy.

Novo fears cheaper insulin NOVO NORDISK has warned it expects a downturn in the US in 2018 due to increased competition and pressure to lower the price of insulin. Meanwhile, the US Food and Drug Administration has approved Nova’s Victoza, a drug used to reduce the risk of heart attacks in adults with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Inroads abroad TWO DANISH companies making inroads overseas are Joe & The Juice and meat processing firm Danish Crown. While J&TJ has signed three leases in central Chicago, Danish Crown has started a co-operation with the Chinese web portal Alibaba, which will make its products available to 466 million users per year.

All in the ascendancy SHIPPING revenue, internet sales and exports are all rising, as is inflation, which hit a five-year high of 1.5 percent in July thanks to a 4.1 percent rise in food and drink prices during the tourist peak season. Shipping revenue rose by 8.5 billion kroner in Q2, internet sales rose by 13 percent on 2016, and exports were boosted by the food, machinery and medicine sectors.

BUSINESS OPINION

1 - 14 September 2017

If he calls you a herring, should you be pleased?

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10 OPINION

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

DANIEL K REECE MIND OVER MANAGING

HE GREY Danish summer weather provided some serious reading time over the holidays. I lost myself in Haruki Murukami’s mammoth tale of parallel worlds, ‘1Q84’. The book made me rather paranoid – what if we were living in a parallel world? So much at the moment seems to be out of place. From the good (Leicester winning the Premier League) to the not so good (Brexit, Donald Trump …), nobody saw any of these events coming. Had I somehow slipped into another universe? Reality bites IN THE absence of any clear signs to the contrary (there’s a handy second moon in the sky in ‘1Q84’), I have come to the conclusion that this is indeed

STEPHEN GADD

reality as we know it, and I have been pondering on the cause of recent events. In global economic terms, one theme of the past 30 years has been the undeniable triumph of ‘neoliberalism’ – the idea that economics is a system independent of ethics or normative judgements, and instead one where markets are the supreme moral arbiter, independent of pesky human subjectivity and argument. Yet whilst ‘markets’ in isolation may be objective concepts, anything which involves us homo sapiens certainly is not. Economic policy that places our actions in an amoral sphere – dictated by the whims of the market, whilst undoubtedly creating enormous wealth for a few – has caused phenomenal wealth disparity whilst downgrading subjective, reasoned argument derived from conscience. Beginning of the end? COULD this pervading sense of nihilism created by 30 years of neoliberal policy have created a platform for the election of Trump, someone utterly devoid of principle, a creature of whim solely concerned with his own narcissism and bank account? Or the success of Brexiteers, who campaigned on a staggering array of promises that now lie broken? Possibly. But if that is true, it could also mean that neoliberalism has sown the seeds of its own destruction. One thing that the likes of Trump and the Brexiteers have in common is the lack of any cohesive argument. Policies come and go: there one minute, contradicted the next. Even a neoliberal policy cannot survive in an environment devoid of any coherent policy at all.

Straight, No Chaser An Englishman abroad, Stephen has lived and worked in Denmark since 1978. His interests include music, art, cooking, real ale, politics and cats.

FACEBOOK - ESBEN LUNDE LARSEN

Daniel is the managing director of Nordeq Management (nordeqmanagement.com), managing cross-border investment projects with a focus on international corporate and tax law issues. Educated as a lawyer, Daniel also teaches in the International Business and Global Economics department at DIS Copenhagen. Daniel is passionate about mindfulness as a means of personal transformation.

1 - 14 September 2017

Has Esben Lund Larsen just been caught trying to dispose of his fish supper?

BRIAN SIMS

ENMARK increasingly seems like a country where nobody wielding political power at the highest level is actually held responsible for anything. For instance, the ongoing saga of industrial-scale incompetence at SKAT resulted in the loss of billions of kroner in potential tax revenue. An enquiry is in progress to see if it was anyone’s fault. Ministers take home topbracket salaries and have extremely generous pension schemes compared to most voters. However, when the press ferret out a scandal, a blizzard of obfuscation, chronic amnesia and frenzied spin ensues. If all else fails, blame it on the civil service. Some like it hot ESBEN Lunde Larsen, the minister for the environment, food and fisheries, has been in hot water once again. This time, it was about the way his ministry had been handling fishing quotas and how, despite the express wishes of MPs that these quotas should be spread more widely within the industry, the lion’s share remains in the hands of a few extremely large ‘quota barons’.

And not even musician/teachers make it these days

Jobs for the boys? COINCIDENTALLY perhaps, a couple of these wealthy indi-

viduals also turned out to be contributors to PM Lars Løkke Rasmussen’s ‘Løkke Fond’, which was set up with the very worthy aim of helping teenage boys with learning difficulties get ahead. Indeed, a picture of Løkke ‘hygging’ with shipowner and fishing skipper John-Anker Hametner Larsen at a fish supper in Thyborøn was obligingly printed in Ekstra Bladet. So far, Larsen has allegedly donated 809,000 kroner to the fund and, according to TV Midvest, bought up fishing quotas for 110 million kroner from 2015-2016. There is no suggestion that anything illegal has taken place, but at the same time it doesn’t take too much of a stretch of the imagination to wonder what skipper Larsen gets out of this – besides the altruistic satisfaction of helping disadvantaged boys, of course. A report from the independent auditors’ commission pulled no punches regarding what happened at the ministry. The police have become involved in the case and have been asked to investigate alleged instances of forged documents and companies set up to be run by ‘straw men’. Message in a bottle ADMITTEDLY, Lunde Larsen was not solely to blame, as the scandal went back a number of

years and eight ministers were entangled in its net. A damaging email surfaced, sent by a researcher to Socialdemokratiet minister Mette Gjerskov in 2012, warning of the danger of the fishing quotas ending up in the hands of very few. However, when pressed, the ex-minister said that “it had been answered administratively, so I probably never saw it.” The sound of Pilate-like hand-washing was almost deafening. A fish out of water IN A BID to take the pressure off Lunde Larsen, the PM responded with a pre-emptive strike, removing fishing from the minister’s portfolio and handing it to the minister for equality and Nordic co-operation, Karen Ellemann. So what in heaven’s name do fishing quotas have to do with equality, you may ask? There may be a peripheral Nordic connection, but this smacks of desperation. Probably the worst that will happen is that one or more ministers or ex-ministers will end up with a ‘nose’ – that rather quaint Danish custom whereby a parliamentary telling-off is administered and the matter is closed. I’m sure Lunde Larsen is already quaking in his boots … safe in the knowledge that his pay and pension won’t suffer.

OPINION

1 - 14 September 2017

NEXT ISSUE

ADRIAN MACKINDER

Mackindergarten British writer and performer Adrian Mackinder (adrianmackinder.co.uk) and his pregnant Danish wife moved from London to Copenhagen in September 2015. He now spends all his time wrestling with fatherhood, the unexpected culture clash and being an Englishman abroad.

An Actor’s Life IAN BURNS

Fashion Jam JENNY EGSTEN-ERICSON

PIXABAY

IN 2 ISSUES

The Road Less Taken JESSICA ALEXANDER

Mishra’s Mishmash MRUTYUANJAI MISHRA Even deadly assassins need to sleep

HIS WEEK I read a Facebook article shared by Snoop Dogg (yes, you read that right) about how Danish kids cry the least in the world.

Tearless in Taastrup AIMED at an American audience, the article wheeled out the cliché that the Danes are the happiest people on Earth – a view I happen to contest, as I’ve encountered a lot of furious Danes since moving here, mainly on bicycles when I have the audacity to use a pedestrian crossing. The article suggested that the US should adopt the Danish approach of extended paid maternity leave and that parents should embrace more ‘free play’ with their offspring. Presumably, if little Timmy spent more time in the sandbox with his folks, he wouldn’t grow up so disenfranchised as to vote a psychopathic satsuma into the Oval Office and there might be fewer emboldened Nazi bastards running hog-wild on the streets of Virginia. The crying blame THIS SORT of typically-vague article crops up with disappoint-

ing regularity. I find it unhelpful. First off, how the hell did ‘they’ gauge the ‘cry rate’ of children? Were all the kids in the world rounded up in a massive warehouse and prodded with sticks to see how easily they wept? The logistics don’t bear thinking about. Second, it’s all very well calling all parents to spend more time with their kids, but it’s not always that easy. Parents have to work, sometimes long hours, just to get food on the table. To just get stuff done. They don’t need this extra guilt placed on already overburdened shoulders. Third, of course extended parental leave is a great benefit of living here, but how many parents – particularly new parents – can honestly say they used this time precisely as they wanted? I know I didn’t. You’re chronically tired, fumbling all over the place. It’s an unprecedented, colossal life change. It’s hard to adjust. Most of the time you have no idea what you’re doing. You’re winging it, clinging on for dear life in the eye of a hurricane. Again, the extra worry you’re not giving your child precisely what they need exactly when they need it further adds pressure to an already strained situation.

