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NATIONAL Løkke steps down at Venstre – are his warnings prescient or sour grapes?

4 SPORT

Praise the Lord!

Bendtner sends FCK fans into a commotion as they scramble to buy his shirt

PRODUCING: LOTS TO CHEW ON

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Some techno for the Metro Big party to mark opening on September 29 HISTORY

EDWARD OWEN

Was Trump’s offer really that “absurd” given the USA’s last purchase from Denmark?

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16

ON STAGES

Always back the outsider!

‘The Clean House’ and ‘Look Back in Anger’ the standouts on autumn theatre line-up

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HE LONG-AWAITED Metro City Ring will open on Sunday September 29.

Celebrations will take place from 13:00 at City Hall Square and include live music.

The opening ceremony will begin at 14:00, where the queen will be in attendance, and there will also be a showcase highlighting how the new line improves the city.

Free rides for all AFTER eight long years of construction – and half the city looking like a building site – citizens will be rewarded with several hours of free travel

throughout the Metro system.

The introduction of 17 new stations will further connect the city and its citizens. With plans for further expansion to Nordhavn and Sydhavn, Copenhagen will have a total of 44 Metro stations by 2024.

Cutting the ribbon MEANWHILE, five members of the public will be among those cutting ribbons to open stations – specifically Frederiksberg Allé, Nørrebros Runddel, Trianglen, Enghave Plads and Marble Church.

Readers of Minby.dk were invited to nominate someone worthy of the honour and to explain why, with the local news site suggesting it could be somebody who has been plagued by the nuisance of the construction work!

18-20

Ninth warmest summer

Danes: happy; expats: sad

GIVEN the rainy weather of late, it looks safe to say the summer is over, and it has been unseasonably warm, ranking as the ninth hottest since records began, with an average temperature of 16.8 degrees over June, July and August. According to DMI, an average July prevented 2019 from challenging last year’s all-time record of 17.7 degrees.

DENMARK has the second best lifestyle balance in the world, according to an index published

by Sleep Junkie, which Austria topped. Happiness, lots of sleep and holidays, and a short working week were the main determinants.

However, Denmark is the second hardest country to settle in for expats, according to an InterNations survey, with 20 percent claiming they were unhappy.

Opioid warning FENTANYL, a synthetic pain medication 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine, is increasingly being abused for recreational purposes in Denmark, and already the deaths of at least 10 people have been linked to the prescription opioid. Fentanyl first popped up in Fredericia, but has now spread across the country.

Less meat for lunch CITY HALL has voted in favour of a new food strategy that will cut down on meat products and instead favour plant-based food in its public sector, which serves around 70,000 meals at kindergartens, canteens and hospitals on a daily basis. The strategy also includes reducing food waste and improving health.

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Diplomacy

A CPH POST SPECIAL DIPLOMACY MAGAZINE

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LOCAL

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

13 September - 10 October 2019

Championed as highly liveable and safe

ONLINE THIS WEEK NINNA Hedeager Olsen, the city deputy mayor for technology and the environment, returned to work on Monday, bringing an end to sick leave that begun on April 24. The leave stemmed from an alleged rape carried out by a former Enhedslisten colleague at a party at her home – during which she was fondled. A city court verdict on the rape charge is expected on September 25.

Iron Age findings

Congestion headache DANISH society loses 2 billion kroner every year due to the capital’s bus passengers getting stuck in gridlock, according to a report based on Movia data. Meanwhile, Copenhagen-bound commuters are now having to leave home as early as 04:00 or 05:00 to reach work on time due to the heavy traffic.

Motorway traffic to the capital has increased by 40 percent since 2010.

City bikes targeted

WO RECENT surveys have named Copenhagen as one of the most liveable cities in the world, and also one of the safest.

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Education, along with high scores (over 95) in all the other categories: Stability, Healthcare and Culture & Environment.

Vienna topped the index, followed by Melbourne, Sydney, Osaka, Calgary, Vancouver, Toronto, Tokyo, Copenhagen and Adelaide. Damascus was last.

No liveability weaknesses THE DANISH capital ranked ninth on the 2019 Global Liveability Index published by the Economist Intelligence Unit – one of only two European cities to make the top 10.

Copenhagen scored a maximum 100 for Infrastructure and

Excellent personal security MEANWHILE, Copenhagen has ranked joint eighth on the 2019 Safe Cities Index – again as one of only two European cities to make the top 10.

The Danish capital ranked second for the Personal Security parameter, and also highly for

CHRISTIAN WENANDE

Always aspiring for excellence

Digital Security (15), Health Security (11) and Infrastructure Security (20).

Tokyo finished top, followed

by Singapore, Osaka, Amsterdam, Sydney, Toronto, Washington DC, Copenhagen, Seoul and Melbourne. Lagos was last.

‘Lynetteholmen’ gets another 92 hectares

A

THE WHITE city bikes have been hit by a tsunami of vandalism. Half of the 1,400 bikes are currently in the workshop being fixed. Vandals are targeting the charging stations and the bikes’ tablets – so much so that By - og Pendlercykel Fonden is replacing them with an app.

Still encircling island THE NEW plan reveals that the island’s land mass will still encircle Refshaleøen but reach out further into the Øresund.

According to Copenhagen Municipality, the increased space will enable room for more housing (room for 35,000 residents

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CITY HALL has confirmed that helping the growing number of vulnerable Greenlanders in Copenhagen is a big priority. Some 5.75 million kroner will be found in the next budget to launch some long-term efforts to tackle their poor health, dependency on alcohol and cannabis, and difficulty overcoming cultural barriers.

Tourism trampede

New island getting a whole lot bigger PROPOSED artificial island in Copenhagen Harbour will be much larger than originally stated, according to plans outlined by the Transport Ministry, Copenhagen Municipality and By & Havn.

The island of ‘Lynetteholmen’ has now grown to a size of 282 hectares – up from the 190 hectares outlined last year.

MANY ØSTERBRO residents near Fælledparken quickly tired of the daily firework display that followed the DHL Run, a five-day event in late August that attracts 120,000 participants. Fireworks made a return to the race this year after a prolonged absence.

Aid for Greenlanders

KØBENHAVNS KOMMUNE

EXCAVATIONS carried out in Glostrup ahead of the construction of a control tower for the future Copenhagen light rail yielded some Iron Age artefacts.

Some 33 beads made of glass and amber, clay vessels and a set of children’s teeth were among the finds.

Number two in Europe in two telling surveys

PIXABAY

Mayor back at work

Concerns over fireworks

CITY HALL has conceded that high tourist numbers are creating problems. Cruise ship visitors account for a large share of the 5.59 million foreign tourists every year, and they were recently asked whether they would pay an extra euro a day to enable the vessel to source its power from the shore whilst docked, thus cutting pollution.

Tivoli hacked From concave to convex, which is kind of sexier

was the original plan) and green endeavour.

Skaters and sweeps rejoice!

IN OTHER City Hall news, X-Hall, a new 9 million kroner skatepark located under the Bispeengbuen arch in Nørrebro, has finally opened following long administrative delays.

A public meeting will be held

at City Hall on October 3 to discuss the future protection of Amager Fælled, the largest nature area in the capital.

And City Hall has approved plans to return a 130-year-old chimney in Vesterbro to its former glory. Last December, workers at the Slagtergårdene site started to dismantle the chimney – without municipal permission. (BH)

IN EARLY August, unknown perpetrators managed to hack into ‘My Tivoli’, the theme park’s digital universe, and gain access to names, addresses and telephone numbers – around 1 percent of the profiles.

Body in the Lakes A 70-YEAR-OLD Chinese tourist was fished out of the Sortedam Lake on August 13, barely alive. He later died in hospital.

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INTERNATIONAL

13 September - 10 October 2019

ONLINE THIS WEEK Airport go-ahead

NOBODY in Denmark was spared the news that Donald Trump cancelled his visit in early September – at a cost of 4 million kroner to the tax-payer. He called Danish PM Mette Frederiksen “nasty” for calling his offer to buy Greenland “absurd” and the furore rumbled on for weeks.

GREENLAND has approved the 3.5 billion kroner construction of two airports that will enable the island to receive much bigger planes and therefore much larger numbers of tourists – most particularly from North America. The Danish government has injected 700 million kroner and lent another 900 million kroner at a favourable rate.

Bomb trail to Sweden THERE have been a number of arrests, extraditions and releases of Swedish men suspected of being involved in detonating a bomb outside the Skattestyrelsen HQ in Nordhavn in July. Meanwhile, another explosion has occurred – this time outside a residential property in the Greater Copenhagen suburb of Hundige on August 27.

Sub detection upgrade DANISH Defence has significantly upgraded its submarine detection capability after securing an advanced system from the US in a deal worth an estimated 1.3 billion kroner. The new technology includes nine sonars that will be fitted to the Defence’s new Seahawk helicopters, along with sonar buoys.

Far right group warning

Nuclear ship to visit

JAKOB Scharf, the former head of PET, has said that society needs to be wary of the rise of the nationalistic youth organisation Generation Identitær (originally Génération Identitaire), which wants all non-western immigrants to leave Europe. GI has branches in Copenhagen and Aarhus and as many as 100 members in Denmark.

THE ‘SEVMORPUT’, a 30-year-old Russian nuclear-powered container ship, is expected to sail through Danish waters in late September. The jaunt will be part of its maiden journey through newly opened Arctic shipping lanes from eastern Russia to Europe.

It will travel north of Siberia and then around Scandinavia on its way to St Petersburg.

Smugglers sentenced

Not a stampede after all

THREE men have been handed sentences ranging from six to 18 months for their involvement in a cannabis smuggling operation (Amager to Norway) that hid the drug in a horse box. As many as 30 are believed to be facing time in prison.

A JUSTICE Ministry report claims that 138 Turkish people will be able to obtain family reunification following a landmark ruling by the European Court of Justice in July – far fewer than the thousands feared. In related news, PET has warned over 100 Danes that they are named as sympathisers of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in a 666-page report made for the Turkish government.

Jets deployed DENMARK’S four F-16 fighter jets have been deployed to the Sialiai air base in Lithuania where they will be based for the next three months, patrolling the airspace over the Baltic as part of the NATO presence in the region. Meanwhile, the government has agreed to deploy another mission in 2021.

Radikale wants plane tax RADIKALE wants to tax airlines 250 kroner for every tonne of CO2 emitted. Its climate spokesperson Ida Auken, the former environment minister, told TV2 that making air transport green is one of the party’s “most important requirements in the finance law negotiations”. Sweden already has such a tax.

Help with wildfire DENMARK’S emergency agency, Beredskabsstyrelsen, played a large role in helping the Greenlandic authorities stop a wildfire that started in the west of the country at the start of July.

Turkey the most perilous DANISH holiday-makers tend to need the most assistance with illnesses and injuries when visiting Turkey. In June and July, of the 4,500 Danes who contacted SOS International, 16 percent of the calls were made there – two percentage points ahead of Spain. Greece (9), the US (8) and Italy (8) completed the top five.

Dane visits every country JAKOB Øster, 47, has become the youngest Dane in history to visit all of the 196 countries in the world. He embarked on his mission in 1994.

WWII outbreak marked JEPPE Kofod, the foreign minister, visited Warsaw in Poland on September 1 to mark the 80th anniversary of the start of World War II.

The persona non grata triangle

PASS

Trump furore

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Six countries are getting a free drink from Denmark, but not taking back their returnables BEN HAMILTON

A

KRISTELIGT Dagblad article has drawn attention to how six countries receive substantial aid from Denmark, but continue to refuse to receive returned refugees.

The countries are Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Congo, Syria and Myanmar – and they will end up receiving 385 million in humanitarian aid from Denmark this year.

Hundreds in limbo A FURTHER six countries that do not receive aid have also ruled out repatriating refugees, thus making it impossible to Denmark to carry out forced expulsions of the rejected asylum-seekers.

Some 624 remain in limbo at centres across Denmark, according to Rigspolitiet figures. Dansk Folkeparti has called for an immediate suspension of humanitarian aid to the unco-operative countries.

Tanzania is not on the list

Terrific in Tanzania IN RELATED news, a report by Carnegie Consult and Royal Tropical Institute has unveiled that Denmark’s support over the years has made a real impact in Tanzania – particularly in regards to local farmers gaining access to loans and credit via the private agricultural sector support (PASS).

“PASS is both relevant and additional as a financial instrument within the agriculture sector of Tanzania. It currently serves about 166,000 end-clients (farmers), and hereby an estimated 940,000 household members, mainly by providing a guarantee to their bank,” the report revealed.

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NATIONAL

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

ONLINE THIS WEEK

THE DANES are the world’s third biggest safari-loving nation, according to an Overland Ireland survey of the planet’s biggest thrill-seekers. A poor score for scuba-diving (the worst of any nations in the top 39) saw the Danes ranked 15th on a list topped by Australia, followed by the US, the UK, New Zealand and Germany.

Lazy and boozy KIDS AGED 11-15 are too inactive, with only 26 percent exercising at least one hour per day, according to Sundhedsstyrelsen, and it doesn’t help that 20 percent of adults think it is okay for under-16s to drink alcohol, according to a TV2 poll. A further survey reveals that increasing numbers of young teens, aged 11-15, have already tried alcohol.

Eric the Red says stop RED AND green Vikings now appear on 17 traffic lights in the centre of Aarhus as part of a municipality-driven initiative to educate people about how the city was founded by the warriors. This autumn, the lights will be complemented by guided talks and facades.

Taxis scarce in sticks SOME 77 percent of Danes claim it is becoming much harder to order a taxi outside the major cities, according to a Horesta survey.

Many hotels concur, claiming that many taxis don’t even bother turning up. Many blame a stagnant industry that is issuing far fewer permits following the introduction of new regulations.

