SMALL TOWN KILLERS/ DRAEBERNE FRA NIBE
Denmark, 2016, 94 minutes, Colour.
Ulrich Thomsen, Nicolas Bro, Mia Lyhne, Lena Maria Christensen, Marius Docinski, Gwen Taylor.
Directed by Ole Bornedal.
No, this is not a serious Danish look at serial killers out in the countryside in small villages. Rather, it is a black comedy, not without a body count.
Early in the film, the local policeman refers to the two central characters, two private enterprise builders, Edward and Ib (Ulrich Thomson and Nicholas Bro), as Dumb and Dumber. He means the characters played by Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels in the 1995 comedy. In fact, the policeman could have referred more tellingly to the prequel, Dumb and Dumberer. They certainly are.
Older audiences may enjoy the marital problems of the two builders and their wives. The men are sex-preoccupied, sex on the brain (though brain does seem to be an overstatement in this case). They discuss it, one going to a therapist, the other ogling his wife as she prepares to go salsa dancing in the local church. The wives, on the other hand, have more things on their minds, the possibility of having children, a more meaningful relationship. And, at the salsa lessons, they are enthralled by the enthusiasm and verve of the instructor (and regret that he is gay).
And the title? First of all, the men decide to divorce their wives but find that this would be hugely expensive, even though they have a whole lot of cash stashed away in the fridge in the basement, they're doing a lot of their work by hand and cash payments rather than contracts. Then, Edward gets the bright (only for the moment as he goes online) to hire a hitman to get rid of the wives. He chooses a Russian. Actually, when the wives discover what has happened and encounter the hitman, they decide to go British, so much more understated and disciplined, and hire Miss Nippleworthy (it's that kind of comedy), Gwen Taylor, doing something of an audition for a murderous Miss Marple.
Obviously, things are going to get out of hand. The Russian, is continually drunk and continually drinking, murdering the Afghan taxi driver who curses him. Corpse number 1 to get rid of. And there will be more.
Of course, the men change their mind, trying to persuade the hitman to go back home, trying therapy so that his memories will be erased, dressing up in drag and pretending to be their wives declaring that they now love their husbands and he needn't kill them!
The ending will provide very little surprise, not the facts, of course, but the manner in which it all happens, Miss Nippleworthy going down as she sings Rule Britannia.
Ulrich Thomsen as Edward generally plays in dramas and comedy is not his forte, even though he does let loose at the end dancing salsa. Nicolas Bro on the other hand, a large actor, is much more at home in comedy, especially when his let his inner female out, pretending to be his wife, and reminiscing about a first date as a teenager (girl).
In fact, the Danes are not noted for their plight comedies – and when the two wives explain to Miss Nippleworthy that they would like their murder to be Scandinavian, she replies 'dull and dark'.
Some amusing moments but, all concerned may have been trying too hard.
1. The title? Nibe the small Danish town, the town itself, the countryside?
2. A Danish story, Danish style and characters, Dull and dark? The continual references to the film Dumb and Dumber and its characters? An appropriate description of Edward and Ib? And their behaviour?
3. A black comedy, Danish style? Light touch? Heavy-handed?
4. The focus on Edward and Ib? Ib and Gritte and the marriage counselling, sex-preoccupied, the large man, his attitude towards his wife, her wanting something more from life? The eccentric therapist and her look, manner, talk? And her later reappearance? The contrast with Edward at home, ogling his wife, her preparing to go to Salsa? His sexual preoccupation? The two men, the continued conversations, sexual details, sexual inadequacies? Attitudes towards their wives?
5. Salsa in the church, the cleaner and his dancing during the credits, Bent, his work in the restaurant, the story of his sporting accident, people mocking him, the dancing, in partnership with the instructor? The couples and their dancing, the instructor and his emotional enthusiasm, the wives and their response? His being gay?
6. The two men, their work, builders, cash encounters, hidden money in the fridge in the basement? Delays in their work, lazy, time off, talking, lunch? The confrontation of the couple and the old lady, not finishing their work, the threats about higher wages?
7. The wives and confrontations with their husbands? The men and their drinking, discussions about divorce? Going to the lawyer, his explaining the huge payouts, alimony? And his own sexual behaviour?
8. Edward, drunk, going online, the black humour of hiring a hitman online? Russian? Explaining It to Ib? Their plan, going to the airport, Igor and his drunken behaviour, their wanting to send him back, the officials refusing, their welcoming sign? Taking him in the taxi? The Afghan driver, his strict interpretation, insults to Igor, Igor killing him? The Bin Laden tattoo? Igor digging the grave and burying him? The men taking him home, his continued drinking, thinking he was in a hotel, the wives not expected, arriving home, talking with Igor, his explaining his mission to kill the wives? Their hurrying the way, arrested for drink-driving, safety of the cell?
9. The policeman, holding up the men, challenging them, giving them the ticket? Arresting the women? His later confronting Igor? His not being happy in life and Igor killing anyone who is not happy? The burial?
10. Igor, his character, his story in the Ukraine? His happy parents, 50 years married? His lecture to the men about being faithful and loving? The decision to take him to the therapist – and Igor killing her because she was not happy? Another burial?
11. The women, going online, choosing a British killer? At the airport, the arrival, like Miss Marple, the death of the official in the airport? In the car, her case full of implements, coming from
the asylum, pretending to be a nurse, her mission in life to put people out of their misery? Talk about poisons? The women going back on their idea?
12. The men going to the dance instructor, seeing Bent, borrowing the wigs, dressing up as their wives, in the dark, persuading Igor not to kill their wives? His lecture to them about being
ugly and not loving? Ib and his going into his role-play, the inner woman coming out?
13. The wives, their arrival, their all being tied up, lectured by Igor? The attack on Igor? His death? The arrival of the British killer, throwing the knife, singing Rule Britannia, her death?
14. The completion of the wall, the old lady and discussions about the clitoris and her offer? The huge wall and the burial of all the bodies?
15. But comedy and happy ever after?