Keep on breathing AT ITS essence, parenting boils down to one thing: keeping your kid alive. During those first few years, you are permanently on call, constantly firefighting, swerving away from one potential catastrophe after the next. Is he breathing? Is she eating? Is he putting on enough weight? Is she too cold? Too hot? Has he got a temperature? What’s that rash? Is she sleeping? Is he watching too much TV? Is she getting enough exercise? Why is he suddenly not eating as much anymore? Why did she just hit me for no reason? Does he hate me? Are we being too lenient? Too tough? Who is this haggard zombie staring vacantly back at me in the mirror? When’s my next nap? Where does the time go? What was I doing just now? And where the hell is my phone? The list goes on. All I know is we just have to make do with what we’ve got. Close our eyes, take a deep breath and do the best we can. And if our kids do cry, as long as we find out why and do something about it as soon as we can, we’re halfway there. Livin’, as the man once said, on a prayer.

IN 3 ISSUES

Crazier than Christmas VIVIENNE MCKEE

IN 4 ISSUES

Straight Up ZACH KHADUDU

A Dane Abroad KIRSTEN LOUISE PEDERSEN

12 COMMUNITY

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

ABOUT TOWN

1 - 14 September 2017

PHOTOS BY HASSE FERROLD

In the last issue, we caught up with the many ambassador farewells over the summer, and now it’s time to remember some of the national day celebrations, as Canada, Slovenia, Morocco and Switzerland/Benin – yes, you read that right – all held receptions. On June 20, Canadian ambassador Emi Furuya (left) welcomed members of the diplomatic corps to Nordatlantens Brygge to mark the 150th anniversary of the foundation of her country, and then two days later it was the turn of Slovenian ambassador Tone Kajzer (centre left) at Kastellet. Among those in attendance at the Moroccan National Day celebrations at Hellerup Park Hotel on July 30 were (centre right: left-right) Saudi ambassador Fahad Alruwaily, Bangladeshi ambassador Muhammad Abdul Muhit, Egyptian ambassador Henryka Moscicka-Dendys, Polish ambassador Henryka Moscicka-Dendys, Ivory Coast’s ambassador Mina Balde Laurent, the dean of the diplomatic corps, Chinese ambassador Deng Ying, South Korean ambassador Choi Jai-Chul, Iranian ambassador Morteza Moradian, Libyan ambassador Mohamed Selim and Georgian ambassador Gigi Gigiadze. And finally, Switzerland and Benin celebrated their national days together at the home of Swiss ambassador Benedikt Wechsler (right: left) to mark a meeting between the two countries’ presidents in July (see photo), where he was joined by co-host, Benin ambassador Eusebe Agbangha (right: right)

The ambassadors of Asia and beyond were out in force on June 27 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of ASEAN Day at the residence of Thai ambassador Vimon Kidchob (left) where they were served a selection Thai, Vietnamese and Indonesia food and treated to dance and music performances. Among those present were (right: left-right) Estonian ambassador Mart Volmer, Bangladeshi ambassador Muhammad Abdul Muhit, Vietnamese ambassador Trough Thanh Nguyen, Indonesian ambassador Muhammad Ibnu Said, Kidchob and Egyptian ambassador Salwa Moufid

South Korean ambassador Choi Jai-Chul (left) was the organiser of the Kimchi Festival at Torvehallerne on June 23-25 - a celebration of his country’s culture and food

Cuban ambassador Yiliam Sardinas Gomez was Vivienne McKee was among those in the proud host of a film event at Cinemateket on attendance at the premiere of ‘Spider-Man: June 21, which was part of the Latin American Homecoming’ on July 6 at the Imperial Cinema Film Festival

The former culture minister, Bertel Haarder (centre right), was among those present at the opening night of the outdoor Royal Theatre ballet tour ‘Sølyst till Skagen’ in Klampenborg on July 12

4 - 10 December 2015

COMMUNITY

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

14 COMMUNITY

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

OUT AND ABOUT

ALL PHOTOS: GABRIEL MIRANDA

HE COPENHAGEN Celtic Summer Party is unrecognisable from previous editions thanks to the efforts of organisers Jon Treacher and Chris Pilbeam, who oversaw a 12-team tournament at Kløvermarken on

1 - 14 September 2017

nian brothers Robert ‘Popi Popi’ Peres and his brother Gabriel, who represented a Rest of the World team that came from 3-0 down to win a quarter-final penalty shootout; long-time member Matti Rasmussen, the manager of

one of the club’s seven teams; the eventual winners Cph Vikings, who saw off a strong Danish side in the final; and Russia – rumours that Putin recalled them because they were rubbish were quickly quashed by the Kremlin.

Now armed with new tents and a tried and tested formula for success, the organisers are already looking ahead to next year. Contact the club if you want to enter a team next year! BEN HAMILTON

In truth, the Globe were the team to beat at the ‘Tug of War: Battle of the Bars’ at the CSR Rugby Pitches in Christianshavn on August 13, a fundraiser for the Danish Cancer Society co-organised

by McKenna and Gus Brown, his counterpart at the Dubliner (centre right: back row, second left). All the Irish mainstay drinking holes were there: Kennedy’s, the Irish Rover, the

Shamrock, but maybe McKenna should have thought twice about inviting a sports club. In the final, Copenhagen Celtic enjoyed a slight downhill advantage to beat the Globe 2-1 and afterwards (top row, left-

right) Dan Savill, Matt Jones, (middle) John Lambert, Steve Stringer, Ash Watson, Andrezza Rodrigues, (bottom) Ben Hamilton, Vernon Jones and Rodrigo Bastos celebrated with a well-earned pint. (BH)

ALL PHOTOS: NIKKI MCKENNA

Saturday August 5. Among those there (left-right) were England’s Dainon Cracknell, who gave his daughter Nora Ella a quick intro to the beautiful game before she decided she had more important things to do; Roma-

T LOOKS like a mismatch, no? A bunch of kids against the mighty Globe pub. Well, landlord Brian McKenna (centre left) needed to find at least one team his motley crew of bar staff and regulars could defeat.

PIXABAY

PIXABAY_BRENKEE

FLICKR_MATIAS GARABEDIAN

Explore TechFestival 2017! Enjoy exhibitions, summits, 100+ meetup activities, dinners, art installations, concerts and more (Sep 5-10, 08:00-23:00; various venues; 100kr; eventbrite.com)

Discover the inner peace and mental freedom that comes from learning how to let go of bad habits (Sep 9, 10:00-13:15; Kadampa Meditation Centre, Store Kongensgade 40H, st tv, Cph K; 250kr, students 150kr)

Join the Eccowalkathon17 to raise money for Hjerteforeningen and SOS Børnebyerne. For each km, Ecco donates 7.5 kr. Every step counts! (Sep 10, 08:3015:30; Gl Hovedvagt, Kastellet 1, Cph Ø; 50kr, kids 25kr)

FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE

Get inspired at the Copenhagen Maker Faire by trends and innovations in technology, craft and design. Take part in 60+ workshops, practical projects and inspiring business cases and debates (Sep 8-10, 15:30-17:30; Stødpudelageret, Carlsberg Byen, Cph V; 80kr, kids 20kr)

Need to burn some energy? This is your chance at a two-day event that combines unique workout classes with a journey through digitally-created worlds by Les Mills instructors (Sep 2-3, 20:00; Lokomotivværkstedet, Otto Busses Vej 5A, Cph SV; 818kr; trippus.net)