Majority are speeding A RÅDET for Sikker Trafik study reveals that the majority of motorists exceed the 80 km/h speed limit on country roads – with one in four regularly hitting 100 km/h. Some 60 percent of all traffic fatalities in 2017 and 2018 occurred on similar stretches of road, and in 62 percent of those, the motorists were driving 80-100 km/h.

Will Løkke’s words end up haunting us?

New government gearing up to budget with spending promises, but will it keep them all?

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ILL LARS Løkke Rasmussen, who has stepped down as the leader of Venstre along with his deputy Kristian Jensen, be remembered as a Cassandra-type figure?

As he handed over the reins of power to the new Socialdemokratiet-led government in late June, he criticised their spending plans.

Biting words THERE was a portentous tone as he wrote: “Didn’t they forget to reveal how the bill will be paid?

Many visions, but unfortunately unfinanced and unspecific.”

But will it turn out to be prescient?

Jensen contends that the government is already making up excuses, such as its claim that the national treasury is lacking 3.5 billion kroner in unpaid bills – particularly in relation to the police, the Tax Ministry and a temporary energy fee that was supposed to bring the state coffers upwards of 1.2 billion kroner.

Jensen points out that S backed many of the deals that led to the shortfall. “This is their tactic when they can’t follow through with their election promises,” he told Børsen.

gions – a commitment that will raise healthcare spending by 1.5 billion kroner next year and abolish the previous government’s ‘reprioritisation contribution’ scheme.

The extra funds will enable hospitals to hire more staff, from January onwards, and medical schools to train 100 extra doctors.

And there is also good news for struggling families as the Employment Ministry has revealed that a temporary tax-free grant has been agreed in co-operation with fellow red bloc parties SF, Enhedslisten and Radikale.

The move was in response to the previous government’s ‘kontanthjælp’ benefit ceiling cap, which the ministry contends has put thousands of struggling Danish families in an even more precarious position.

STM.DKC

Nation of safari lovers

13 September - 10 October 2019

ONLINE THIS WEEK Changing jewellery tastes DANES are increasingly selling their jewellery – most particularly inherited items such as heirlooms, which are not to their taste, or reminders of a previous relationship – and silverware, which many find a hassle to clean. The high price of gold, which has been climbing steadily this decade and is now four times the value it was in 2000, is also a factor.

It’s goodbye from him

Fatal crash charges

Climate and education ELSEWHERE, Dan Jørgensen, the climate and energy minister, is reasonably optimistic that Parliament will soon sign a bill to cut the country’s greenhouse gas emissions by 70 percent.

Ane Halsboe-Jørgensen, the education minister, has indicated she wants to change the grading system currently used by Danish educational establishments, so they have more leeway to recognise exceptional work, even if it is error-strewn.

A UNION rep from German transport firm DB Cargo has been charged in connection with the train crash that killed eight people on the Great Belt Bridge in early January. He is accused of removing a name from a list to conceal who was responsible for loading and checking the freight train that caused the accident.

Healthcare and grants NEVERTHELESS, it has delivered on its promise to find extra funds for the re-

Security and driving NICK HEKKERUP, the justice minister, has called for more CCTV outside public buildings. His comments came in the wake of the early August bomb attacks.

At the same press conference, PM Mette Frederiksen called for tighter security on the border with Sweden following the arrest of two young Swedish men in connection with the Skattestyrelsen explosion.

Additionally, Hækkerup has questioned whether a maximum sentence of eight years in prison for dangerous driving is enough in Denmark.

A love of camping

Holiday shake-up

LGBTs thriving

DENMARK is on course to break the record 177,514 overnight stays at a campsite set last year. This year’s total exceeded the 2013 figure of 105,000 in mid-August. In related news, tourists have been accused of inconsiderately trampling over one of the country’s most beloved nature areas, Vadehavet (Wadden Sea), which is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

FROM 1 May 2020, due to a transitional period as the country adopts a new holiday pay structure, workers in Denmark will only be getting 16.64 days they can spend up until August 31.

In related news, the government wants to change parental leave laws to make sure fathers take more. At present, they take an average of 31 days, whilst the mothers average 298.

INCREASING numbers of gay and transsexual people are thriving at their workplaces, according to a survey carried out for the Equality Ministry. Some 69 percent say they are never bullied or slighted at work. In related news, a gay penguin is raising a chick as a single father at Odense Zoo. Last year he was one of two males to kidnap a chick, but the couple have since split.

All change at Venstre FINALLY, over at Venstre, Jakob Ellemann-Jensen is hotly tipped to replace Rasmussen, with Inge Støjberg, the former immigration and integration minister, and Ellen Trane Nørby, the former health minister, likely to face off for the role of deputy.

The new leader and deputy will be decided by party members at an extraordinary national congress on September 21. (CPH POST)

Thieves targeting dentists THERE have been 12 break-ins at dental surgeries in Denmark – most of them in South Denmark and north Zealand – so far this year.

The thieves mainly target high-tech appliances, such as 3D equipment.

In other crime news, Copenhagen Police concedes that too many criminals are evading punishment due to poorly-prepared, overworked public prosecutors.

Military sex abuse survey DANISH Defence is in the process of compiling a questionnaire to send out to its employees this autumn to establish how endemic sexual abuse is within the country’s armed services. In related news, the number of female conscripts is steadily rising – up from 17.3 percent in 2017 to 24.4 percent this year. Military service for women is voluntary in Denmark.

Double gap years popular ALMOST half of all upper-secondary school graduates took a double gap year in 2017, with 85 percent choosing to take at least one in 2018 – the highest figures since the data was first collected in 2004, according to Danmarks Statistik.

SCIENCE

13 September - 10 October 2019

Fossil fuel dependence

The Einstein Girl

THERE may be more electric cars and trains, but fossil fuels will account for 92 percent of the transport sector’s needs in 2030 – a small drop from the 95 percent used today, according to a Energistyrelsen report. In related news, concerns have been raised that biomass emissions are not being accounted for in calculating Denmark’s carbon footprint.

THE NATIONALITY of the Egtved Girl, a Bronze Age woman buried in around 1370 BC, has changed more times than Einstein’s. After the National Museum concluded she was German, Aarhus University insisted she was from Jutland, and now Gothenburg University claims she came from Bornholm, southeastern Sweden or southwestern Norway.

Poor people age faster

ONLINE THIS WEEK

5

Gay syphilis rate falls

Sperm smugglers

A DANISH-UK study has identified 19 distinct stages of sleep, as opposed to the four identified in the 1930s, and it is believed the knowledge could help people combat insomnia. The researchers believe that stimulating the brain in the right place at the right time with an electrode pulse can trigger the brain to enter a deep sleep.

FAR FEWER gay men are getting infected by syphilis, according to the Statens Serum Institut. However, the rate is unchanged among heterosexual men and women. In other STD news, Danish and British researchers have successfully tested a chlamydia vaccine on 35 subjects in the UK – the first of several steps towards getting it on the market.

TWO DANISH farmers have been sentenced to two and three years in prison in Perth, Australia, after they were found guilty of smuggling pig semen in shampoo bottles into the country. The pair have been accused of repeatedly smuggling the semen since 2009 to breed ‘super-sows’ and gain an unfair competitive advantage over other pig farmers in the country.

Abundance of cats

Dire on the seabed

Still top for eHealth

Alternative meds warning

POOR PEOPLE age faster than the wealthy, according to a Center for Healthy Ageing report at the University of Copenhagen. They are also more likely to suffer from lower hand strength, more difficulty remembering things and higher inflammation levels.

AT THE end of July, there were alltime record 1,525 cats in residence at the country’s eight animal shelters. In other animal news, a herd of 20 wild horses are being released in the Lindenborg Ådal nature area in north Jutland in October.

DANISH waters are suffering from a dearth of oxygen, according to several Danish environmental organisations, which claim that an area the size of 14,000 sq km is now affected. Bottom-trawling and emissions are blamed for the poor state of the seabed, which is killing millions of fish.

DENMARK continues to lead the way for eHealth among the EU countries, and it has jumped from 20th to fourth place for ‘telehealth’ – the overall usage of digitally-supported healthcare services. It also scored highly for the use of electronic patient journals, health data and clinical decision support.

SERIOUSLY-ILL citizens jeopardise their health by opting for alternative treatment methods at the expense of ordinary medical treatment, claims the Lægeforeningen medical Association, which is accordingly opposing practitioners from registering on the RAB scheme.

Nature in crisis

SUNDHEDSSTYRELSEN recommends that everyone should avoid e-cigarettes – particularly children, youths and women who are pregnant or nursing. The health authority’s advice follows a spate of serious lung illnesses in the US that have been attributed to vaping.

Wild energy proposal

Osteoporosis threat

Traffic noise discomfort

WIND ENERGY from Europe – 497 exajoule produced by 11 million wind turbines – can fulfil the world’s electricity needs by 2050, according to a study involving Aalborg University. In related news, Horns Rev 3, the country’s largest offshore wind farm, has just opened. Its 49 giant turbines will service the needs of 425,000 households annually.

HALF A million Danes suffer from the potentially life-threatening disease osteoporosis and are unaware of it, according to a new survey. Doctors are urging the Health Ministry to launch an action plan to identify the Danes most at risk.

SOME 14 percent of population are bothered by traffic-related noise, according to a Statens Institut for Folkesundhed report – up from 6 percent in 2000.

Broken down, 22 percent of apartment dwellers said they were bothered compared to 10 percent of those who reside in houses. Nevertheless, noisy neighbours (affecting 17 percent) are more annoying!

THE STATE of Danish nature has not improved since 2013, according to a European Commission report that assesses the status of 60 EU-protected habitats along with 80 species. The environment minister, Lea Wermelin, called the results “disappointing”. Only 8 percent of Denmark’s total land area is zoned as protected under the EU’s Natura 2000 guidelines. The EU average is 18 percent.

Chiropractor central OVER THE past decade, the number of infants who see a chiropractor has more than doubled, according to Danmarks Statistik.

Some 26 percent of the 61,000 Danish babies born in 2017 saw one during their first year of life.

E-cig warning

Elderly prone to accidents ALMOST every tenth cyclist over the age of 65 has fallen off their bicycle in the last year, according to an Epinion study for Rådet for Sikker Trafik. Furthermore, the age group is responsible for half of the nation’s fatalities and a fifth of the serious injuries. The main cause of the accidents are bikes with high frames, which make getting on and off difficult for people with limited mobility.

Insomnia breakthrough

Ticks fully loaded THIS YEAR has seen a record number of ticks, and a new study reveals that around a third carry the borrelia bacterial infection. Of the thousands of Danes infected with borrelia every year, around 150 contract the dreaded Lyme Disease, according to Rigshospitalet.

Battling bacteria A NEW STARTUP, SniprBiome, which uses gene-editing technology to kill antibiotic-resistant bacteria, has received a record 320 million kroner in funding to get started. In related news, the bacteria vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), initially identified two years ago at a Copenhagen hospital, has now spread to all five regions.

C O P E N H AG E N

Ellen is electric THE WORLD’S most powerful fully electric ferry has made its maiden voyage across the South Funen Archipelago. ‘Ellen’ is powered by 840 batteries that account for 50 tonnes of the ship’s total weight of 747 tonnes.

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CULTURE

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

ONLINE THIS WEEK

Shortlisted trio THE DANISH Film Institute has shortlisted ‘Dronningen’, ‘Før frosten’ and ‘Ser du månen, Daniel’ for Denmark’s entry in the Oscars as ‘Best Non-English Language Film’. The nominee will be selected on September 24, after which the Academy will confirm a nine-film shortlist in December, and then the final five nominees in January.

I buy them for you

At theatres: Return of the Jihadi Fast adaptation, but not quite as quick as Breivik

ONLINE THIS WEEK

NDERS Breivik’s gun was barely cold before Christian Lollike of Cafe Teatret announced he was making a play about the deranged killer’s manifesto.

So it is of little surprise to learn that Teatret Fair Play in the northwestern Zealand town of Holbæk has adapted the story of the 15-year-old Kundby girl who planned terror attacks on two Danish schools in 2015.

DR writes the trailer “WHAT MAKES a 15-year-old girl plan to attack two schools with homemade bombs? How could this happen and what can we learn?” DR asks in its article breaking the news – an opening that sounds uncannily like a trailer.

The dramatisation, which has been written without any input from ‘The Jihad Girl’ – now aged 19, she is midway through her eight-year sentence – will be called ‘Den første dråbe blod’ (the first drop of blood) and performed in October from the 3rd to the 12th.

Obliged and curious “WE HAVE an obligation to tell a story that happened in Holbæk Municipality,” explained Teatret Fair Play director Robert Parr to DR. “Like everyone else, we were curious, but also deeply shocked that it could happen. It is an important socially-relevant story, and it is pertinent to take on the dialogue about how it could happen.”

As the play’s promotional material concludes: “When it can happen in Holbæk, it can happen anywhere.”

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CANADIAN rock singer Bryan Adams is performing at Forum Copenhagen on March 17, burlesque superstarTHEATRE Dita Von Teese is bringing her ‘Glamonatrix’ show to Gamle Scene on May 18 and 20, and British footy podcast is visiting Bremen Teater on April 20. All tickets are available from ticketmaster.dk.

13 September - 10 October 2019

New youth island DET DANSKE Spejderkorps has set a target for its new youth island, Ungdomsøen, which opened on August 24 some 6 km off the coast of Copenhagen. By 2023, it wants every other youth in Denmark to be aware of its existence – and for 100,000 of them to have visited it in the past year.

Honour for Brit BRITISH actress Dawn Wall has been shortlisted for best actress in the forthcoming Copenhagen Web Fest awards – the first such accolades for online TV series in Scandinavia.

Danish version of ‘Top Gear’ DISCOVERY Networks Denmark has confirmed that a Danish version of the popular BBC motoring series ‘Top Gear’ will debut on Kanal 5 in the spring of 2020. In other TV news, a comparitech.com study claims that Danish subscribers to Netflix pay the second highest prices in the world.