Tattoo fan? This is your opportunity to be a part of 50 Shades of Ink, an international tattoo convention new to Copenhagen that will gather around 70 high quality tattoo artists from around the world (Sep 8-10, 15:0019:00; Event Byen, Hvidkildevej 64 Cph NV; 100kr)

FINDERSKEEPERS.DK

FLICKR_DG EMPL

DAVID AND PAULINA

Enjoy traditional Cuban salsa music from the Gilito entre amigos band, and if you feel like moving, you can try some professional lessons (Sep 9, 21:00; Absalon, Sønder Boulevard 73, Cph V; 100kr)

SGT RICHARD BLUMENSTEIN

SARAH

COMING UP SOON

Enjoy Indian dance, music and food, along with an outdoor screening of the famous Bollywood movie ‘Bahubali 2’ (Sep 1, 15:00- 23:00; Kulturcenter Kildvæld KCK, Bellmansgade 5A, Cph Ø; free adm)

The FindersKeepers market’s design and food weekend includes some of the best Danish designers (Sep 8-10, Sat & Sun 11:00-17:00; Travemündegade, Cph Nordhavn; finderskeepers.dk) ANDREA DOMINGUEZ

4 - 10 December 2015

MARKETPLACE THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

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1 - 14 September 2017

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14 COMMUNITY

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

OUT AND ABOUT

ALL PHOTOS: GABRIEL MIRANDA

HE COPENHAGEN Celtic Summer Party is unrecognisable from previous editions thanks to the efforts of organisers Jon Treacher and Chris Pilbeam, who oversaw a 12-team tournament at Kløvermarken on

1 - 14 September 2017

Now armed with new tents and a tried and tested formula for success, the organisers are already looking ahead to next year. Contact the club if you want to enter a team next year! BEN HAMILTON

In truth, the Globe were the team to beat at the ‘Tug of War: Battle of the Bars’ at the CSR Rugby Pitches in Christianshavn on August 13, a fundraiser for the Danish Cancer Society co-organised

by McKenna and Gus Brown, his counterpart at the Dubliner (centre right: back row, second left). All the Irish mainstay drinking holes were there: Kennedy’s, the Irish Rover, the

right) Dan Savill, Matt Jones, (middle) John Lambert, Steve Stringer, Ash Watson, Andrezza Rodrigues, (bottom) Ben Hamilton, Vernon Jones and Rodrigo Bastos celebrated with a well-earned pint. (BH)

ALL PHOTOS: NIKKI MCKENNA

PIXABAY

PIXABAY_BRENKEE

FLICKR_MATIAS GARABEDIAN

Explore TechFestival 2017! Enjoy exhibitions, summits, 100+ meetup activities, dinners, art installations, concerts and more (Sep 5-10, 08:00-23:00; various venues; 100kr; eventbrite.com)

FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE

FINDERSKEEPERS.DK

FLICKR_DG EMPL

DAVID AND PAULINA

Enjoy traditional Cuban salsa music from the Gilito entre amigos band, and if you feel like moving, you can try some professional lessons (Sep 9, 21:00; Absalon, Sønder Boulevard 73, Cph V; 100kr)

SGT RICHARD BLUMENSTEIN

SARAH

COMING UP SOON

Enjoy Indian dance, music and food, along with an outdoor screening of the famous Bollywood movie ‘Bahubali 2’ (Sep 1, 15:00- 23:00; Kulturcenter Kildvæld KCK, Bellmansgade 5A, Cph Ø; free adm)

The FindersKeepers market’s design and food weekend includes some of the best Danish designers (Sep 8-10, Sat & Sun 11:00-17:00; Travemündegade, Cph Nordhavn; finderskeepers.dk) ANDREA DOMINGUEZ

No danish lunch without Akvavit 206750_Annonce_UK_Visit_Post_173x35mm.indd 1

21/04/15 17.18

DANISH CUISINE Bør nydes med omtanke

The very essence of

No one really has any idea when it first appeared. And no one knows who invented it, either. But everyone agrees that it is the very essence of Danish cuisine.

Smørrebrød – don’t try saying it – just taste it

Smørrebrød means “open sandwiches” and, as the name suggests, it isn’t just one dish but many. In fact, it embraces a vast number of variations of fish, meat, salads and vegetables and cheese on rye or white bread. Real smørrebrød is a pleasure to the eye and to the palate. But be careful - smørrebrød comes in almost as many different sizes as there are variations and it is more filling than you might think! The Danes eat smørrebrød all year round as a traditional lunch dish. It is also popular on festive occasions together with the family or friends. And smørrebrød is almost always accompanied by Danish beer and schnapps. Copenhagen boasts a whole range of restaurants which specialise in smørrebrød – typical Danish open – faced sandwiches. They are ancient, traditional establishments, often located below street level in cosy basements and cellars. Service at Copenhagen smørrebrød restaurants differs in style from that at normal eating places and can be an experience in its own right! Welcome to the traditional Danish kitchen! Velbekomme – Bon Appetit!

KANAL - KAFEEN Frederiksholms Kanal 18 Tel 3311 5770 www.kanal-cafeen.aok.dk Café Petersborg is one of Copenhagen’s very oldest restaurants with a history which dates all the way back to 1746. The cuisine is typically Danish and the restaurant has always made it an honour to serve good, traditional Danish food at reasonable prices. The menu has extended to include a range of foreign dishes which have become part of the Danish kitchen. Many famous Danes and foreigners have visited Café Petersborg – notably Hillary Clinton.

HUSMANNS VINSTUE Larsbjørnsstræde 2 Tel 3311 5886 e-mail: 1888@husmannsvinstue.dk www.husmannsvinstue.dk

Annonce 1 side Frokostrestaurant.indd 1

Kanal – Kafeen – Canal Café – located on the canal near Christiansborg parliament building – dates back to 1852. The first owner of the café was a former cook at the royal palace who was given the restaurant as a pension! Canal Café has a genuine old – world Danish atmosphere, with a plethora of old pictures on the walls and low beams! The restaurant is frequented by office workers from the quarter as well as parliament, with families and tourists often in evidence! The Kanal – Kafeen is a bit cramped with seating capacity for only 60 guests, but there’s always room if you are prepared to wait a few minutes for a table – otherwise when weather permits, tables are put out on the pavement overlooking the canal.

CAFÉ PETERSBORG Bredgade 76 Tel 3312 5016 • Fax 3315 5062 www.cafe-petersborg.dk www.spiseliv.dk/petersborg Husmanns Vinstue – a classic luncheon restaurant founded in 1888 – is one of the very few old basement restaurants left in Copenhagen – almost totally unchanged in style during the 125 or so years of its existence! One significant change is that women are allowed to lunch there now – they were forbiden admittance in 1912 by the then proprietress, a ban not lifted until 1981! HUSMANNS VINSTUE is today a traditional Danish smørrebrød lunch restaurant of the highest quality offering homemade specialities composed of fresh raw materials, based on typical old Danish recipes. Opening hours mon-fri: 11.30 am – 6 pm, sat: 12.00 pm – 4 pm. Kitchen: mon-fri: 11.30 – 4pm, sat: 12 – 4 pm. Closed Sundays and Bank Holidays. All credit cards accepted. Evening parties catered for by special advance order.

Café Sorgenfri is a 150-year-old basement restaurant in central Copenhagen, serving classic Danish open sandwiches. Our famous kitchen works every day from 11am to 9pm (Sun 12 noon to 5pm), where as the restaurant only closes at midnight. A lot has been written about Café Sorgenfri as an example of genuine, traditional Copen-hagen culture at its best. However, most of all, the restaurant is popular in the true sense of the word. Café Sorgenfri is known by any Copenhagener and everybody from all walks of life comes here to enjoy a meal, a couple of pints...and the company. Quite naturally, Café Sorgenfri is often completely packed – so please phone in advance for table reservation.

RESTAURANT & CAFÉ NYTORV Nytorv 15 Tel 3311 7706 www.nytorv.dk

CAFÉ SORGENFRI Brolæggerstræde 8 Tel 3311 5880 www.cafesorgenfri.dk Restaurant & Café Nytorv is 150 years old and one of the very oldest inns in Copenhagen – established 30-40 years after the Great Fire in 1795 that left most of the capital in ruins. In times gone-by, Restaurant & Café Nytorv was the haunt of drunkards and prostitutes, today its clientele are artists, lawyers, businessmen and good people that just pop into the place for a beer or a good meal – we serve typical Danish-style lunches all day!

Københavner Caféen is a genuine Danish restaurant situated in one of Copenhagen’s small and charming streets – just a couple of steps off the walking street (“Strøget”). Traditional open sandwiches (“smørrebrød”) dominate the lunch menu whilst renowned Danish dishes are served in the evening. The café is noted for its untraditional and impulsive activities for tourists. For example, Santa Claus often appears during the summer months! Københavner Caféen is open seven days a week including public holidays and serves lunch between 12:00 and 17:00 and dinner from 17:00 until 22:30. KØBENHAVNER CAFEEN Badstuestræde 10 Tel 3332 8081 www.kobenhavnercafeen.dk

22/04/14 21.40

16 HISTORY

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

1 - 14 September 2017

King of the hill: Elephants, elegance and 170 years of Carlsberg FACTFILE

SARAH B HAIDER

DATES TO REMEMBER

OME 170 YEARS ago, a visionary brewer named Jacob Christian Jacobsen (181187) laid the foundations for a modern company in Denmark. The man took over his father’s brewery business and followed his passion for beer on a lifelong journey to improve the quality of the brand he named Carlsberg. From lagers and ales to stouts and wheat beers, Carlsberg is arguably today the most popular beer in Denmark as well as many other countries across the world. What makes it different from many other brewhouses is that it’s not just a commercial venture but holds great meaning for the people of Denmark. That’s because the history of Carlsberg is intertwined with Copenhagen in a unique fashion; over the years the brewery and its surrounding areas have evolved into a complete neighbourhood oozing history and culture.

A father and son story JC JACOBSEN built his new brewery just outside Copenhagen in 1847 and named it Carlsberg – a combination of Carl (18421914), his five-year-old son, and ‘bjerg’, the Danish word for hill. Brewing quality beer and striving to improve it was something that ran in the Jacobsen family, so with the same enthusiasm and inherent business acumen Carl Jacobsen grew up to assume responsibility for running the business in 1880. However, disagreements arose between father and son over production methods. As a result, Carl decided to build his own brewery adjacent to the site he hired from his father. The names of the two breweries were respectively changed to Old Carlsberg and New Carlsberg. Father and son eventually reconciled in October 1886, just before JC Jacobsen’s death. In 1906, the two breweries were merged again under the name Carlsberg Breweries, and towards further expansion, Carlsberg acquired its biggest competitor Tuborg in 1970.

ALL PHOTOS: CARLSBERG

Founder’s son Carl Jacobsen not only gave his name to the brewery, but also the four jumbos that flank its magnificent Valby-side entrance

• 1836: JC Jacobsen investigates various brewing techniques by travelling to different countries in Europe, including Germany, Czechoslovakia, Austria and Italy • 1868: Carlsberg Brewery sends off its first exports to Britain • 1869: JC Jacobsen sends consignments of beer to the Far East and China to find out whether the beer is suitable for export • 1875: The Carlsberg Laboratory is founded, and in September 1876, the Carlsberg Foundation comes into being by means of a deed of gift to the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters Interwoven into its fabric, Denmark’s love of Carlsberg goes far beyond beer

In 2008, after Carlsberg moved its entire production facility to Fredericia, it opened up its closed industrial site in Copenhagen to the public, and since then it has become a popular historic place where Danes and tourists can come to learn about its history and architecture and feast their eyes on the lush green surrounding areas. Cultural contribution JC JACOBSEN and Carl Jacobsen have contributed significantly not just towards the Danish business arena but also towards enhancing the architecture and cultural life of Copenhagen. Among the landmark architectural structures gifted to Copenhagen by Carlsberg are the iconic Little Mermaid, the Botanical Garden and the New Carlsberg Glyptotek art museum. Moreover, the Carlsberg Foundation, which was established by JC Jacobsen in 1876, supports visionary and innovative basic scientific research in natural sciences, social sciences and humanities. Carlsberg the city OWING to its historical significance, the area where the original brewery is based, which

still houses the company’s global headquarters, has been converted into an entire town with its very own train station. The Carlsberg site is considered important not only because of the brewery, but also because of the association of some well-known and significant personalities who either worked for JC or Carl Jacobsen or otherwise lived in the area that is now part of the Carlsberg Town. The area has many protected buildings that exude a rich architectural history. Made using special-grade building techniques, the red brick buildings boast fine ornaments, mosaics and bronze sculptures. Both the brewery and its famous streets create a very special atmosphere in Carlsberg City, which leaves the visitor thoroughly immersed in Danish history. Elephantine entry THE ENTRANCE of the brewery – referred to as the Elephant Gate or the Elephant Tower – is considered the most famous landmark of the area where, as the name suggests, four large granite elephants stand back to back, carrying a small tower on their backs whilst flanking the gate. Constructed in 1901 by Vil-

helm Dahlerup as the Valby-side entrance to the New Carlsberg brewhouse, Carl Jacobsen was inspired by Italian sculptor and architect Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s obelisk-carrying elephant on the Piazza della Minerva in Rome. The elephants depict Carl Jacobsen’s motto: “Laboremus pro patria” – “Let’s work for the country of birth.” The elephants also symbolise faithfulness and strength. The 1883 beer ON THE occasion of its 170th anniversary celebration, Carlsberg released the revolutionary ‘Carlsberg 1883’ – a beer brewed using the same yeast that Professor Emil Christian Hansen cultivated at Carlsberg Laboratory on Old Carlsberg Road all those years ago. Until recently, the idea of rebreeding the yeast and using it in the brewing process again was inconceivable. But thanks to groundbreaking research at Carlsberg Laboratory and the contribution of scientists and beer connoisseurs who travelled to Denmark to participate in the research, it’s now possible to brew a beer using the old yeast. This one-of-a-kind technique is being acknowledged across the

• 1878: JC Jacobsen founds the Museum of National History at Frederiksborg Castle • 1883: Professor Emil Christian Hansen of the Carlsberg Laboratory makes a revolutionary discovery: the method of cultivating pure yeast • 1909: Professor SPL Sørensen of the Carlsberg Laboratory invents the pH unit to measure the acidity or alkalinity of a substance • 1968: Carlsberg builds its first overseas brewery in Blantyre, Malawi, as part of Denmark’s development assistance for the African country • 1972: Carlsberg builds its first brewery in Asia – in Malaysia. In the following years, a number of new breweries open in both Europe and Asia, thus expanding the company’s global outreach • 1976: The Carlsberg Research Center is established with the Carlsberg Laboratory as a central department Source: Carlsberg Foundation globe thanks to Warner Brothers’ 45-minute documentary about the recreation of the old beer, which can now be viewed on Carlsberg’s website.

INTERVIEW

1 - 14 September 2017

From educator to educating: is this the dawn of a new age for Miss Wall? British actress tells CPH POST she feels it was “a fate written for me” to play the title role in That Theatre’s autumn play LARA SPIRIT

OU MIGHT recognise Dawn Wall, as she’s been treading the boards and pounding the advertising casting treadmill since the beginning of the decade in Copenhagen. Blink, was that her driving a cargo bike and high-fiving the Citybois from ‘X Factor’? Bonk, was that her being taken from behind in the trailer to the new Danish web series ‘Porno Leif ’? Blimey, has she really amassed ten credits on her CV this year? The 36-year-old Londonborn actress is nothing but hard working, and now all her efforts have paid off, as she has landed the title role in Willy Russell’s ‘Educating Rita’, That Theatre’s autumn play at Krudttønden theatre running for a month from October 25. The part of Rita, the role immortalised by Julie Walters in her Oscar-nominated performance alongside Michael Caine in the 1983 film, is her biggest ever role. And Wall is determined to grasp the opportunity, she tells CPH POST when we meet for drinks just a couple of weeks before the start of rehearsals. Rita the show THERE’S no doubt Wall is prioritising the role, underlining to us the time and effort she’ll be devoting to the project. For six weeks she will be working solely on preparations – researching the play and the character in great depth, learning lines, and then rehearsing with her co-star Ian Burns, the founder of That Theatre, and director Barry McKenna. Charting the development of a relationship between Rita, a hairdresser with no formal education, and Frank, an older academic, the play presents a nuanced and touching picture of class, gender, friendship and much more besides. It’s a humorous though important insight into the value of education in society and the invisible though often impenetrable boundaries that persist for people like Rita, who seek to learn but have never been in