Packing their trunks FOUR RETIRED circus elephants destined for the scrapheap have been handed an unexpected lifeline by the government. After paying 11 million kroner to Cirkus Arena and Cirkus Trapez for the elephants – Rambolina, Lara, Djungla and Jenny – the Ministry of the Environment and Food will give them away for free to the buyer who can offer the highest level of welfare.

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‘Friends’ gets Lego set

EVEN THOUGH the play was originally written in the 1970s, the piece remains as relevant as ever – particularly as the everyday struggles faced by women of colour haven’t diminished very much in spite of the #MeToo and the Black Lives Matter movements. Staged in a rather intimate setting at KuBe, in Ntozake Shange’s ‘For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow Is Enuf’, the entire cast delivered strong performances of their respective monologues, employing on-point voice modulation and gracious dance movements. It really struck a chord. (AR)

THIS MAJOR new exhibition at Denmark’s National Gallery SMK sets out to re-examine Danish art’s so-called Golden Age, contextualising it between a series of cataclysmic events, and it is highly recommended. Set in rather more sumptuous surroundings than most exhibitions, this show is an absolute feast for the eyes. Christen Købke’s views of the Copenhagen Lakes, Danish Arcadia from JT Lundbye, artists painting each other at work, records of sojourns abroad in Italy and further afield, and art as a national political statement – it’s all here. (SG)

IN LIGHT rain as most of the audience sat in plastic ponchos, this performance was truly one to remember! After all, enduring the weather is part of the charm of the Shakespeare Festival. Drinking hot coffee whilst wrapped up in a soft blanket and the aforementioned poncho, I felt totally shielded from the wind and rain – and totally cosy. In such conditions, “blow, winds and crack your cheeks” definitely brought an added sense of gloom to the sad story of Shakespeare’s ‘King Lear’. If anything, it added to the experience – for the audience anyway. (ER)

LEGO HAS commemorated the 25th anniversary of the premiere of US sitcom ‘Friends’ with a special box set that includes Central Perk, the characters’ favourite coffee shop. It was released online on September 1, but won’t hit Danish stores until next year.

Big role for Dane DANISH-ARGENTINIAN transgender actress May Simón Lifschitz, 24, is on the verge of stardom after landing a major role in the new Netflix series ‘Warrior Nun’, which will premiere next year.

SPORT

13 September - 10 October 2019

ONLINE THIS WEEK Fuglsang sings at last

BRØNDBY and FC Midtjylland have both been knocked out of the Europa League, leaving FC Copenhagen as Denmark’s only representative. In the group stage, FCK will face Dynamo Kiev, FC Lugano and Malmö FF. Back home, meanwhile, the Lions trail FCM in the Superliga standings by a point despite setting a league record by winning their first seven games.

JAKOB Fuglsang finally secured his first Grand Tour triumph after winning the 16th stage of the Vuelta a Espana on September 9. The Astana rider managed to escape from a large breakaway group on the final ascent and hold off a late challenge to secure the win. In other cycling news, Niklas Larsen, 22, from Team Coloquick won the PostNord Denmark Rundt cycling race and another top prospect, Mikkel Bjerg, has signed a three-year deal with UAE Team Emirates.

Olympian eyes the cage MARK O Madsen, 34, the former Olympic silver medalist in wrestling, is heading to Las Vegas in pursuit of his Ultimate Fighting Championship dream. Madsen has teamed up with management agency Dominance MMA, whose roster includes reigning lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, the fighter who memorably bested Conor McGregor in October 2018.

Ajax is Daneless FOLLOWING Ajax’s 153 million kroner sale of Kasper Dolberg to OGC Nice, the Dutch club has no Danish players in its first team squad for the first time in 10 years. In other transfer news, national team captain Simon Kjær has moved from Sevilla to Atalanta on loan, and Christian Eriksen is staying put at Tottenham, despite rumoured bids from Real Madrid and PSG.

More misery for Mags DESPITE starting eighth on the grid, Formula One driver Kevin Magnussen again failed to finish inside the points at the Belgian Grand Prix – his tenth scoreless drive in what is turning into a season of frustration. After finishing ninth in the standings last year, he is currently 16th.

Silver in worlds ANDERS Antonsen was the runner-up at the BWF World Championships in badminton, losing 9-21, 3-21 to Kento Momota of Japan. Denmark has produced three world champs since the event’s inaugural year in 1977, with Viktor Axelsen the most recent victor in 2017.

Woz sixth richest WITH ANNUAL earnings of $7.5 million, Caroline Wozniacki is the sixth best female athlete in the world, according to the Forbes top 100, which saw the sport take 12 of the top 15 places. On the court, meanwhile, she was knocked out in the third round of the US Open, 4-6, 4-6, by Canadian 19-year-old Bianca Andreescu – the eventual winner.

Tragic death DANISH national youth basketball player Jonathan Adou, 17, has died following a tragic accident in the water by Islands Brygge, Copenhagen. Adou played for Værløse Basketball Club.

Towers undefeated THE COPENHAGEN Towers remain unbeaten with a 8-0 record after a comfortable 68-22 demolition of the Søllerød Gold Diggers in the annual Friday Night Football game at Gentofte Stadium on August 23.

Two make UEFA list

All hail 32: the number of the Lord FCK

Sole survivor

7

Nicklas Bendtner returns to the club where he finessed his talents before embarking for Arsenal CHRISTIAN WENANDE

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ICKLAS Bendtner’s arrival at FC Copenhagen, secured in the final minutes of August 31, has sparked a shopping frenzy among fans.

In just 17 hours, home shirts bearing ‘Bendtner 32’ sold out in all adult sizes – a stampede perhaps prompted by the memory that Bendtner played youth football for FCK before signing for Arsenal at the age of 16.

Whilst shirts can still be pre-ordered, fans can now expect to wait anywhere between 7-14 days before they can pay homage to the Lord.

No interest – promise!

NICKLAS Bendtner has signed on a short contract for the rest of 2019, leaving Norway’s biggest club, Rosenborg, where he hadn’t played a competitive match since April after falling out of favour with

Sir Nicklas is back

the management.

The move came despite FCK coach Ståle Solbakken stating several times (and as recently as August 30) that he was not signing the 31-year-old.

However, the Lions were hit by a striker issue due to injuries to Dame N’Doye and Jonas Wind. And with 35 goals in 86 games for Rosenborg, Solbakken will be hoping Bendtner can fill the void.

BORUSSIA Dortmund forward Jacob Bruun Larsen, 20, and Bologna striker Andreas Skov Olsen, 19, have been included on UEFA’s top 50 list of young talents to watch out for.

Eighth tier game for legend RAFAEL van der Vaart was back in action last month, strapping on his boots to play for eighth-tier side Veldtofte Idrætsparkk – a warm-up for his testimonial in Hamburg in October. The Dutch legend’s final two clubs were FC Midtjylland and then Esbjerg – primarily because his girlfriend, the handball player Estavana Polman, was playing in Esbjerg.

Hurling success LOCAL team Viking Gaels Hurling won the Shield Trophy at the European Hurling Championships in Copenhagen on September 7 – the first time the Nordic region has hosted a round of the championship in over a decade.

Hungry for goals THE DANISH women’s football side beat Malta 8-0 and then Israel 3-0 to kick off their Euro 2021 qualifiers in style. Bosnia and Herzegovina and Italy also have six points from two games, with only the winners of each group guaranteed to progress.

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BUSINESS

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

ONLINE THIS WEEK

13 September - 10 October 2019

Surveys boost airport’s sky-high ambition

ONLINE THIS WEEK

Recession fears growing

Jysk founder dies

FEARS are growing over the negative or zero growth seen in Denmark’s biggest export markets: Germany, Sweden and the UK. Exports fell by 15, 12 and 8 percent respectively in 2018.

The concern was exacerbated by a 1.4 percent fall in world trade in June as the US-China trade war continues to take its toll.

Nevertheless, overall growth in the EU stands at 0.2 percent in 2019.

LARS LARSEN, the founder of the retail chain Jysk, has passed away – just months after he stepped down as chair following a diagnosis of liver cancer. He was 71. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the company Larsen started in 1979, which has 2,700 stores worldwide.

Plant delayed again

Lego happy with result LEGO HAS confirmed a “satisfactory” 4 percent increase in revenue over the first six months of 2019 – its first increase since 2017. The net operating profit fell slightly from 3.0 to 2.7 billion kroner. In related news, Maersk has posted a profit of 1.020 billion kroner for the second quarter of 2019 following a loss of 213 million kroner for the same period last year.

Just Eat tax claim DENMARK has made a claim for over a billion Danish kroner in unpaid taxes from the takeaway giant Just Eat, citing a plausible case of tax evasion ahead of moving its HQ from Copenhagen to London in 2012.

The figure in question is 126 million pounds.

Space for more bags DANISH short-term luggage storage network LuggageHero has acquired Knock Knock City, a competitor with a presence in 15 cities. LuggageHero already had a presence in 26 cities in Europe and North America, and the acquisition will take it past 30.

Flattening prices APARTMENT prices have stagnated, according to Boligsiden.

The national average price of 27,700 kroner per square metre was the same this summer as it was in 2018 – the first time in seven years that there was no rise.

If Carlberg did airports ... or should that be: if the airport compiled surveys

Stasher acclaims Copenhagen as one of the best in the world

C

OPENHAGEN Airport is one the best airports in the world, according to rankings compiled by luggage storage provider Stasher. Its fifth place triumph swiftly followed an endorsement by Consumer Choice Center (CCC), which named it the sixth best in Europe for passenger-friendliness.

to City Centre and Cost of Car Parking.

Copenhagen Airport scored in the top 50 for all of the eight categories except for Likelihood of Delayed Flights, for which it came 61st. Overall, Tenerife South finished last.

In elite company THE CCC rankings, meanwhile, only included the continent’s biggest 30 airports in terms of passenger numbers, assessing practicality, comfort, location, transport options, in-airport experience and ontime performance by airlines.

Copenhagen was some way clear in sixth, completing an elite six of Brussels, Zurich, Dusseldorf, Madrid and Manchester.

owner, Copenhagen Airports, which had just confirmed an 11 percent decline in revenue during the second quarter of 2019.

The dip was attributed to the SAS pilots’ strike in April and May, which affected 175,000 passengers travelling via Copenhagen, the bankruptcy of two Icelandic airlines and lower tariffs.

Decline in revenue THE SURVEYS were a welcome boost for the airport’s

Cheaper taxi prices IN OTHER related news, Finnish company Huone International has opened a new 3,800 sqm conference centre near the airport, which can cater to events attended by 700 people.

And taking a taxi from the airport to the city centre has got cheaper compared to a year ago, according to an AirMundo.com report: an average price of 40 euros, compared to 50 euros in 2018. (CPH POST)

Bankers charged

Oil stock divesture

Huge DSV takeover

TWELVE former employees of Danske Bank in Estonia have been charged as part of the investigation into the money-laundering by the Baltic nation’s authorities. Around 1.5 million euros has been seized from one of the suspects. Meanwhile, the Danish authorities are prosecuting nine former managers who worked at branches in Denmark.

MP PENSION has offloaded two-thirds of its shares in oil companies in line with its commitment to the green transition.

MP Pension explained that the long-term business models of the ten companies – including Shell and PC – are not compatible with the Paris Agreement climate goals, warning that “demand for oil will decrease as the green transition accelerates”.

DSV, THE Danish transport giant, has acquired its Swiss competitor Panalpina in a 35.1 billion kroner deal. In other acquisition news, the Swedish investment company Midstar has purchased the historic Marienlyst Strandhotel in Helsingør, and Mastercard has bought Nets’ account-to-account services in Denmark and Norway for a reported 21.3 billion kroner.

No turbulence here!

ONLY MOSCOW Sheremetyevo, London Heathrow, Piarco (Trinidad & Tobago) and Bangkok Suvarnabhumi finished above Copenhagen in the Stasher rankings, which assessed Google reviews, Quality of Restaurants & Food, Access to Shops, Number of lounges, Likelihood of Delayed Flights, Airport Hotel Quality, Distance

ØRSTED’S plant in Northwich in the UK has again been delayed due to problems with a new waste management technology.

Renescience, which has been in development for 10 years, was originally scheduled to open in May 2017.

Food producer’s trip BRAZILIAN poultry and pork producer BRF, one of the world’s largest food companies, recently visited Denmark in search of inspiration. Invited

by Landbrug & Fødevarer, it visited 25 Danish companies, paying particular attention to their strict food security practices. L&F contends the visit could open up export routes for Danish companies.

Unofficially for sale LUXURY electronics manufacturer Bang & Olufsen is not officially up for sale … but it will listen to offers, its chair Ole Andersen confirmed in a statement that conceded a contingency plan needs to address a 77 percent decrease in profits and 70 percent fall in its share price over the last year.

SAS’s new strategy SAS HAS unveiled a new seasonal travel period strategy that will enable flyers to purchase cheaper off-peak tickets. The new ticket types will come into play from November 5, with the festive period falling in what it is calling the shoulder season, and the peak season lasting from June 19 to August 20.

13 September - 10 October 2019

FIT FOR BUSINESS CEOs and Olympic medal-winning athletes come to Ed (edley. net) for help to optimise their physical and mental performance.

Using neuroscience and body work techniques, his methods improve their energy, health, fulfilment and well-being. And as the co-host of the Global Denmark podcast, he has his finger on issues pertinent to expats in Denmark.

T

HE GOAL of a good restaurant is to provide food and drinks in a way that allows them to keep doing it.

The goal of an exceptional restaurant is to provide an experience that aligns with the values of the market it is seeking to serve.

The logical way to do this is for the founders to get really clear about their own values and what will allow them to share those values with the world.

Clarity from the creator BROADEN and Build, a restaurant out in Refshaleøen for example, is home to one of the world’s first sustainable breweries.

Full disclosure, I have been doing some work for its founder Matt Orlando, but this merely allows me to give a real world example.

Orlando has taken his own strong values and applied them to

Proud of my path WHEN I look at my professional accomplishments, I can tell you: I’m really proud of myself.

In my six years here, I refused to do what many foreigners do: learn Danish, attend university and, perhaps, find a (low level) entry job.

No disrespect to anyone who follows that path. It just simply wasn’t for me.

a restaurant. The clarity that this provides a business is staggering.

They know what their mission is every day, so they can make decisions more rapidly.

Inspirational authenticity THEY KNOW who they are and who they are not, which allows them to be 100 percent who they are and to not follow the crowd and become a ‘me too’ business, and end up becoming invisible.

Their values are like a beacon of light to all those who love both the cause and the creation of a dining experience, so they can attract amazing staff who are inspired every day.

Created by the same minds behind the world-renowned AMASS Restaurant, they provide an amazing but laid-back dining experience that is sustainable, unique and surprising.

The clarity of these values allows (insane) job offers; and I’ve built incredible relationships with people that I could never conceive.

Without moving here, I can tell you for sure: none of the above would’ve happened. I will say it again: none of it!

But it is not all flowers. I always find it difficult to say no to new projects and I tend to have several spinning plates with me at all times. And recently I’ve been struggling and it started to take a toll on my family.

Broadens your taste buds, builds up a thirst for the next time

them to be a magnet to all those customers who will eat there as a demonstration to the world of who they are.

Know who you are SOCRATES is the man the internet most credits with the phrase “Know thy-self ”, which seems like a lofty and esoteric request, but is actually a pretty straightforward process.

It is the process of sitting

down with a pen and paper and writing down what you most value, so what you believe are the important things in life-like the planet, politics, war, love, family, health, business, wealth, connection etc.

Whether you want your business to show up more visibly – with clarity, confidence and direction – or whether you want that for yourself, it all begins with self-knowledge.

But lately, I’ve been questioning that hypothesis.

My mood, due to my lack of sleep, and my anxious behaviour, started to change. I became short-tempered and prone to outbursts.

PIXABAY

I

T’S NOW six years since I moved to Denmark. During that time, I’ve never been employed. No, I created one for myself, instead.

Cracks in the picture DURING my time here, I’ve received an offer from a Brazilian multinational to be bought out of the company that I started out of a blog; I have received four

Smartphone mood swings OVER THE last two years, I’ve noticed a few things. Firstly, I use my smartphone frequently – it’s fair to say I’m addicted to it. And this tends to start every day at 4 am – the time when I normally wake up.

At first, I thought it was because I needed to take a leak.

Taking a time out SO WHY do I write this post?

Well, I’ve been in Brazil for roughly 45 days. And the reason I came here was to seek professional help, so I could get my mental health back in order.

I have been undergoing forms of therapy whilst learning about transcendental meditation and other relevant issues related to my mental health.

So if you feel like you haven’t been sleeping much, have weird/ sudden mood swings and have strange thoughts, perhaps it is time you sought professional help.

NEXT ISSUE

IN 2 ISSUES

IN 3 ISSUES

IN 4 ISSUES

IN 5 ISSUES

Mind over Managing

The Valley of Life

We're Welcome – Honest!

Economics Explained

Startup Community

UK-DK Trade

Danish Capital in 2019

CARLOS MONTERO GIVE YOURSELF A CHANCE Carlos (cm@biassa.com), a Brazilian resident of Odense, started his business from a blog known as denmarkbrazil.com. It later became Biassa, a business development company, which under the motto ‘Bringing forth results, not reports’ is focused on supporting Nordic businesses that want to tap into and thrive in the Brazilian market.

9

Global Denmark

BROADEN & BUILD

ED LEY

BUSINESS OPINION

Where did she put the charger?

What’s really important?

I KNOW I’m at the beginning of a long journey. I can tell you, however, that I’m feeling a lot better.

We are living in an age in which things go faster than ever. Slowing down and paying attention to your mental health is a powerful exercise.

Remember that no amount of work or money is a worthy substitute for a healthy relationship with the people you love.

Union Views

10 OPINION People over politics THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

S

Rocky future for Venstre LARS LØKKE Rasmussen, who won the European election and the national one too, stepped down on August 31 as leader of his party, Venstre, amid growing distrust in his ability to re-establish a blue alternative.

It is likely that the next leader will be Jacob Ellemann, the son of Uffe Ellemann, the former foreign minister who was himself a leader of Venstre, and brother of Karen Ellemann, a current MP. Jacob is experienced – a former minister and MP since 2011 – but whether he has the charisma to gather the blue front together remains to be seen.

It will be interesting to see what the Venstre members decide at their meeting later this month – particularly regarding the role of vice chair.

The hardliner Inger Strøjberg,

Living Faith

who led an austerity campaign against immigrants and refugees, is popular in Jutland but seen by some as too far right-wing. Perhaps they will view Ellen Trane Nørby, the former health minister, as a better choice.

Let the dogfight commence VENSTRE is, after all, a liberal party, and due to the overwhelming influx of refugees has made many members more open to integration rather than deportation. The call for an addition to the labour force is growing, and the conditions for unaccompanied children in camps are becoming an issue for humanitarian souls.

It will be interesting to see if previously uncompromising immigration policies will soften. At least the government-supporting Radikale will demand some leniency, while simultaneously demanding a more responsible economic policy.

Soon Parliament will be in session again and then the dogfight surrounding the Budget Law will commence.

PM Frederiksen has promised more welfare, including a right to early retirement for people with worn-out bodies – however, she will have to define that more clearly. The blue parties will have to realign themselves to begin a long journey to represent an alternative, and it may take longer than they hope. (ES)

Born in India, adopted by Britain, Smitha (chaplain@ st-albans.dk) is the new chaplain of St Alban’s Church.

In the UK, along with being a Church of England priest, she travelled Europe working as an English teacher, trainer and examiner. Smitha continues to work in an advisory and advocacy capacity at a national level on matters of liturgy and social justice.

R

ALLIES and formal debates, proroguement and recess, lies and truth, bullying and fair play – these all dominate any news feed I listen to from the ‘off-shore island’ I call home. Reading headline opinions of our current discourse and aggressive attacks on social media, I fear what’s on the horizon.

It seems to be the way with Septembers throughout history – only the ebb and flow was not so much political climes as the changing seasons, and the furrows not green parliamentary benches but open fields!

Going back to my roots in India, I realise harvest celebrations were powerful because they meant the difference between life and death in a way they don’t for those who hanker after a nostalgic trug.

Those harvest months and fields from yesteryear also represented the unknown: the hard to understand, the mysterious and the threatening. As people worked the earth to get their daily bread, they attempted to understand and give meaning to their lives, making sense of suffering and joy.

A tale of two realities WHILE a No-Deal Brexit dominates the international political landscape, a ‘Good-Deal Basket’ presides over the seasonal one – at least in churches. We have little sense of what our forbears endured; for us, supermarket shelves will remain stacked no matter the weather. For our ancestors, there was the annual festival celebrating a triumph of life over death – as hard labour bore abundance and fed people through harsh winters.

It’s harvest time!

As I chomp my way through the most delicious corn on the cob

PIXABAY

INCE THE general election in June, Denmark has had a Socialdemokratiet government. The new prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, has enjoyed a good start.

All is calm in the kingdom apart from a salute from President Trump, who wanted to buy Greenland – without revealing the price, which is not the way one deals with tradesmen. The PM took offence and called his offer “absurd”, to which Trump cancelled his visit. So again, now is all peaceful in DK.

13 September - 10 October 2019

REVD SMITHA PRASADAM

Could we dump the Parliamentary benches here?

or sweetest beetroot (procured at a supermarket), I am struck by the number of people who grow their food on balconies and in kolonihaver, or forage in the woods.

The fertility of the land and the vagaries of the weather are the difference between a full belly and a full graveyard. No wonder there was an exuberance when they offered the first fruits of harvest to God – it is a reflection of the creator, the reward of physical labour and the rendering of thanks for life’s abundance.

Reaping the fruits HARVESTS in big cities like Copenhagen may be more contained, but they need be no less meaningful – we need to celebrate fruitfulness just as much as our ancestors, because even here we are dependent on the farmer or fisherman afar.

While the signs of the harvest may not resonate as much as those in other lands or times, they are as profound at helping us remember that we need to live in greater harmony with the earth, be more generous in our giving,

and be more active in our quest for justice for those who go hungry.

Harvesting hope IN THE coming weeks, why not take a moment to remember the harvest sown in and around us in fields and seas, in faithful working lives, and in the care of neighbours?

We can sow the seeds of friendship across political divides and plant justice and care in difficult terrain, whilst reaping reconciliation in a world of haves and have-nots.

Remember that we do not make the harvest happen – it is God who gives the growth. So come and celebrate the harvest at St Alban’s Church on the weekend of September 27-29 with a concert on Friday at 16:00 and a celebratory service on Sunday at 10:30.

People value family, friendships, community, country and a reasonable hope for a better future – anchored in a way of life that involves a sense of sacrifice and contribution to the common good. It is the hope of a plentiful harvest in September no matter what October holds!

OPINION

13 September - 10 October 2019

IAN BURNS

11

NEXT ISSUE

An Actor’s Life

The Road Less Taken

A resident here since 1990, Ian Burns is the artistic director at That Theatre Company and very possibly Copenhagen’s best known English language actor thanks to roles as diverse as Casanova, Shakespeare and Tony Hancock.

Mishra’s Mishmash

JESSICA ALEXANDER MRUTYUANJAI MISHRA IN 2 ISSUES ROBERT MANDEL

Crazier than Christmas VIVIENNE MCKEE

Straight, No Chaser STEPHEN GADD IN 3 ISSUES

Straight Up ZACH KHADUDU Pretty flattering when you compare it to the human subject matter

T

HANKFULLY we were spared the sight of Donald Trump waving at invisible, exhalant crowds of well-wishers in Copenhagen last week.

Danish PM Mette Frederiksen joins a proud list of strong female politicians that Trump would rather ignore. I for one applaud her for telling this fool a few home truths.

Who’s the 51st state now?

FREDERIKSEN’S words are a far cry from the headline in a 1989 issue of the LA Times that proclaimed Denmark as the 51st state of America – albeit just for one day, July 4, due to the number of Danes in and around Aalborg celebrating US Independence Day. But today there can only be one candidate. Trump’s endorsement of British PM Boris Johnson, along with money from billionaires who will benefit from a No-Deal Brexit, makes it likely that one of the oldest democracies in the world is about to sink into the mire.

I hope that there are some clever people who will stand beside ordinary people and prevent this disaster from happening.

Granted too much ALMOST the same time Trump was scheduled to visit Copenhagen, King Boris spoke outside Downing Street, although you could hardly hear him above the chorus of boos from the crowds who have decided to remind him and others that they are there to serve the people, not the other way round.

“I want everybody to know there are no circumstances in which I will ask Brussels to delay.

We are leaving on October 31 – no ifs or buts,” said the man who Hugh Grant recently described as an “over-promoted rubber bath toy” – as somebody who used to go out with Liz Hurley, he knows what he’s talking about.

It’s hard talk from our newly-crowned King Boris, an elitist with a silver spoon up his arse who has assumed the position he felt he was born for after securing a mere 93,000 votes from a Tory membership of 160,000.

In August he got permission from the queen to prorogue Parliament – a blatant attempt to side-step parliamentary scrutiny of a No-Deal Brexit.

The question is: does Britain still need the monarchy? A dis-

united queendom could soon become a reality.

Brexit at any cost?

THAT’S what Nigel Farage, Jacob Rees-Mogg and the Brexiteers seem to be willing to accept.

I couldn’t vote in the referendum in 2016 because I’ve lived outside the UK for more than 15 years! Around 3 million of the Brits who live in Europe were denied a vote in something that affects us directly, and if we could, we would probably have swung it in favour of Remain.

“Brexiteers are buying into a fantasy of an old England that never existed and it’s an English fantasy, certainly not a Scottish one,” observed Salman Rushdie This could be PR material for our forthcoming production ‘Look Back in Anger’ by John Osborne (Oct 23-Nov 23; Krudttønden, Serridslevvej 2, Cph Ø; 165kr via eaterbilletter.dk).

He wrote the play in 1956 but its resonance now is uncannily accurate as we hurtle towards chaos. Osborne tried to define what it means to be English. I guess we’re about to find out.

A Dane Abroad KIRSTEN LOUISE PEDERSEN IN 4 ISSUES

Early Rejser ADAM WELLS

Mackindergarten ADRIAN MACKINDER

Join the chat WWW.CPHPOST.DK WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/COPENHAGENPOST WWW.INSTAGRAM.COM/CPHPOST WWW.TWITTER.COM/CPHPOST

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ABOUT TOWN

13 September - 10 October 2019

PHOTOS BY HASSE FERROLD

The former president of Poland, Lech Wałęsa, whose consolidation of the solidarity movement reverberated around the world in 1983, has been given one of Denmark’s highest honours: the Knight of the Order of the Elephant.

On September 8 he visited Frederiksborg Castle for the unveiling of his coat of arms, and a great many showed up to salute the man who has inspired so many.