FACTFILE DAWN WALL • She has lived in London, Dubai, Devon, Melbourne and Denmark. • At just 19 years old, she held a full-time teaching position in Devon, gaining her PGCE at the age of 24. In total, she was a teacher for eight years. Dawn Wall was That Theatre’s first and only choice to play the title role in ‘Educating Rita’

a position before to do so. It is also a more serious reflection on the value of crossing these boundaries. Reminiscent of the 2003 film ‘Lost in Translation’ starring Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson, the play is a moving picture of the rejuvenating effects of these chaste, cross-generational friendships. Rita the character IT’S NOT uncommon to hear actors claim some correlative strands between their own experiences and that of the character that they’re playing, but when Wall talks of her affinity to Rita the similarities seem striking. “I see a lot of myself in Rita,” she says, tentatively aware of the commonality of a claim like this. “She desperately seeks knowledge, to break away from her life as a hairdresser, to achieve a fresh start.” Wall even started and ran a nail business in Copenhagen for five years on her arrival to the

city seven years ago. Whilst she’s known forever that she wanted to act, she too followed Rita’s path and sought mobility through education, enrolling in Copenhagen Film and Theatre School and graduating in 2015. And just as it doesn’t take Frank long to realise Rita’s talent and natural intelligence, so too did Wall capture the imagination of those at the theatre school within a remarkably short period following her arrival: after just five weeks of her first year she was promoted to the second year, and when Burns and McKenna decided on Rita, they didn’t even make Wall audition for the part. This was a definitive break, which Wall calls “a fate written for me”. Straight into teaching at the age of 19, she moved comfortably between careers before finally pursuing what had always been “a pipe dream”, now preparing for a show that could be the start of her journey towards

becoming a household name. After Rita NEVERTHELESS, Wall holds it in perspective alongside the other new credits she’s adding to her name this year. A trailer released for the aforementioned ‘Porno Leif ’, in which Wall makes good use of her fluent Danish in her role as porn actress Denice, was released just days before our interview and had already garnered thousands of viewers across social media platforms. But there’s no doubt that Rita is the opportunity Wall has been waiting for her entire ca-

• She speaks, reads and writes Danish fluently. • Her accent range includes Russian, Polish, French, Irish, American, Scouse and Devonshire to name but a few. • She played a pregnant woman in the Oscar-nominated film ‘The Danish Girl’ and she also appeared in the successful Danish comedy series ‘Klovn’ and a Copenhagen Theatre Circle pantomime, ‘Aladdin’ • Perhaps her bravest role, though, was playing the “Does my bum look big in this?” girl in ‘The Fast Show – Stood up’ in 2014, which CPH POST observed was “superbly judged” • Her nickname is ‘Prawniewall’ reer. No stranger to the intimate 100 seat-capacity Krudttønden, this is her chance to shine at a venue conducive to charting the complex development of the relationship at the heart of the play.

18 INOUT: ART

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

Strand, Gammel Strand 48, Cph K; glstrand.dk AARON HATHAWAY

OVER THE course of a nearly fourdecade career, US filmmaker Stanley Kubrick established himself as one of the most influential artists of the genre. From early triumphs like Paths of Glory to all-time classics such as 2001: A Space Odyssey, Kubrick’s work stands out for innovation across the board. His approach to storytelling, creativity in cinematography and distinctive use of sound and music have cemented him as a legend in the history of filmmaking. Thanks to Kunstforeningen GL Strand, Kubrick’s extensive career

STANLEY KUBRICK

STANLEY KUBRICK: THE EXHIBITION Sep 23-Jan 14; Kunstforeningen GL

1 - 14 September 2017

comes to Copenhagen for an exhibition groundbreaking in scope and scale – and Denmark is ready. The country is already underway celebrating his stunning career through Kubrick Festival 2017, a nationwide, year-long affair saluting his achievements via special film screenings, educational lectures, concerts and debates. Stanley Kubrick: The Exhibition represents the curated culmination of this celebration, presenting a comprehensive portrait of the artist’s career and achievments. The exhibition takes Kubrick’s life beyond the confines of the cinema – while extensive in covering his filmography, it will also feature his photographs, excerpts from interviews with Kubrick and his compatriots, and highlights selected from his personal archives. For those with any stake in cinema, this represents an unmissable opportunity to appreciate the work of one of the genre’s best.

ART OF THE MONTH

OVERGADEN

TONY WEBSTER

HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT SONG Sep 1, 15:00-18:00; Movias Ferry Bus route 992; cphartweek.dk THE DROLL monotony of the modern workplace may be, to some, crippling. But what if it didn’t have to be this way? Artist Hannah Anbert took this

question to heart and has delivered a startling solution: make a song out of it, and sing that song on a boat. In collaboration with Cph Art Week, passengers of the Movias Ferry Bus route 992 will receive lyric sheets, a karaoke set and an invitation to enjoy a rollicking nautical singalong addressing the many delights of the human resources department. Bring your own fax machine. (AH)

ongoing, ends Oct 22; Overgaden, Overgaden Neden Vandet 17, Cph K; overgaden.org STRAIGHT up and down, straight across. Vertical, horizontal. The X and Y axis. Humans daily pass through phases of the two elemental directions: sleeping, walking, lovemaking, leaping. These

What I do with the world ongoing, ends Oct 7; Galleri Bo Bjerggaard, Flæsketorvet 85A, Cph V; free adm; bjerggaard.com AK Dolven thrives in the faded, the blurred, the bleak. Her work in photography and video captures intimate snippets of everyday lives, seasoned with dashes of nihilism and nostalgia. (AH)

ANDERS SUNE BERG

Kirsten Ortwed ongoing, ends Sep 30; Galleri Susanne Ottesen, Gothersgade 49, Cph K; free adm; susanneottesen.dk Danish artist Kristen Ortwed might shy away from any materials you’d find in an art supply store. With a portfolio spanning bronze, textiles and plastic, her latest exhibition promises further cross-media exploration. (AH)

bearings are unconscious yet often crucial to activity and identity. In co-operation with Overgaden, Sophie Dupont presents a multimedia exploration of this directional concept. Through an immersive examination incorporating elements of performance, sculpture and video, This Will Also Change analyses, critiques and reframes the physical phases of our everyday lives. (AH)

CECILIE E NIELSEN

AK DOLVEN

SUSANNE OTTESEN

EVENT FACEBOOK PAGE

Chart Art Fair Sep 1-3; Kunsthal Charlottenborg; chartartfair.com This year’s fair questions the ‘ambiguity of design’. The range of events and speakers covers everything from gastronomy to Italian music producer Lorenzo Senni (photo) – a program seeking to map the intersection of the arts in a globalised world. (LS)

SOPHIE DUPONT: THIS WILL ALSO CHANGE

Stereo Mirror ongoing, ends Sep 30; Format Artspace, Nansensgade 35, Cph K; free adm; formatartspace.dk Format Artspace’s upcoming exhibition by Cecilie Envold Nielsen uses reflective geometry and many metres of tape to present an abstract interpretation of urban design and architecture. (AH)

Cirkus Europe Sep 2-Jan 14; Arken, Skovvej 100, Ishøj; 115kr; arken.dk Ever want to take a trip through a fever-dream sideshow of deformed, miserable freaks? No? Then don’t tell Michael Kvium, as this is the basis of his new exhibition at Arken, which dives into the macabre to explore contemporary crises. (AH)

INOUT: KIDS

1 - 14 September 2017 JACOB BØTTER

MAX PIXEL

LEARN

KING’S VEGETABLE GARDEN

Sep 4-18, Mon 15:30-17:30; Kongens Køkkenhave, Øster Voldgade, Cph K; free adm SARAH B HAIDER

LIKE GROWING flowers and shrubs, growing veggies is an art that

THEMEPARK

TIVOLI’S BIRTHDAY

kids can learn about by participating in the cultivation and care of Kongens Køkkenhave – a popular and modern vegetable garden in the city. Both children and adults are welcome to visit and see how berries, vegetables and edible flowers are grown. Volunteers can also learn about growing veg in a sustainable manner from a gardener from Tag Tomat.