Among them were (left-right) Rolf Christensen, the head of the royal order’s chapel, former minister Bertel Haarder, Wałęsa himself, Polish ambassador Henryka Moscicka-Dendys and Ronny Andersen, the coat of arms designer

Many dignitaries attended the Moroccan Embassy’s celebration of its national day in Charlottenlund on July 30. Among them were (left-right) Georgian ambassador Gigi Gigiadze, Slovakian ambassador Miroslav Wlachovsky, Niger’s ambassador Amadou Tcheko, Czech ambassador Radek Pech, Moroccan ambassador Khadija Rouissi, Luxembourg’s ambassador Janine Finck, Burkina Faso’s ambassador MariaGoretti Agaleoue, Serbian ambassador Jasmina Maric, Lithuanian ambassador Ginte Damusis, Austrian ambassador Maria Rotheiser-Scotti, Albanian ambassador Elida Petoshati, and South Korean ambassador Sang-jin Park

Pakistani ambassador Zulfiqar Gardezi (sunglasses) was the host of ‘Pakistani: Tastes and Tunes’, an event celebrating his country’s music and food at Rådhuspladsen in Copenhagen on August 3, where he was joined

by Albanian ambassador Elida Petoshati (dotted dress), among others

Greek ambassador Efthalia Kakiopoulou is bidding goodbye to these shores. At a farewell reception at her residence in Hellerup the dean of the diplomatic corps, Niger’s ambassador Amadou Tcheko, was at hand to officially wish her good luck

The Royal Danish Life Guards were among the guests at the Bastille Day celebrations at the French Embassy in Copenhagen on July 11 where ambassador Caroline Ferrari took to the stage to address those present

Indian ambassador Ajit Gupte was among the audience at the premiere of the Hamletscenen production of ‘Richard III’ at Krongborg Castle on August 1

13 September - 10 October 2019

COMMUNITY

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Representatives from ten different countries were in attendance at the ASEAN Dinner & Culture Collaboration event on July 7 in Hellerup, which was organised by the Indonesian Embassy. Among the dignitaries present were (left-right) Thai ambassador Vichit Chitvimarn, Indonesian ambassador Muhammad Ibnu Said, Vietnamese ambassador Pham Thanh Dung and Philippines ambassador Leo M Herrera-Lim. In a spirt of great camaraderie, it was very much a case of ‘One for all, and all for one’

A great many dignitaries were in attendance as the Benin Embassy celebrated its national day on August 23 in Hellerup. Among those present were (left-right) South African deputy ambassador Tsholofelo Lefifi, Ugandan ambassador Nimisha Jayant Madhvani, Benin’s ambassador Eusebe Agbangha, Ghanaian ambassador Amerley Ollennu Awua-Asamoa, Sven Riskær, who is the interim president of Det Danske Afrikaselskab, Burkina Faso’s ambassador Maria-Goretti Blandine Agaleoue, and Niger’s ambassador, Amadou Tcheko, the dean of the diplomatic corps

British ambassador Dominic Schroeder, French ambassador Caroline Ferrari and Estonian ambassador Mart Volmer were among those in attendance at the annually held Danish military event Flag Day at Christiansborg Slot on September 5

The diplomatic corps has three new additions (left-right). The ambassador agrée of the Netherlands is Rob Zaagman. The ambassador agrée of Germany is Detlev Rünger. The ambassador agrée of Switzerland is Florence Tinguely Mattli. In time-honoured tradition: Welkom, Willkommen and Benvenuta/Bienvenue/Willkommen/Bainvegni!

Spanish ambassador Román Oyarsun was the guest of honour at the opening of a new Spanish market at Metronomen in Frederiksberg on September 8

PM Mette Frederiksen was among the many politicians present at Statsborgerskabsdag at Folketinget on September 8 – a chance to mingle with some of the new citizens of Denmark, the class of 2019

14 COMMUNITY

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

OUT AND ABOUT

didn’t personally dress the players, but they did pretty much everything else required of the hosts: pitch their tents, assemble their benches, supply bucket-loads of ice on what was a hot day, ref their games and keep their scores – which with the number of beers the teams put away was probably the most important job.

it was hard not to have fun with the Globe (top left) and Rest of the World (top, centre left) in fine spirits.

Steve from the Dubliner team was keen to show off a newly acquired war wound to Simon, the manager of The Globe, who defeated England to avoid the wooden spoon – oh England, how low have you

stooped that you’re losing to mickey mouse pub teams.

And finally, COP POST editor Ben (top right) insists he was coerced into taking his first ever selfie with a guy he had only just met, Romania’s Robert ‘Popi Popi’ Peres. Talk about popping your cherry.

BEN HAMILTON

BRAINFOOD COPENHAGEN

PIXABAY

HASSE FERROLD

COMING UP SOON

This autumn Brainfood Copenhagen is putting brains and food together on the dining table at three special after-dinner speaking events. The first to whet your appetite is about genetics, asking questions like “Who owns my genes?” or “Am I related to a potato?”

Just don’t complain about knowing too much about genetics after the event (Oct 4, 19:00; Casa Lola Tapas Huset, Jernbanegade 41, Cph V; 265-525kr, brainfood. billet.dk)

Do you have a short story, novel, play, or movie in you? Or do you just love to write? Then The Writing Room is the place for you, a creative space in the heart of Copenhagen, of which the doors open in September. Here novelist Liz Jensen and playwright and screenwriter Rhea Leman invite you to expand your writing skills in a series of dynamic evening workshops (starting Sep; Rosenborghus, Åbenrå 29, Cph K; lizjensen.com)

International House Copenhagen invites you to its International Citizens Day where the public authorities, private organisations (such as sports clubs, adult learning classes and hobby enthusiasts) and representatives from the local community gather to network and obtain the best possible guidance to living a full life in Copenhagen (Sep 21, 10:00-15:00; DGI-Byen, Tietgensgade 65, Cph V; ihcph.kk.dk/icd)

PIXNIO.COM

ICC

CTC

Too shy to act on stage? Why not start with a play reading? But if you’re still hesitating, come along to The Globe and decide whether you want to just listen or plunge in (Sep 16, 18:30-21:00; The Globe, Nørregade 45, Cph K; free adm; ctcircle.dk)

The most sober team in the end proved to be Happy Feet (bottom, centre left), so it was fitting that the club’s most drunk member, Coogan, presented them with their prize (bottom row, centre right), after they beat Ireland in an exciting final watched by pretty much everyone (bottom right).

Overall in weather like that,

SELECTED PHOTOS: BRENDAN WILLIAMS

T

WO VALIANT servants of Copenhagen Celtic, Jon Treacher and Chris Pilbeam (bottom left, centre and right, pictured with Ton Baks), were once again the stars of the show at the international football club’s summer party at Kløvermarken on August 3.

When we say servants, they

13 September - 10 October 2019

ICC Theatre encourages you to interact with the performers and suggest ideas for them to improvise and produce unique comedy. Oh, and Friday is Cocktail Night! (Sep 13 & 20 & 27, 20:00; Frederiksholms Kanal 2, Cph K; 150kr, improvcomedy.eu)

Laugh your hearts out with Ireland’s Ian Coppinger and Australia’s Daniel Muggleton at the Copenhagen English Comedy Night (Oct 10, 20:00; New Dubliner, Ny Østergade 14, Cph K; 110kr, billietto.dk) ROSELYNE MIN

COMMUNITY

13 September - 10 October 2019

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Welcome back Mr Mackenzie: From CIS to China, and home again DP Coordinator from 2002 to 2004, so he is more than familiar with the school’s ethos. Over the summer, he replaced Jennifer Weyburn, who has moved to become the Head of Packer Collegiate School in Brooklyn, New York. We caught up with Sandy to find out more about his background and future vision for the school.

INTERVIEWER: BEN HAMILTON

most amazing facilities and resources in Nordhavn. As well as winning architectural awards, the building is a fantastic place for young people to learn. We are keen for every student to develop a global mindset and an international viewpoint. Literally they sit beside classmates from around the world and look out the window at containers that will transport goods around the globe. From the impressive atrium to the wellequipped theatre, three stunning gyms and purpose-built designed laboratories, teachers and students can design learning with all the best resources. I have worked in impressive, old schools and newly-built premises; the campus we have in Nordhavn is both visually stunning and designed with young people’s learning in mind. There is a combination of serenity and vibrancy that I have never experienced anywhere else. When the Metro station at Orientkaj opens in a few months’ time, the campus will become even more accessible and connected to the city.

Can you tell us a little about yourself. For example, where you’re from, where you were working before and whether you have a connection with Denmark?

My home town is Edinburgh in Scotland although it is some time since I lived there. When I was a youngster, I came to Denmark on summer holidays to visit family friends. During that time, I tried to learn some Danish so that I could participate in conversations around the dinner table. After beginning my career as a mathematics teacher in Scotland, I was fortunate to be given the opportunity to come to work at Copenhagen International School as Head of Mathematics. My leadership career began here in that role and I also became the IB Diploma Coordinator. My personal life took me back to Scotland where I remained for eight years, tasking on the role of Deputy Head at Morrison’s Academy in Crieff. I then moved to Shanghai, China before living in Atlanta, Georgia, USA for the past five years. There, I was Head of Secondary School at Atlanta International School, a PYP-MYP-DP IB school with 90 nationalities in the community – so excellent preparation for becoming Director of CIS. CIS has now been based at its new home in Nordhavn for two full academic years. How does its premises compare to other schools you’ve worked at?

We are so fortunate to have the

Many people have observed that CIS is a school of the future: sustainable living in an holistic environment. What has particularly impressed you about the school?

Although our building is state of the art, the truly impressive aspect of CIS is its people. When I walked through the doors during my interview process, I knew that I was at home. Teachers are dedicated to the holistic development of their students and genuinely care about them and their learning. Young people at CIS learn from each other and feel safe, secure and included so

SANDY MACKENZIE

S

ANDY MACKENZIE, the new director of Copenhagen International School, has extensive experience working in school administration across the planet. His impressive CV reveals stints working as the head of schools in Atlanta and Shanghai. Not only that, but he has worked for CIS before – as the Head of Mathematics and

Sandy with the troops

that they can develop their identity. The mission of the school is to educate champions of a just and sustainable world. One of the aspects of the school that continues to impress me is that we are living that mission every day.

Many of our readers have Danish partners. What should they say to them to persuade them that an education at an international school like CIS is a better choice than the local Danish school?

At Copenhagen International School, we have many students who speak Danish as a mother tongue and they continue to develop their language and literature skills in this language. In fact, almost every student at CIS studies Danish as a language and also learns about the culture of this small but fascinating country. We find that many Danish parents choose CIS because they want their child to be educated in an international, caring, inclusive environment where their child can develop their identity as a Dane with a global mindset who has a sophisticated intercultural understanding.

Looking to the future, what can we expect from CIS? Over the course of this year, we will be developing a five-year strategic plan and vision for the school. The process to develop

this vision will be collaborative: involving stakeholders and listening to their views. CIS has a rich 56-year history as one of the founding schools of the International Baccalaureate, and it is well known around the world to be forward-facing and progressive. We will build on this foundation of tradition and alignment with our host country to continue to provide the very best education for globally-mobile families and internationally-minded Danes. The world has changed in recent decades; to be successful in the workplace in 2030, young people will need to be

resilient, adaptable and skilled communicators who possess intercultural understanding and a global mindset. We will ensure that every student has the opportunity to develop as a champion to make this world more just and more sustainable.

What would you advise parents interested in learning more about the school?

Come to see us! Inside the walls of the school, there is a tangible sense of who we are – something special that is hard to find anywhere else. We would be delighted to arrange a visit; you can learn more at cis.dk.

16 HISTORY

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

13 September - 10 October 2019

Trump’s “absurd” offer recalls another Danish-US sale … 52 years after initial bid

MADISON BOBER

D

ANISH PM Mette Frederiksen scoffed when reports emerged that US President Donald Trump wanted to buy Greenland, and her concerns echoed down the Danish corridors of power and further afield. You can’t buy a people, many have reasoned.

But try applying that to the residents of the Danish West Indies. Christiansborg was similarly bemused when the US first proposed a sale in 1865, but just over half a century later the transfer was completed.

Horrified by the possibility of the islands falling into German hands during World War I, the US would claim it was protecting its borders – and less than 50 years later, the Cuban Missile Crisis would more or less vindicate the handover.

Fast forward another half-century and a Chinese presence is intensifying in Greenland, according to a 2019 US Pentagon report, with Russia also eyeing the economic and geopolitical value of the Arctic island and its access to North Atlantic shipping lanes.

Does history question the absurdity of Trump’s offer?

Nearly 250 years of rule LIKE GREENLAND, the Danish West Indies of Saint Thomas, Saint John and Saint Croix were a dependant Danish territory – but with no autonomy.

Fully acquired by Denmark following the purchase of Saint Croix from France in 1733 – the Danish West India Company had settled on Saint Thomas in 1672 and Saint John in 1694 – quickly becoming lucrative assets in the cultivation of sugar cane, tobacco and cotton through slave labour.

That same year, Denmark had

ORLOGSMUSEETS ARCHIVE

When the Danish West Indies became the US Virgin Islands in 1917 it completed over a half-century of nearmisses and negotiations

the French from nearby Martinique to thank for quelling the first of three significant slave rebellions to hit the islands – although the third in 1878 on Saint Croix was technically a workers rebellion, as slavery was abolished on the islands three decades earlier (17 years before the US).

In 1917, Denmark sold the islands to the US for $25 million in gold coin, after which they were renamed the US Virgin Islands.

Ideal for a US naval base THE US first approached Denmark about a possible sale when its secretary of state, William H Seward, made contact with Waldemar Raasløff, the Danish diplomatic representative in Washington, in 1865 during the closing stages of the American Civil War. Already sensing victory and eyeing international expansion, Seward and US President Abraham Lincoln agreed that the country needed a naval base in the Caribbean, and later that year, Seward saw first-hand that the main harbour on Saint Thomas would be an ideal haven for American warships. Negotiations with the Dominican Republic also began to buy Samaná Bay, but were ultimately unfruitful.

But was there an ulterior motive for US interest in the islands? When Denmark lost the Second Schleswig War in 1864 to Germany, resulting in the surrender of Southern Jutland, it marked the emergence of another European superpower.

After all, with Denmark on its knees, the Germans could seize control of the whole country, and therefore the Danish West Indies.

Meanwhile, a nearly bankrupt Denmark was failing to cope with some rapidly deteriorating conditions among its own colonies – mainly brought on by the islands’ abolition of slavery, which led to decreasing population density and economic productivity.