Sep 2, 18:00-19:00; Tivoli, Vesterbrogade 3, Cph V; 120kr, 160kr after 19:00, under-8s: free adm; tivoli.dk IT’S NOT like we ever need an excuse to go to Tivoli, but there’s none better than helping the themepark to celebrate its 173rd birthday! Tivoli is accordingly holding a con-

cert featuring musician guards from the Tambourkorpset, Fanevagten and Musikkorpset. Of course, Tivoli is rarely shut for long. On September 24, its summer season is closing, but it will soon be open for Halloween from October 13 to November 5. And then two weeks later, it will be opening its doors for its Christmas season – on November 18. (AD)

PEXEL

FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE

LEARN

FILM

SEA FUN! Sep 3, 12:00-13:00; Fisketorvet, Kalvebod Brygge 59, Cph V; free adm; ages 3-9 ANDREA DOMINGUEZ

BRING your kids to the Fisketorvet shopping centre to meet Hik, a fun hammershark who loves attention and making kids laugh.

ongoing until Sep 3, 15:10; Tycho Brahe Planetarium, Gl Kongevej 10, Cph V; 150kr, under-12s: 99kr; planetariet.dk THIS IS a great chance for kids to come and learn about Earth as seen from space in the movie ‘Our Beautiful Planet’. Presented in a fantastic IMAX format, the film provides a great visual

ART

Family Art Cruise Sep 3, 16:00-18:00; Statens Værksteder for Kunst, Strandgade 27B, Cph K; adults 150kr, children 50kr; politikenbillet.dk It’s time to discover your inner artist. Take your family aboard the Family Cruise and observe as artwork is created. And then try out one of the art workshops yourself. (AD)

experience and a good understanding of our planet and galaxy. Filmed from the International Space Station, the movie is produced in collaboration with NASA and shows amazing footage of the planet. While continuing to explore and gain knowledge about the galaxy, the film also allows kids to develop a deeper connection with the place we all call home. (SBH)

ART

Sunday fun at SMK Sun in Sep, 13:00-13:45; Statens Museum for Kunst, Sølvgade 4850, Cph K; 30kr + museum entry Collect inspiration on a Sunday tour through the museum exploring its artwork. Observe different patterns and colours, so you can later make your own imaginative art book in the Children’s Workshop. (AD)

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Dog’s Day at Tivoli Sep 10; Tivoli; included in admission; tivoli.dk Who said Tivoli has gone to the dogs? The themepark is once again teaming up with the Danish Kennel Club for an annual day of canine celebrations, promising plenty of treats for both well-behaved dogs and their owners. (LS)

OUR BEAUTIFUL PLANET

PIXABAY MARIMARI1101

FUN

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Kalle Kronhjort at Bakken Ongoing all opening days in the afternoon; Bakken, Dyrehavevej 62, Klampenborg; 135kr; bakken.dk With antlers as large as transmitter aerials, you can’t miss Bakken’s new friend! Kalle Kronhjort (red deer) is waiting for you to make sure you have fun, but be careful … he loves to tease! (AD)

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ERKAN

THEMEPARK

This time Hik is doing a theatrical performance and is eager to show you all his talents. After that, if your family is still up for more fun, you can stay and listen to wild stories from the depths. The narrator is a fish expert from Blå Planet who will also reveal fun facts about all the colourful fish in the aquarium, and then you can stay to watch them get their lunch.

ACTIVITY

Yoga day at Absalon Tue 10:00-11:00 & Thu 11:0012:00; Absalon, Sønder Blvd 73, Cph V; 50kr; under-1s Pamper your body and mind at yoga class while your baby enjoys herself in the play area. Baby can even join in for some of the exercises. Remember to sign up and look at the rules! (AD)

20 INOUT: EVENTS THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

Sep 2-17; various locations; goldendays.dk DAVE SMITH

With a program promising music, film, culture, knowledge, history, treasure hunting, DJs and community, Golden Days wants to celebrate Copenhagen’s 850th birthday in style. Most of the events are free of charge as the Danish capital delves almost a millennium into its past to deliver a festival that includes well in excess of 100 arrangements – the festival’s largest ever program. With titles such as ‘Literature and Legends’, ‘Historic Beer Tasting’, ‘Fake News in Absalon’s Footprints’, ‘Copenhagen Tweed Ride’, ‘What is Amager?’, ‘Gin and Gender’ and ‘Wake up at Carlsberg’ – which is itself turning 170 years old this autumn – what isn’t there to like? So who is this Absalon fella? Accord-

CPH SONGWRITERS FESTIVAL Aug 29-Sep 3, open Thu & Sun from 18:00, Fri 17:00-02:00, Sat 17:00-02:00; Råhuset, Onkel Dannys Plads, Cph V; entry 100kr, free adm on Sun; csf.dk LOCATED just four blocks from Copenhagen Central Station, this fantastic

showcase of fresh songwriting talent is moving into its ninth successful year. Run by volunteers, songwriter Brett Perkins teamed up with Kultur Vesterbro in 2014 to expand a community event that started in 2009. A variety of genres and countries will be represented at this multicultural, inclusive annual event. And don’t miss the second-hand music market (ThuSat 15:00-20:00)! (LS)

Big Quiz Nights The Globe, Nørregade 43, Cph K; Sep 7 & 21, Oct 5 & 19; 19:30; 30kr, five per team Kennedy’s, Gammel Kongevej 23, Cph V; Sep 4 & Oct 2; 25kr, four per team The winners get 1,000 kroner at the Globe, 800 at Kennedy’s. Both quizzes have beer rounds and other spot prizes. (DS)

ZULU COMEDY FESTIVAL Aug 31-Sep 10; various locations; comedyfestival.dk FITTING 150 shows into eleven days is a squeeze, but by using a range of different performance mediums – stage, TV, even apps – the festival has a really jam-packed

MUSIC

CPH World Music Festival Sep 6-10; various locations; cphworld.dk Hundreds of different events are taking place this year – at over 20 different venues – showcasing music from across the world, and most are either free or very reasonably priced. The opening concert at Rådhuspladsen is free and starts at 14:30. (LS)

ACTIVITY

Friday Night Skate Sep 8 & 22, 20:00-22:15; starts at Solbjerg Plads, Frederiksberg; free adm; fns-cph.dk A fun way to experience the city on a summer evening, Friday Night Skate through 20km of Copenhagen is a great way to hang out with friends. The September 22 skate is the last of the year. (LS)

Pick up 25 kg. Gourmet-ice cubes or crushed ice 99 kr. in flamingo barrel Order at scotsman.dk

program it can be proud of. As well as showcasing a huge selection of the country’s comedic talents, there are a number of English-language performers to watch out for. Kiwi comic Al Pitcher is performing at Lygten Station (Sep 4), while Canada’s Jason Rouse and India’s Vir Das will be on stage at Bremen (Sep 4 and 7). And if you fancy a crack, there’s an open mic English event at Huset on September 1. (LS) WALKATHON.ECCO.COM

QUIZ

FESTIVAL

FLICKR, GT8073A

CPHWORLD.DK

Copencold Hawaii try-outs Sep 1, 09:30-13:00; Cph K; copencoldhawaii.com Ahead of the main event in Jutland, the public are welcome to try stand-up paddling for themselves in the harbour waters between Amalienborg and the Opera House. Two days later, the pros will race the same course. (LS)

THE-GLOBE.DK

COPENCOLD HAWAII

ADVENTURE

ing to the – admittedly not always strictly reliable – historian Saxo Grammaticus, it is exactly 850 years since King Valdemar the Great gave the warrior-cleric Bishop Absalon the small fishing hamlet of Copenhagen. Not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, Absalon set about fortifying the hamlet and it soon expanded into a very profitable business enterprise. The rest, as they say, is history. The Golden Days festival will attempt to shed light on what is unique about the city by taking its “cultural historical pulse”, providing some pointers, perhaps, as to what we and the rest of the world can learn from it. In addition to the program and very much in keeping with the spirit of the times, as a warm-up to the festival, Golden Days has launched an online Copenhagen Canon, for which residents and visitors are asked to suggest things, events or places that are atypical Copenhagen.

ROSKILDE DOMKIRKE MALTHE IVARSSON

GOLDEN DAYS

1 - 14 September 2017

ACTIVITY

Ecco Walkathon Sep 10, 08:30-15:30; starts at Kastellet, Cph Ø; 50kr, under-12s 25kr; walkathon.ecco.com/da-dk Now in its 18th consecutive year, you can join the 470,000 who have taken part in the event since its founding, with proceeds this year going to the Heart Association and SOS Children’s Villages. (LS)

INOUT: EVENTS

1 - 14 September 2017

Sep 21-23 & 28-30, open Thu 17:00-23:00, Fri 17:00-23:30 & Sat 14:00-23:30; Femøren Amager Strand, Cph S; free adm, packages 299-499kr; oktoberfestdk.dk LARA SPIRIT

HOP OFF the tube at Femøren and walk a short distance to find yourself amongst other Bavarian beer-enthusiasts. Live music, lederhosen and litres of German beer will greet you at an event brimming with energy and jocosity. Check the website for different promotions within the festival: a student day, for instance, or a chance to cut costs with a happy hour. You can also save yourself the stress of deciding just how Bavarian you want to go on the day by pre-booking and

RIVERDANCE 21 Sep 15, 19:30, Sep 16, 14:30 & 19:30; Royal Arena, Hannemanns Allé 20, Cph S; 400-500kr THE RIVERDANCE has made more comebacks than Mohammed Ali. A farewell tour in 2009 lasted three years – and another one started in 2015. And now they’re back with a stripped-down version, ‘Riverdance

Gentofte Night Sep 29; various locations; gentoftenatten.dk For one night only, this municipality will be transformed, with all your favourite locations illuminated from the outside and cultural centres – many of which are usually closed to the public – open for a night of reflection and curiosity. (LS)

CPH HALF MARATHON Sep 17, 11:15; Fælledparken, Cph Ø; 450kr, 500kr from Sep 1; cphhalf.dk A LIMIT of 25,000 runners has been set for this year’s half-marathon, which this year will begin concurrently with the elite men’s and women’s races featuring some of the world’s best runners. Aside from the prestige of complet-

ACTIVITY

Copenhagen Art Run Sep 13; Ishøj Strandpark; 160kr, under-12s: 65kr; copenhagenartrun.dk Combing art appreciation and physical activity, the beautiful Ishøj Strandpark will play host to a 5km run as well as a range of art to enjoy as you go – at whatever pace that might be. (LS)

ing Scandinavia’s only IAAF Road Race, the entry price also includes a free Nike t-shirt. There are also free training sessions each Sunday between now and the event, meeting at Østerbro Stadion and comprising different groups for varying places. Check the website for a more comprehensive schedule, and end the summer with some pace! (LS)

ART ACTIVITY

Toughest Copenhagen Sep 30; Amager Strandpark, Cph S; toughest.se/da/events/kobenhavn There’s still time to register for the most physically grueling event of the year. Forty obstacles – over sand, grass, and water – stand between you and the finishing medal. (LS)

MATT HOBBS

CULTURE

TOP THEATRE PARTY

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CPH Beer & Whiskey Festival Sep 14-16, Thu & Fri 16:0022:00, Sat 13:00-22:00; Forum Copenhagen; 165kr, madbillet.dk Once the preserve of the gentleman, beer and whiskey are fast becoming popular with everyone. Distilleries and breweries will be present serving up pints and drams, as well as rations of rum and lashings of gin. (DS)

21’, 23 years after their debut during the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest. It has been watched by 25 million people at 11,500 shows at 515 venues in 47 countries, during which time 2,000 performers from 29 countries have participated, marrying each other 62 times. The show features a new song, ‘Anna Livia’, named after James Joyce’s personalisation of the River Liffey in Dublin. (DS) COPENHAGENARTRUN.DK

EVENT FACEBOOK PAGE

THEATRE HISTORY FESTIVAL

taking advantage of one of their package deals. From 299-339 kroner you can reserve seats together, order two portions of crisps, one litre of beer or one bottle of white or red wine, one Bavarian Schnitzel plate and one German Underberg. If you’re feeling indulgent, alternative packages are on offer that include VIP table service, an expanded food menu and Austrian champagne. The website also includes its own lederhosen shop where a pair of the leather breeches will set you back 66 euros. For once the women’s range is slightly more affordable at 47-57 euros, but who said it’s exclusively female? Wigs are available too. If you feel your traditional attire might not find use beyond the confines of the 2,800-person tent, the clothes will also be available to rent – either before or on the day itself.

OKTOBERFEST, FLICKR

OCTOBERFEST

COMEDY

Ricky Gervais Sep 29, 19:30; Royal Arena, Hannemanns Allé 20, Cph S; 400-550kr The world-renowned British co-creator and star of The Office and Extras – who is perhaps best know for his unbridled pisstake of Hollywood as the host of the Golden Globe Awards – is performing his stand-up tour Humanity. (DS)

AWARD WINNING COMEDY

by WILLY RUSSELL

AN UPLIFTING TALE OF SELF-DISCOVERY That Theatre Company – telling good stories passionately for 20 years

25 Oct – 25 Nov ‘17 Rita : Dawn Wall Frank : Ian Burns DIRECTOR Barry McKenna Tickets: teaterbilletter.dk 70 20 20 96 Photo: Simon Dixgaard

Educating Rita

www.that-theatre.com

22 FILM

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

1 - 14 September 2017

How spooky Steve became the king of our screens BEN HAMILTON

cause on average every issue deals with a King adaptation), the man must be a franchise. Maybe Bachman exists after all, which explains why he writes all the crap ones.

The crap ones PERHAPS most unusual of all, Stephen King used the pen name Richard Bachman because he was advised the public wouldn’t like it if he produced more than one novel a year. Speaking on behalf of the public, I would be inclined to agree, as nobody likes a clever clogs. Did you know that you have to go to back to 1988 to find a year in which a film or TV series adapted from King’s work wasn’t released. And that’s down to sheer luck, as in 1987, there were five, including Bachman’s The Running Man. In fact, King tended to give all the crap ones to Richard. In 2017, the tally so far is 17 out of 239 writer credits on IMDB, with three more in store for next year, including the series Castle Rock, which will bring characters from 16 of his books into the same sphere, although IMDB made the mistake of listing Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption and Different Seasons separately, so make that 15. As I wrote last issue (be-

The young ones THE MOST keenly-anticipated release this fortnight is It (Not Released Yet Worldwide; Sep 7), an adored 1986 novel that was swiftly made into a 1990 miniseries starring Tim Curry as the killer clown Pennywise. Thanks to Ronald McDonald and the start of Octopussy, clowns weren’t as scary back then, but fast-forward 30 years, and every other person is coulrophobic. It’s a recipe for all-out panic. Still, while the trailer suggests this will be a criticallyacclaimed success that even King will like (he famously hated Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation of The Shining and loved a 1997 TV version that was seriously rubbish), there are a few casting decisions to take note of – if anything for possible points at the next pub quiz. First off, child actor Finn Wolfhard, who portrays the leader of a bunch of kids battling evil in Stranger Things, which is itself a massive King homage, has been cast as the leader of a bunch of kids battling evil. This sort of thing can get confusing. And secondly, did you know that the actor playing Pennywise is Bill Skarsgård, yet another son of the Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgård (Good Will Hunting, Breaking the Waves) making his way in the acting profession? His other offspring include Alexander (True Blood, Tarzan, Big Little Lies), Gustaf

RITERS adopt pseudonyms for a host of different reasons. Mary Ann Evans used George Eliot because she didn’t believe women’s literature was taken seriously. Thanks for nothing, Jane Austen! Agatha Christie used Mary Westmacott to free herself from the expectations of her fans. Thanks for nothing, Jane Marple! And JK Rowling used Robert Galbraith in a quest for “unvarnished feedback”. Thanks for nothing, James Potter!