These conditions brought

The last Danish military parade on the islands took place on St Croix on 31 March 1917

Denmark to the table and after a few years of negotiations a treaty was signed in 1867. However, internal American congressional complications aborted a final sale of the islands.

Nevertheless, Denmark continued in its pursuit of selling the islands, but at the second time of asking, defeat came from within.

A second draft treaty was negotiated in 1902, but was undone in the upper house of the Danish Parliament by a tied vote.

Fearful of das boot AS TENSIONS intensified across Europe and World War I broke out in 1914, the US was toeing a thin line of non-engagement. The 1915 sinking of the Lusitania propelled American interest in the Danish West Indies as concerns over the potential of Germany occupying Denmark and establishing a naval base on the islands – from which to launch submarine attacks on the US – grew hugely.

Yet again, the US approached

Denmark to purchase the islands in 1915, but initially the Danish government turned down the offer. It is believed there were concerns that the civil rights record of the US would have a deleterious impact on the predominantly black population of the Danish West Indies, and accordingly, Denmark demanded US citizenship and free trade for the islanders.

The US secretary of state at the time, Robert Lansing, refused to accept the Danes’ terms, firmly indicating his country would annex the islands to prevent a perceived imminent occupation by Germany.

You have to haggle!

PREFERRING a peaceful transition to conflict, the Danish government acquiesced and signed a treaty in New York on 4 August 1916. They compromised on a price of 25 million dollars after the US had initially offered 20 million and the Danes demanded 27 million.

The treaty was ratified by both countries’ legislative bodies and signed by King Christian X of Denmark and President Woodrow Wilson shortly afterwards.

While the treaty handed over complete possession, it did not affect private property rights, so many Danes held onto their land.

In December, the first public referendum in Denmark approved the sale of the colonies.

The only people who were unable to vote were the islanders themselves. The referendum revealed that a large majority, around 64 percent, supported the sale.

The formal transfer of the islands occurred on 31 March 1917, which is now annually celebrated as ‘Transfer Day’ by the islanders.

So given the drawn-out nature of the negotiations, is it completely unfeasible to think that in 50 years’ time, Greenlanders might be celebrating their own transfer day?

FOOD & DRINK

13 September - 10 October 2019

SKAMMEKROGEN

Svendsgade 1, Cph V; open Mon-Wed 12:00-00:00; Thu-Sat 12:00-02:00; Sun 13:00-23:00 BEN HAMILTON

I

T HAD BEEN 12 years since I last reviewed Skammekrogen (the naughty corner) in Vesterbro Torv, a locale best known for Greenlandic drunks and toilets that are always closed, and it’s safe to say that not much has changed in the last decade despite Vesterbro becoming a darling of the hipster movement and a mecca for party-loving tourists thanks to nearby Kødbyen, the city’s trendy meatpacking district.

But don’t let the drunks and the urine stains put you off from visiting a square that has a lovely, local charm and a wide selection of drinking holes that come alive as one on warm evenings. The beauty of this means that you can pay bodega prices, but sit in close proximity to people at swanky cafes. They might look down their noses at you, but you’ve had the last laugh thanks to the price of your drink.

Drinks with Onkel Danny A PINT of lager at Skammekrogen will set you back only 35 kroner (40 kroner after 19:00), a bottle 23 kroner, and a glass of house wine 30 kroner – refreshingly cheap for an establishment that resembles its

posh neighbours more than the nearby bodegas of the red light district – particularly in terms of its customers.

Skammekrogen’s regulars are far more sophisticated: over the course of a day, an older crowd of mainly local residents who enjoy talking about local politics and arts – film director Flemming La Cour and Danish poet Dan Turéll were frequent visitors until they died – will give way during the evening to a young, hip clientele who appreciate the cheap prices and comfortable, cosy seating areas at the back.

New owners who took over in 2017 spruced up the interior, introducing a glass top main bar consisting almost entirely of 25 øre coins. Almost, because in this land of die-heard ‘Where’s Wally’ fans, one of the coins is an old five-øre bit inconspicuously hidden to haunt your long winter evening.

Regards to Siegfried ON OUR last visit we met Siegfried Jürgensen, 52, a proud local who happily told us that “for the last 12 years I have been part of the inventory”.

“Oh … he’s long dead,” confirms a patron finishing off a swift lunchtime pint. But Siegfried’s words remain true of the ethos of the bar and are worth repeating. “With most places it depends on the clientele. And of course, I don’t like the prices in coffee shops,’ he confided.

It was Siegfried who ex-

plained that if you accidentally (or intentionally) ring the bell you have to buy a round for the people sitting at the bar. And the bartender happily confirms this is still a tradition that continues to torment tall people with short pockets ordering drinks.

Resonates through its regulars DECORATED with mainly urban landscape portraits of streets, houses, bridges and harbours, there is a real sense of a pub that is comfortable in its surroundings and this really resonates through its regulars.

There is a jukebox and cards, dice, backgammon and chess can be borrowed from the bar.

Due to its smallish size many will be satisfied to see that this is a smoking spot with a capital S. They show sport on special sporting occasions, but normally the TV is rarely on. There are always peanuts at the bar and a big bowl will set you back a reasonable 20 kroner.

New since last time is a shield annually handed out to the local area’s crolf champion – a hybrid of golf and croquet that is contested on a course in Saxopark. A quick glance at the winners poignantly reveals the name of the first champion: “Siegfried Jürgensen in 2003”.

ALL PHOTOS: SKAMMEKROGEN

Sent back to the naughty corner

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18 COVER

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

13 September - 10 October 2019

The producers with their fingers on the pulse

F

ILM PRODUCERS come in all shapes and sizes, and invariably in heavy numbers – we know that from watching the end of the Oscars.

Rarely is there one person responsible for everything, although the cynics amongst us might question how much some of the celebrity name executive producers actually do (wouldn’t non-executive be more accurate?).

Sometimes the producer is

also the director, like in the case of David Noel Bourke, a shoestring budget operator, but even he concedes that he needs a standalone producer to access decent funding.

On bigger projects, an army of producers is needed, like on ‘Shrouded Destiny: A Star Wars Long Tale’. Laura Tassicker, one of the co-producers, recalls what was a hectic shoot.

With a more sedate perspective now he has returned home from

several years in Hollywood, Kasper Graversen – the producer of the forthcoming Danish film ‘Ninna’, which hits cinemas on October 31 – reflects on the differences between the two countries’ industries.

While Mette Norkjaer, still stateside at BOOM! Studios, a production company that specialises in comics and graphic novels, envisages a bright future as stronger links develop between her country and Hollywood.

independent film: you find ways to get things done, and there is always more than one way to skin a cat. On a lot of the big budget films, all the money is wasted: too many people, too many cooks. So we keep it simple and focused – and at this stage I know the ropes of making films very, very well.

INTERVIEWER: EDWARD OWEN

D

AVID NOEL Bourke, an Irish resident in Copenhagen, both produces and directs – a true filmmaker! His most recent film, the Danish-language production ‘Bakerman’, won critical acclaim following its release in 2018, including the award of Best Foreign Film at the Maryland International Film Festival.

Bourke is an avid advocate of making truly independent films made free of studio interference.

Most of his budgets, perhaps unsurprisingly, are strictly shoestring.

You take on the role of producer and director for your films –

how do you balance the two?

Lots of planning and work. The most difficult part is during the production (shooting the film) as that’s when the director’s hat is on too – that can be stressful and exhausting to juggle, but I really enjoy it.

You make films on a shoe-string budget. Can you tell us what sort of figures you are working with?

I don’t really like to talk figures but overall the budgets and quality of my independent films are getting bigger and better for every new film I make as my ambitions grow – so it’s an evolution. My mantra is that the next film project should always raise the bar higher. It’s always a long game when you are making an

How did it work out with your latest film, ‘Bakerman’?

The main star, Mikkel Vadsholt, who has won several best actor awards, said it was one of the best projects he has been a part of, in terms of recognition and work, during his 30 years working professionally in the film industry. It’s opened many doors, and he is now getting calls from London/LA casting agents and rumoured to be starring in a big Netflix TV series. I’m also getting a lot of different offers, although I have many of my own projects. I’m always open to a challenge though. At the end of the day it’s not all about what the budget is, it’s about the overall value and the final quality of the film.

When you’re making a film, how would you describe a typical day? Is there such a thing?

Write. Plan. Worry. Go to location. Shoot/film. Have fun!

Eat. Worry. Shoot/film. Try to have more fun but sweat. Then cry. Shoot/film. Wrap and clean up. Go back to office. Check the day’s footage/dailies. Enjoy. Then panic. Rewrite. Re-plan. Repeat X 60 days.

Breaking it down for Mr Cranston

Have you ever encountered any unwanted attention when shooting on location?

Too many to mention! We had a scene in ‘Bakerman’ in which a woman is assaulted by her brother before being saved by Jens (Vadsholt). It was a cold external night shoot on location in Valby, just around the corner from Valby Bowling. Someone shouted from a window saying they just called the police! They arrived and I explained we were a film crew with permission and asked them if they wanted to be in the movie too – and they kindly and amusingly accepted.

That was great production value on the spot. You need to ask!

Where do you find support and funding for your films, and how difficult is it to secure?

You need a separate producer to get any decent funding, so I now have a cool and very good producer, and we are trying different ways and different things.

The big streamers like Netflix, Viaplay and HBO are opening up more opportunities. It’s never easy – but that’s the nature of the game; you find a way.

How do you go about finding actors for your films?

There is the official Danish actors database, casting sites, social media, IMDB and recommendations from friends, cast and crew.

Only 8 percent of Danish actors are actively working. The rest of them, 92 percent, are looking for roles. That’s a lot of actors to choose from, but the key is

picking the right ones for the character of your story.

Are you working on anything at the moment?

An ambitious science fiction/fantasy project, ‘The Boy who stole the World’, which is very exciting and almost cast, although we need help to raise some more funds.

The idea is to make a popular mainstream Danish sci-fi film with an edge – inspired by the works of Steven Spielberg and John Carpenter. Then, there is the upcoming special blu-ray release of Bakerman itself (late 2019/early 2020), which will include a 20 page booklet and a ton of extra material including a fun commentary track by myself and Mikkel.

How would you describe the scene for independent filmmakers in Denmark at the moment?

With equipment becoming cheaper, it’s easier than ever. I wish there were more independent Danish films, but unfortunately they are few and far between – which is a shame as we need more diverse film voices in Denmark.

Has the term ‘independent film’ become too loosely applied?

Yes. And it depends where you are. In the US, it’s anything under 10 million dollars. In Denmark it’s working and making stuff independently, not underground! Some folk have a snobbish attitude to independent films: if it’s not Hollywood = it’s not good. Maybe it’s a lack of open-mindedness, but who cares – we keep on going.

COVER

13 September - 10 October 2019 INTERVIEWER: BEN HAMILTON

S

TRAIGHT out of film school, the first job that Laura Tassicker (cover photo) got in the industry was a Star Wars universe project, and she hadn’t even seen any of the films before! As co-producer on ‘Shrouded Destiny: A Star Wars Long Tale’, a fan-made, non-profit pilot created by, directed by and starring Danish actor Shahbaz Sarwar (alongside Lars Mikkelsen and others), she became adept at solving problems relating to the set, crew and filming schedule.

How did you end up producing the pilot to a Star Wars series?

I had just finished my education at the European Film College and I was looking for work in the industry. There was a post from Shahbaz Sarwar, the creator of ‘Shrouded Destiny’, on the Facebook group ‘Find Dit Film Crew’ looking for producers.

Since I hadn’t really seen ‘Star Wars’ before, but only knew about it, I hesitated to apply, because I was afraid that being a ‘Star Wars’ fan might be an important factor in the selection process. What especially drew me to the project, however, was the fact it was sci-fi, which we unfortunately don’t have a lot of in Denmark. So I ended up applying, seeing as I knew that I would regret not taking a shot at such an ambitious sci-fi project. To my relief, my lack of Star Wars fandom didn’t lower my relevance as a crewmember, as there was a higher focus on what I could bring to the table.

Many of us grew up dreaming we were Luke Skywalker, but you’re more like the commander of the Death Star. Presumably you’re working under heavy pressure?

As it’s a very big project with a lot of people, who are all working for free, we are a group of producers who work together to make everything run. As such, the tasks and pressure is shared between us, and that has made it a lot more manageable. With

that said, it has definitely been one of the most challenging and rewarding projects I’ve worked on so far. There’s so much to do, from finding crew and getting funding to making schedules, and I am very grateful that we’re a strong team of producers who can share the workload.

Were you already on board when the team behind ‘Shrouded Destiny: A Star Wars Long Tale’ released a five to six minute promo. What was the game plan at that stage?

I wasn’t on the project back when the promo was released; however I know that back then the vision was a little different.

It was simply meant to be a Star Wars fan film of high quality to entertain fans through a thrilling story with great acting. However, the result of the promo gave fruit to higher ambitions, which could take the story further.

You recruited Lars Mikkelsen to star in the pilot. As producer, what part did you play in landing such a big name?

I didn’t actually come on to the project until around the same time as Lars did. I know that Lars didn’t say yes the first time around, and that the creator, Shahbaz Sarwar, did a lot more writing and shot the promo, before asking Lars again. The two of them had started working together on the Danish TV series ‘Herrens Veje’ by this time, and so Shahbaz gave it another shot and showed Lars the new script and the promo. After seeing this and hearing about the new vision for the project, Lars said yes.

And what role did you play in sourcing funding for the pilot?

Since I am a co-producer I had the advantage of getting to do some of the more fun jobs (I think). Since it’s a fan production and Disney owns all the rights to ‘Star Wars’, we are not allowed to earn money off the production.

Therefore, everything is driven by the many people who donate their time and talent, as well as sponsors who support the production through their services or

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financing. In regards to sponsors, I have mainly dealt with those who donate their services, such as catering, hospitality, storage etc. A thing that has been of big importance, in regards to sponsors, is seeing how we could help each other.