Step aside Chitty Chitty’s Child Catcher, you’ve got company even you wouldn’t want to keep

(boat-builder Floki in Vikings) and Valter (Arn … so the one who’s going to end up emulating Daniel Baldwin). The old classic ones BUT THE King treats don’t end there as Cinemateket currently has a season dedicated to 1980s cinema he inspired. Miss Pet Sematary (Sep 16; 20:45), Christine (Sep 9; 21:30), Firestarter (Sep 20; 21:45) and The Running Man (Sep 9; 21:15) at your peril if you’re brave enough to keep your eyes open. And while we’re there, King himself would surely love to drop in at the Stanley Kubrick season, which includes screenings of early films Paths of Glory (Sep 24; 20:00), The Killing (Sep 27; 19:30), Killer’s Kiss (Sep 20; 17:15)

and Fear and Desire (Sep 24; 18:30). But who needs King when we’ve got Matthew Modine – another star of Stranger Things – who is co-introducing a screening of Kubrick’s epic Vietnam film Full Metal Jacket (Sep 22; 19:15), along with horror films as good as Rosemary’s Baby (Sep 12; 21:15) and Psycho (Sep 14, 20 & 23). The other ones ELSEWHERE this issue, we’ve got four other films hitting cinemas. Loving (79; Aug 31), a very early 2016 Oscar frontrunner until Moonlight picked up the inevitable blacklash mantle, is getting a very late release. It tells the story of a mixed race marriage that ended up with the newlyweds both being sent

to jail in 1960 America. Ruth Negga, who picked up an Oscar nomination, and the always dependable Aussie actor Joel Edgerton star, and the reviews are good. Back for third helpings are The Trip to Spain (65; Aug 31) and Cars 3 (59; Aug 31). British comedians Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon drive fast cars and perform silly voices in the former, and less known American actors do the same in the latter. That leaves The Hitman’s Bodyguard (50; Aug 31), an opportunity for Ryan Reynolds and Samuel Jackson to prove that for every half-decent film they make, the Devil requires them to make half a dozen turkeys. A pact with Satan … so that’s why King gave us Bachman.

’loving’

film of the month Aug 31st – Sept 10th experience Jeff Nichols’ 2016-masterpiece: The true story of Richard and Mildred Loving – a couple whose arrest for interracial marriage in 1960s Virginia would change history. Presented with CPH PIX. We present some 50 films with English dialogue or subtitles every month. See what’s on at cinemateket.dk or visit us in Gothersgade 55

INOUT:TV

1 - 14 September 2017

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

DIANA, OUR MOTHER: HER LIFE AND LEGACY FACEBOOK PAGE

DIANA, OUR MOTHER VARIOUS TIMES, DR2 & TV2

TOP PICK

WITHOUT any football, the British media have been missing a momentous event to unite the country in grief. Until now. On Thursday, months of salacious muck-raking climaxed as the country gathered around the idiot box to mark the 20th anniversary of Diana’s death. Thanks to Diana, Our Mother: Her Life and Legacy, Diana: In her own words (TV2; Aug 31, 22:45 & Sep 3, 16:20) and Diana: The

“Well done Mother. I think you’re ready for the round pegs now”

COMING SOON Anything but atypical

stars Sean Bean as a 19th century London investigator of macabre cases, and Stan Lee’s Lucky Man (SVT1; Sep 1, 22:15), the comic book tale of a detective (James Nesbit) who can control his own luck. Trying telling that to the unlucky subjects in House of Hypochondriacs (DR2; Sep 4, 20:00) or the victims of Evolution of Evil (DRK; Sep 2, 21:00). Elsewhere, it’s a strong week

for docudramas with Au Pairs in Australia (SVT1; Sep 4, 22:40), Rich Renters (DR3; Sep 1, 20:00) and Million Pound Party People (DR3; Sep 12, 20:50) leading the way; we’ve got S5 of the Voice Junior (TV2; Sep 9, 20:00) and S2 of Billions (SVT1; Sep 3, 22:15); and there’s two hours of Sofie Hagen’s standup (Zulu; Sep 1, 20:55) – on the same night Zulu should be encouraging people to go to its comedy festival! (BH)

DR2; Sep 14, 21:30 Catching a Killer: The Wind in the Willows Murder

FAMILY entertainment doesn’t come much better than new Netflix series Atypical (Metacritic 66), the story of an 18-year-old with functional autism negotiating the minefield that is high school dating. The crush on his shrink feels like a bum steer when it becomes so pivotal to the plot, but otherwise strong support from Jennifer Jason Leigh

and relative newcomer Brigette Lundy-Paine ensure this is a fun series for the entire family to enjoy – if laughing at the bluntness of kids with autism is your kind of thing. Staying on Netflix, send the kids to bed because if the Mexican cartel frightens you, you’ll love Ozark (67), a series that sets new standards in brutality. Series

creator Jason Bateman is the last man standing after the cartel discovers his accountancy firm has been skimming during the laundry, and he relocates his family to Missouri to stay alive – a fate, it transpires, which is only marginally less worse than death. Staying in thriller territory, the eight-episode miniseries Manhunt: Unabomber (71) starring

ALSO NEW

Sam Worthington and Paul Bettany, based on the true-life investigation in 1996, comes recommended, as do The Sinner (71), a new anthology series starring Jessica Biel as a young mother who attacks someone on the beach, and Me Mercedes (71), an unsolved psycho killer adaptation of a Stephen King book starring Brendan Gleeson. (BH) FRANCESCO CRIPPA

GRZEGORZ JERECZEK

BISER TODOROV

THE CL is back: with some good games for a change. First Barca host Juve, and then Liverpool welcome Sevilla (3+; Sep 13, 20:45). The return follows WC internationals that include England vs Slovakia (K6; Sep 4, 20:45) and Spain vs Italy. Elsewhere, we’ve got the Italian GP; the US Open (Eurosport) and La Vuelta (TV2 Sport) end on the weekend of Sep 9-10; and the NFL (3+, Sep 10, 22:15) kicks off. (BH)

People’s Princess (SVT1, Sep 2, 21:30), it was time to milk the cash cow. Just like with the footy, Denmark’s state-funded broadcasters are sharing the rights so the programs will be impossible to miss. Will Wills venture little? Will Harry be more interesting than his brother? Will some tape enlighten us on Diana’s love of themeparks? But in case it’s not fantastical enough, the 2013 film Diana (TV2, Sep 1, 21:05) will ensure your night ends, just like with the football, badly. (BH) PAUL K

SOME THINGS need to be seen to be believed. Catching a Killer: The Wind in the Willows Murder is the story of Britain’s most clueless murderer. Michael Danaher tortured and killed a man to steal his first edition copy of the children’s classic and then listed it on eBay. Police later discovered a selfie taken outside the victim’s house. Less far-fetched is The Frankenstein Chronicles (SVT2; Sep 6, 22:15), which

TOP SPORT 3+, Sep 12, 20:45 Champions League: Barcelona vs Juventus

K6, Sep 2, 20:45 2018 World Cup qualifier: Spain vs Italy

TOP FILM DR1, Sep 8, 21:25 Fathers & Daughters

DRK, Sep 1, 23:00 The Whistleblower

DRK, Sep 14, 21:30 The Invisible Woman

3+,Sep 3, 12:30 Formula 1: Italian GP

AARON Paul hasn’t exactly been thriving since his big ‘break’. The Path is a bore, as is Smashed (DR3; Sep 6, 22:00), the story of a couple whose main connection is booze. Fathers & Daughters with Russell Crowe has its moments though. Elsewhere, Charles Dickens’ mistress is The Invisible Woman, but more out in the open is The Whistleblower – both are recommended. (BH)

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

1 - 14 September 2017

HELLOpenhagen When

19 September 16.00-19.00

Photo by: Christian Alsing / Copenhagen Media Center

Welcome speech by Mayor Carl Christian Ebbesen, Culture & Leisure Administration, at 16.30 Where Copenhagen City Hall

Free of char ge Please

Get inspired. Get involved. Perhaps you are new in town, perhaps you have been here for years: Join us at HELLOpenhagen and discover new aspects of Greater Copenhagen and southern Sweden. Taste our delicious City Hall pancakes and experience surprise performances, while you explore local cultural and leisure life activities â&#x20AC;&#x201C; from art and events to dance and volunteering. This is your chance to add music, sports and fun to your daily life, and expand your network at the same time. See you at HELLOpenhagen!