Presumably you’ve had to keep costs down – particularly as it’s a pilot. Does this change the way you produce?

I would say that since we unfortunately don’t have the budget to pay people, it does change the way you produce. It can be challenging to ask people to donate so much of their own time and talent for free – especially since you would love to be able to pay them for their hard work in more than experience and gratitude. It has definitely helped splitting the shooting schedule into blocks, so that people could have time to do some paid jobs in between. Of course this is also a challenge for the scheduling, since there’s a lot of co-ordinating that has to be done. However, you also know that the people you’re working with are really passionate about the project, and everyone tries hard to make it work.

Can you give us any details regarding your spending – costs that might surprise our readers?

As a co-producer, I haven’t had a lot to do with the budget, which has mainly been the responsibility of producers Jasmin Christensen and Rasmus Doolengs. What I can tell you is that the entire budget for this pilot episode is the equivalent of 1 percent of the budget for just one episode of ‘The Mandalorian’. The only reason it has been possible to produce ‘Shrouded Destiny’ on such a low budget is due to the generosity of the people who have accumulated behind it: every single crewmember working for free, people donating money or resources, and using a whole lot of recycling skills. Because of the low budget, you could say that the project is made possible by people’s generosity and ability

to think out of the box to find effective and low-cost solutions.

How did you keep a handle on expenses during the shoot?

Managing the budget wasn’t really in my job description. The way I helped keep the costs down was by contacting potential sponsors, finding places that had scraps we could recycle to build the sets/ props, and finding crewmembers who could bring their skillsets onto the project to help lift the production to the level it needed to be at. Whenever money had to be spent, I would consult with the producers, Jasmin Christensen and Rasmus Doolengs, and they would make sure we had the budget for it.

Did you enjoy the overall experience?

It has definitely been the most challenging project I’ve ever worked on, and we’ve had to face a lot of challenges along the way. From building entire sets in just a week, to shooting two days’ worth of footage in just one day due to weather conditions. I have

had the pleasure of suffering from a great lack of sleep with some amazing people, and I would do it all again if I was given the choice. Despite the hard work, I have also learnt a great deal – both about the job itself but also about myself. Though I enjoy parts of producing, I enjoy being creative more, so when I told the production designer, Heather Meister, that I missed the creative work, she allowed me to migrate over to the art department during the course of the production. It has been a long and hard journey so far, and we’re not quite done yet, so I look forward to walking the last trek of the journey – both as co-producer but mainly as set decorator – as I have found that this is where my passion lies.

Any future plans?

Since the previous block of shooting on ‘Shrouded Destiny’, I have done some work as a set decorator. Right now I am working with production designer Heather Meister on a short film and plan on finding employment in which I can work for the art department.

20 COVER

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

INTERVIEWER: RUCHI PUJARI

M

ETTE NORKJAER has worked for BOOM! Studios, a production company that specialises in comics and graphic novels that has a first look deal with 20th Century Fox, since 2016. Widely travelled as a child, the Dane developed a passion for film production during a one-year stint at UCLA, which led her to USC, where she studied to become a producer. Last year she was promoted to the role of creative executive. She envisages a bright future for both the film and comic industries with more female representation and a stronger connection between Denmark and Hollywood.

Tell us a bit about yourself I was born in Copenhagen, but we moved around a lot from Denmark to Israel to Switzerland and back to Copenhagen when I was 15 years old. I studied English at the University of Copenhagen and then had the

INTERVIEWER: DANIELLE DRAKE-FLAM

K

ASPER Graversen got his first big break in the industry as an extra on a daytime children’s Danish TV show when he was 12. Now, after ten years of experience producing in Hollywood, he has moved back to Denmark and works for Milk & Honey.

His next film, ‘Ninna’ – the story of a single mother trying to convince her 18-year-old son not to move out, whilst simultaneously falling in love with her new next-door neighbour – is set to be released on October 31.

When did you realise you wanted to work in the film industry?

I was travelling around the US. It was one of those trips where I was figuring out my next step in life. I was in Hollywood – where everything is filmed! – and I was just like: that’s what I want to do. I haven’t looked back since.

opportunity to spend my senior year at UCLA through an exchange program, where I took several classes in film developing and producing. I was introduced to a side of the film industry that I didn’t really know a lot about, and I finally knew what I wanted to do with my life. When I went home I worked on several short films and applied to various film schools. I ended up choosing a great offer from the Peter Stark Producing Program at USC. During my two years at USC, I interned at production companies such as Red Granite Pictures, Atomic Monster, MGM and 20th Century Fox. How did you get into BOOM! Studios?

It was mostly thanks to my internships at Atomic Monster and Fox. I started working here shortly after graduating in May 2016 as the assistant to the CEO, president of development and head of the Film Division.

After two years, I was promoted to creative executive.

What set you off on the path to becoming a producer?

After winning an award for my short film ‘The Deserter’, I attended film school at the American Film Institute in LA. It was there that I realised that I wanted to work on the production side.

What do you most love about film?

The more storytelling and cinematic visuals, the more interesting I find it. And I like how you make films in the same way, but it’s never the same. Whether you’re in a different part of the world, a different part of a city or in a different room, it’s lit differently, acted differently, told differently, directed differently every time. I’m drawn to new challenges, inspirations and people.

What’s it like working in Hollywood?

It’s a crazy place – a dog-eatdog, cut-throat environment.

Everybody comes with a dream that few achieve. Everybody is

13 September - 10 October 2019

What is your job role?

I work in the Film Division where my role consists of reading material such as scripts and short stories. I am always on the lookout for new talent and to see which writers and directors we should be working with.

What is it that you love about your job?

It is very creative and gives me an opportunity to work with people from all over the world. I meet talents and writers from different backgrounds almost every day, and it is fascinating to work with them. I love it that I get to explore so many things, like very recently I organised and took part in a panel for the San Diego Comic-Con where we discussed female representation within the film and TV industry. We talked about the celebration of positivity and about how things are slowly changing in the industry. It was a huge success and I loved every moment of it.

Do you think things are changing for women in the comic

industry as well?

Yes, there is a ripple effect. What I love the most about BOOM! Studios is that it sets itself apart from Marvel and DC. For example, take our comic, ‘Lumberjanes, Imagine Agents:’ it is all about female friendship. At BOOM! Studios, we have no male hero stereotypes. Instead, we favour female and LGBT characters, as we are trying to change the way the world views comics and be more inclusive.

Most comics play it safe and avoid major changes, but we comprehend that changes will get you noticed and encourage people to shed their narrow view of

comics being associated with the male gender. BOOM! Studios is very inclusive and progressive, and I am happy to be a part of it.

just unreasonable. I don’t yell at people – I’m not that kind of guy and I don’t think it helps. But I’m also not afraid of conflicts.

If people are unreasonable, you have to figure out why.

the US, and producers are less hands-on. In Denmark, you have to tone it down a little bit because if you’re too “I’m going to conquer the world”, people won’t like it. Sometimes, though, it’s good to have an attitude because in Denmark it’s too laid back.

What are your plans for the future?

Eventually, I want to earn a name and reputation for myself here and start something of my own. But until then, I want to demystify the way things work in Hollywood.

Our lives may seem shiny, but there is so much hard work that goes behind it. I also plan to get more involved with Danish Film schools and build a bridge between Danish talents and Hollywood – to give them an opportunity to understand more and work here.

desperate to get to the next level and they want to figure out how they can use you to do that. It’s hard to be in all the time – for me anyway. So the older I got, the more I was like ugh, I don’t want to be a part of this all the time.

So you’ve worked on some big productions I’ve had films where I’ve had 80 people working on the crew. If that gets out of hand, it gets very expensive, very fast. Some people can create a lot of drama and obviously that’s not fun. I prefer to work on productions where people work together.

What’s the key to being a good producer?

Staying ahead of all of the problems – because if you solve them before they happen, then they don’t hurt the film. As a producer, you have to know the end-goal and you have to pick your battles based on that. You have to work through disagreements with that in mind. Sometimes people are

What personal qualities are important?

Being a leader comes naturally to me, so I’m not afraid of responsibility. I’m good at organising, and I’m also good with numbers and budgets.

How does the US film industry compare to Denmark?

There’s a lot more hierarchy in

What brought you home again?

Living in LA, I sort of learned that I like the European lifestyle better in the long run. I liked LA when I was young and I was working hard, but when you get older you also want to have a life that’s not work. In America you live to work; in Europe we work to live.

ON STAGES

13 September - 10 October 2019

BEN HAMILTON

E

VER FELT that as an expat you’re an outsider? No! Not a 50/1 shot in the Kentucky Derby – a person who does not belong. A bit like the Ugly Duckling, but you don’t swan off with a new family. Instead, you’re a foreigner everywhere.

Two new plays coming our way speak volumes about our experience as an outsider.

House of International Theatre’s The Clean House (Sep 19-Oct 6; Krudttønden, Serridslevvej 2, Cph Ø; tickets 175kr, teaterbilletter.dk) follows the story of Matilde, a Brazilian comedian who comes to America and works as a cleaning lady.

While That Theatre Company’s Look Back in Anger (Oct 26-Nov 23; Krudttønden; tickets 175kr, teaterbilletter.dk) introduces us to the struggles of Jimmy Porter, a disaffected working class man living in 1950s Britain.

At a time when the powers that be are doing their best to make as many of us as possible feel like outsiders, these plays couldn’t be better timed.

Expats need patience!

ACCORDING to director Jeremy Thomas-Poulsen, Matilde’s arc in Sarah Ruhl’s touching comedy The Clean House, a 2005 Pulitzer Prize nominee, is ultimately an uplifting one – particularly if you feel like an outsider.

“She is out of place in current society, but through the play and the relationships she builds, she becomes the heroine of the story, perfectly suited for the task at hand,” enthuses Thomas-Poulsen.

“So, where she at first has no value to the society around her, she becomes a friend, sister, and confidant, and she affects the lives around her.”

It is, in short, the story of a typical expat’s life – providing we hang around long enough.

“Foreigners from all over the world travel to Denmark to attain a better life, make a home and build a family, but find it difficult to assimilate into a culture where they are not being fully appreciated and activated for the benefits they bring as outsiders,” continues Thomas-Poulsen.

Strong cast and schedule MATILDE is played by Isabel Escuerdo Zorde, a dance and movement instructor at Københavns Film & Teaterskole in what will be her HIT debut, but there are plenty of familiar faces onboard as well, including Jana Pulkrabek (recently in The Lover) from the tireless German dramatics group Manusarts, Vanessa Poole (Sonia in Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike) and Jens Blegaa (Henry Higgins in the CTC production of Pygmalion), who together with Thomas-Poulsen co-founded HIT’s resident group, Down the Rabbit Hole.

Of course, HIT had to clean its own house at Huset, but that hasn’t prevented it from announcing an exciting 201819 season full of promise.

In November, two plays are in the works. Up first is David Tristram’s Last Tango at Little Grimley, which will bring together Dawn Wall (Rita in Educating Rita), Gordon Torte and Dina Rosenheimer (Masha in VSMS) for what is a riotous comedy about an ailing theatre group resorting to sex to revive their flagging fortune.

And then later in the month, David Sedaris’s Santaland Diaries (from Nov 27) is a one-man show that follows the exploits of somebody working as a festive elf in a New York department store, which Pulkrabek promises will deliver “gay holiday cheer”.

Next year continues in the same vein with a “sexy and dangerous version” of Old Times (from Jan 29), the fi-

HIT

Understanding our plight as the outsider

21

nal act in HIT’s Harold Pinter trilogy, two Italian guest performances in March – Bluff by Panda Project and Stil Belinda

by PK-Rummet – and finally Anatomy of Murder in May. Intuitive internationalisation THE CHOICE of The Clean House is entwined in HIT’s mission to bring together the international theatre community.

“We are further expanding our international profile with the platform Move the North, a cross-border festival designed to create a dynamic cultural bridge between the cities of Hamburg, Copenhagen and Malmö,” contends Pulkrabek, the creator of the platform.

“Collaborating internationally will open up another multitude of possibilities for us to strengthen our international profile and create possibilities for the artists we work with to present and promote their work outside of Copenhagen.”

Could have been yesterday WRITTEN half a century earlier is John Osborne’s seismic play Look Back in Anger – and perhaps it is no coincidence that That Theatre is staging the play in the aftermath of Brexit, a cataclysmic event often compared to the Suez Crisis in 1956.

“The day after Britain voted to Leave, I wrote on Facebook how especially disappointed I was for the younger generation that will never have the same opportunities that I had in being to travel and work freely around Europe,” reveals That Theatre’s artistic director Ian Burns.

“One of my mates replied that Britain had nothing to do with me anymore as I’d lived over here for so long.”

Burns goes onto explain that there are many themes in Osborne’s work that recalls the state of modern Britain today.

She falls off the cart to become the apple of their eyes

“The underlying blind faith that the working class seems to have for the elite astounds me.

It might take the actual loss of the NHS to make people wake up,” he warns.

And while central character Jimmy Porter spends plenty of time grumbling about 1956, his list of gripes – hanging on to memories of being comfortable, secure, ordered and predictable – sounds all too familiar.

Bottom-heavy with talent NEVERTHELESS, Burns confesses that his main motivation for picking Look Back in Anger is that it is “a cracking love story across the class divide that I feel still resonates today”, which is “full of emotional intensity, real pleasures and real pains”.

Taking on the role of Jimmy is Søren Højen, an actor who impressed Burns in a recent production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream they both starred in alongside Alex Jespersen, who takes on the main female role, Alison.

After her success directing A Number last year, Helen Parry returns to take the helm again, allowing Burns to return to acting duties.

The critics did their best to make Osbourne feel like he was an outsider when the play made its debut, with the BBC claiming the set was “unspeakably dirty and squalid” and that it was hard to “believe that a colonel’s daughter brought up with some standards” would live there. Ultimately,

it concluded it was a “waste of time” watching it.

Kind of visit we all dread ELSEWHERE, there are a number of other plays to look forward to over the rest of the 2018-19 season, with other projects soon to be revealed, no doubt.

Next month, the Copenhagen Theatre Circle presents Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery (Oct 9-12; Krudttønden; tickets 150kr, place2book.com) – yet another caper for Baker Street’s finest.

The Crazy Christmas Cabaret (Nov 12-Jan 11; Tivoli Glassalen; tickets 185-400kr, teaterbilletter.dk) is switching its focus away from the US to the UK, although we’re sure there will still be room for a Donald Rump cameo in The Three Brexiteers.

Why Not Theatre Company’s next production isn’t until next spring. Dance with Me (Sep 19-Oct 6; Teatret ved Sorte Hest, Vesterbrogade 150, Frederiksberg; tickets 160-205kr, teaterbilletter.dk) is a one-person performance starring founder Sue Hanson-Styles.

While That Theatre’s late-winter production is The Visit (Feb 19-March 21; Krudttønden), a brand new play penned by Barry McKenna inspired by a house call paid

by Hans Christian Andersen to Charles Dickens in 1857. He didn’t leave for six weeks!

As expats, we’ve all had visitors like that before!

22

EVENTS

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

13 September - 10 October 2019

Cinquanta at Montmartre Sep 27-28, 20:00; Jazzhus Montmartre, Store Regnegade 19A, Cph K; 320kr, jazzhusmontmartre.dk The pianist, bandoneonist and composer Paolo Russo is turning 50 and to celebrate his birthday special guests are coming to Jazzhus Montmartre from all over the world. Russo will take you into his unique musical universe. Experience his full musical spectrum: from the Nordics to South America, as he wildly improvises like few others can. (RM)

Carmen Sep 14-Feb 15; Operaen, Ekvipagemestervej 10, Cph K; kglteater.dk; 155-945kr; in French with DK subtitles The sultry señorita is back – directly in fact from the Royal Opera House in London!

Georges Bizet’s classic opera − full of steamy Spanish passion, eroticism, raucous stage scenes and familiar songs that will have you swaying on your haunches − was first performed in Paris in 1875 and it’s been wowing audiences ever since.

The Barber of Seville Sep 21-Nov 21; Operaen, Ekvipagemestervej 10, Cph K; kglteater.dk; 155-945kr; in Italian with DK subtitles Gioachino Rossini’s beloved 1816 opera ‘The Barber of Seville’ is based on the original story that was the prequel to the one that spawned ‘The Marriage of Figaro’. Reumert award-winning director Martin Lyngbo takes inspiration from classic silent movies to create a rich visual experience.

The Clean House Sep 19-Oct 6; Serridslevvej 2, Cph Ø; 175kr, teaterbilletter. dk This 2005 Pulitzer Finalist play (see page 21 for more details) is about a sassy young Brazilian comedienne, Matilde, and her adventures in the US where she ends up cleaning a house for a well-do-do family. While she is initially unhappy with her job and her employer’s family, she still dreams of comedy and aspires to meet her soulmate. (RM)

Copenhagen Blues Festival Sep 27-28 and Oct 4-5; various venues ;100-200kr, copenhagenbluesfestival.dk The 19th Copenhagen Blues Festival is all set to get you in the autumn mood with a high quality musical experience.

Although the festival has not as big a scope as the previous years, 19 concerts await, including Shawn Pittman (US), Lindsay Beaver (US), Samantha Antoinette Smith (UK) and more. (RM)

Blam!

Sep 12-17; Strandvejen 451, Klampenborg; 275kr, bellevueteatret.dk ‘Die Hard’ meets ‘The Office’!

The story of four office workers who turn their office into a wild and explosive imaginary games field. A non-verbal performance combining comedy, storytelling, and headless stunts. (RM)

St Albans Church Concert Sep 27, 16:00; St Alban’s Church, Churchillparken 11, Cph K; ticket info: sarahleena@hotmail.com St Alban’s Church has invited a British military band, The Band of The Yorkshire Regiment led by captain Gray Clegg. Hurry up! It’s strictly first come first served. Refreshments are available. (RM)

Organic Days Sep 14-15, 12:00-17:30; Tivoli; price included in admission Find out more about organic fast food at Tivoli where ice creams and hot dogs are a healthy choice. The Fish ’n’ Chips stall recently obtained a silver mark for serving 60-90 percent organic food and beverage off its menu. (RM)

The Road to Palmyra Sep 20-Mar 1; New Carlsberg Glyptotek, Dantes Plads 7, Cph; 115kr, glyptoteket.com The first special exhibition in Denmark dedicated to the culture of ancient Palmyra – a city located in present-day Syria. (RM)

Rita’s Blue Flea Market Sep 15, 12:00-17:00; Kulturhuset Indre By, Cph K Rita’s market attracts a younger crowd searching for vintage and second-hand clothing.

Fight your way through the crowds to seek out some of that Scandi style. (EO)

Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery Oct 9-11; William Wains Gade 18, Cph; 150kr, place2book.com This comical Sherlock Holmes adaption by US playwriter Ken Ludwig will make you laugh all night. (RM)

Port Wine Pop-up Sep 14, 16:00-19:00 & 19:0022:00; Halmtorvet 9, Cph V; 299kr for 30 drink tokens; drikportvin.dk Select from more than 80 different bottles of port wine to tease your taste buds.

Golden Days ends Sep 22; multiple venues in CPH; goldendays.dk The Golden Days festival takes us on a historical journey. This year it is 30 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall. Golden Days will zoom in on 1989, communicating the culture, history and knowledge of an event that changed the world.

Meet the Vikings ongoing, ends Dec; National Museum of Denmark, Ny Vestergade, Cph K; natmus.dk We know who the Vikings were, but do we know what they looked like, wore, or ate?

Me neither.

Metal Fest Sep 20-21, 14:00-03:00; Øresundsvej 6, Amagerbro, Cph S; 375kr; amagerbio.dk To celebrate Heavymetal.dk’s 20th anniversary, young artists from the Danish scene are gathering for a 24-band festival. (RM)

Car-free Sunday Sep 15, 14:00-18:00; Nørrebrogade, Cph N Can you imagine Copenhagen without cars or bikes? The people of Nørrebro are reclaiming the streets to arrange activities for young and old. (RM)

Copenhagen Oktoberfest Sep 19-21 & 27-28; Femøren, Amagerstrand; seat and drink packages from 200kr; oktoberfest.dk This authentic Bavarian party is held in a tent that can hold 2,800 at Femøren. Just like in Munich, expect real German beer, food and music. The costumes are mostly fake though. (RM)

Cars‘N’Coffee Sep 29, 10:00-12:00; Lundtoftegårdsvej 10, Lyngby; free adm; formulaauto.dk Formula Automobile, a Ferrari and Maserati dealer, is opening to car enthusiasts.

Bring an exciting car, or come as a spectator – register via Facebook. (EO)

Zombierun Sep 22, 11:00-18:00; Rendsagervej 5, Vallensbæk Mose; 250-400kr; zombielobet.dk Are you a runner or a zombie?

Zombierun challenges kids and adults to take part in a unique cross country-run. in which they must avoid zombies looking for a feast. Braaaaains! (EO)

Pub quizzes Sep 26 & Oct 10 + 24, 19:30; The Globe, Nørregade 43, Cph K; 30kr, five per team / Oct 7, 19:30; Kennedy’s, Gammel Kongevej 23, Cph V; 50kr, four PT Don’t miss the quizzes at the Globe and Kennedy’s. The winners get 1,000 kroner at The Globe, and 800 at Kennedy’s.

ON SCREENS

13 September - 10 October 2019

23

I spy a little talent that started with Ali G ... it’s nice!

W

HY DO British comic actors struggle in straight roles compared to their US counterparts such as Robin Williams, Jim Carrey, Steve Carell and … I’m loathed to say it …

Will Smith?

Is it because the Brits are ugly, gangly and have bad teeth? They made their way to the top because they’re naturally funny, not because they have the complete package.

John Cleese might have been married a zillion times, but he’s lanky as hell (ditto Stephen Merchant), Ricky Gervais will always be the fat bloke off The Office regardless of how many bench-presses he does, and rubber-faced Rowan Atkinson looks like Mr Bean. But when these guys open their eyes, mouths or even legs, mirth ensues before we’ve computed what they’re saying.

The likes of Smith, Carell, Jerry Seinfeld and the men off Friends are all matinee idols in comparison. The only exception to the rule are fat blokes who die prematurely to earn a few tears and telling nods (from Jane Fonda and co) at the Oscars.

DRAM A! SINGING! DANCE!

Cohen trailing Coogan’s run GRANTED, Steve Coogan might be the exception, although he has been biding his time, with his best straight role work aptly coming as the straight man in The

Trip series. But Stan and Ollie last year confirmed his leading man credentials, finally following up on the promise of Philomena – the route trailblazed by Dudley Moore and Hugh Laurie is opening up for him.

And hot on his heels is Sasha Baron Cohen, who is a revelation in The Spy (67 on Metacritic; Sep 6 on Netflix), a 1960s espionage thriller in which he plays a Mossad agent based in Damascus. He is restrained but still charismatic – there’s not an atom of Borat about him.

Will Ferrell and Danny McBride are just two of the thousand comedic American actors who can get serious if called upon (think Everything Must Go and Up in the Air) and they’ve both got Netflix titles coming out. In Between Two Ferns: The Movie (Sep 20 on Netflix), Ferrell is one of the guests on Zach Galifianakis’s chatshow, and events take a turn for the worst when Matthew McConaughey is accidentally drowned on set. While McBride co-stars with John Goodman in The Righteous Gemstones (Aug 19 on HBO Nordic), a comedy about a televangelist family.

And finally, Smithy, after a string of stinkers (not helped when he opts to work with his talentless kids), returns to our screens with hitman with a hit on himself yarn Gemini Man (Not Released Worldwide; Oct 10), a rip-off of Looper, only in this film

Will-boy is playing both the old and young self (a clone naturally).

Clive Owen, who was cloned in the 1990s, co-stars in what is a busy autumn for the Brit, as he is also in The Informer (NRW; Sep 26), which doesn’t look too bad despite the uninspiring title.

When an FBI agent (Joel Kinnaman – the Swede in House of Cards) infiltrates a prison to bust a kingpin (which is already perilous enough), he hasn’t banked on a state police detective (the rapper Common), hell-bent on discovering the truth behind the death of his colleague, getting involved.

Maradona linked to Chelsea COOGAN’S driving companion on The Trip, Rob Brydon, is among the cast for the feel-good British dramedy Blinded by the Light (74; Sep 19) in which a troubled Asian kid in 1980s Britain finds salvation in the music of Bruce Springsteen – one of four films heartily recommended in what is a strong issue for cinema.

Joaquin Phoenix is an even-money favourite to win the Best Actor Oscar for Joker (75; Oct 3), but clearly the critics weren’t completely blown away by the film. More popular is Ad Astra (81; Sep 19) starring Brad Pitt (9/1 to win the award, but surely odds on to take the best supporting gong for beating up Bruce Lee) as an astronaut who must confront his father (Tommy Lee Jones) in outerspace to save humanity.

And while Toy Story 4 (84; Aug 29) is back with the safest formula ever known to humanity – Tom Hanks, cowboys, astronauts – we’re going to go out on a limb and say that In the Shadow of the Moon (Sep 27 on Netflix) looks like it could be a deliciously creepy serial killer film. Directed

by Jim Mickle (Hap and Leonard) and starring Boyd Holbrook (Narcos S1) and Michael C Hall (Dexter himself), it has the ingredients to succeed.

Elsewhere, familiar stories continue with It: Chapter 2 (59; Sep 5), Rambo 5: Last Blood (NRW; Sep 19) and Downton Abbey (NRW; Sep 26); Senna documentary maker Asif Kapadia turns his observant eye onto Diego Maradona (75; Sep 5), with the world’s most famous transgender soldier also on the chopping block (er, is that appropriate) in XY Chelsea (60; Oct 7); and Good Boys (60; Sep 12) is yet another coming-of-age dramedy starring Jacob Tremblay (Room, Wonder), this decade’s Macaulay Culkin.

Mopping up the dregs, Tall Girl (Sep 13 on Netflix) reminds us that it can be tough being 187 cm and looking for love; Late Night (71; Sep 12) follows in the trail of The Big Sick with a tail about an US-Asian assistant who eventually wears down TV host Emma Thompson’s Devil Wears Prada homage; Triple Threat (60; Aug 29) is a kung fu beat me up or off medley with an im-

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probably high rating; and female mobster flick The Kitchen (36; Sep 26) blows the men away and some serious ass.

In between the lines OVER ON TV land, the pick of the month is serial killer slow-burner Unbelievable (77; Sep 13 on Netflix), while Temple (Sep 13 on HBO Nordic) is a remake of the Norwegian show Valkyrien starring the ever dependable Mark Strong and Daniel Mays. The Politician (Sep 27 on Netflix) comes with echoes of the Reese Witherspoon film Election, meanwhile.

Elsewhere, Netflix has Jack Whitehall: Travels with my Father (S3; Sep 6) and Vis a Vis (S4; Sep 27); HBO Nordic has the glorious Mr InBetween (S2; Sep 13), Ballers (S5; Aug 26), Room 104 (S5; Sep 26), Into the Badlands (S3; Sep 5), The Deuce (S2; Sep 10) and Mayans MC (S2; Sep 4); and C More has the compelling Mr Mercedes (S3; Sep 11) and ever-popular Peaky Blinders (S5; Sep 5), as well as long awaited seasons of Line of Duty (S3; Sep 1) and Keeping Faith (S2; Sep 1).

And finally, London-set film dramas Phantom Thread (Sep 25 on Netflix) and Darkest Hour (Sep 18 on Netflix) are making overdue Danish bows – but don’t hold your breath that there are any comedic actors involved. It’s not like anyone smiled during the war.

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