Toves værelse

Toves værelse Tove's room

The year is 1963. A women’s liberation movement the size of today’s #MeToo movement has been underway for a while, and it’s rolling across the Western world like an avalanche. In a luxury flat in central Copenhagen we meet one of the period’s biggest female writers, Tove Ditlevsen, accompanied by her husband, the sadistic editor in chief Victor Andreasen. Her talent is indisputable, only her husband’s destructive envy surpasses it. And whilst she uses her talent and authorship to give a voice to the suppressed women of the time, providing them with courage to leave behind husbands and the patriarchal structures of society, Andreassen’s only talent is to sell sexist tabloids to the people. Tove looks straight through her husband’s inferiority complex, and yet she puts up with his humiliating behavior and his violence. He is the one who controls her drug abuse and repeated admissions to the psychiatric ward – the only place in which she truly finds peace to write. On this very day they’re expecting a lunch guest, like hyenas awaiting their prey. Their power struggle needs an audience, a weak play mate they can throw around as they see fit. Who is more suited than the young, promising author Klaus R., a man who celebrates the modern woman’s rebellion and the new opportunities afforded to her? Klaus R. believes they’ll be talking about literature in an era that belongs to women – what he doesn’t know is that a blood bath awaits him. Or does he?

Awards

Haugesund Norwegian International Film Festival (Publikumsprisen) Norway 2023
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Reviews

  • “Spectacular entertainment. /…/ Hooray for a new way of thinking about form and style.”

    Euroman, Denmark

  • “The formidable thing about the film is the details of the acting and the script. /…/ Zandvliet – and perhaps especially Weis – shows that if you dare to enter this room, it is a place that cannot be in any other way. Some love relationships are and become inflamed. They are a kind of mirrored attraction, negatively complex, yes, one could almost say backwards poetic. /…/ There was something terrible in Tove’s head, but occasionally also indescribably lyrical. And you are left with a sense of gratitude that she lived and gave us unique literature that so blatantly depicts what it means to be human. The same can be said about this film.”

    ★★★★★

    Ekkofilm, Denmark

  • “A harsh and enriching experience. /…/ Paprika Steen and Lars Brygmann deliver world-class acting.”

    Ugeavisen Faaborg, Denmark

  • Tove’s room is brilliant and infamous. Relentless and at times tender. The film about writer Tove Ditlevsen is impressive.”

    Aftenposten Vink, Norway

  • “Weis’ script is excellent, nothing less. There are well-formulated jokes and malice, but also many psychological layers in the relationship between the two main characters. ”

    ★★★★★

    Vi elsker streaming, Denmark

  • “The script is again penned by playwright Jakob Weis, who can merge the disgusting with beauty and humorous absurdity. /…/ And consider the words and the language as the film’s – and Tove’s – driving force, life, and heart. Because there aren’t many car explosions, robberies, or scenography changes in this chamber play. On the other hand, the explosive language constitutes a violent reality and a screaming pain, when we visit the great artist’s little room, which through words develops into an arena for a sadomasochistic drama. /…/ Beautiful, claustrophobic, deeply uncomfortable and supremely good.”

    ★★★★★

    Soundvenue, Denmark

  • “Paprika Steen and Lars Brygmann are completely fearless and indestructible in the roles of Tove Ditlevsen and Viktor Andreasen in Martin Zandvliet’s formidable chamber play Tove’s Room.”

    ★★★★★

    Jylland-Posten, Denmark

  • Tove’s Room is detailed storytelling, and if you don’t know much about Tove Ditlevsen’s writing, you will want to read her works, or re-read them after you have seen the film.”

    ★★★★★★

    Kulturinformation, Denmark

  • “The most intense Danish film of the year.”

    ★★★★★

    Moovy, Denmark

  • “Brilliant acting in the world’s most terrible marriage drama will make you gape in awe.”

    ★★★★★

    Børsen, Denmark

  • “A violent film, which everyone should give themselves the opportunity to see – Paprika Steen and Lars Brygmann have never been better.”

    ★★★★★

    BT, Denmark

  • “Sparks fly in the dark of the movie theatre. /…/ A shocking and moving film adaptation.”

    ★★★★★★

    Femina, Denmark

  • “It’s ugly, uncomfortable, and captivating.”

    ★★★★★★

    Alt for damerne, Denmark

  • “Paprika Steen and Lars Brygmann’s interaction is once again surprisingly nuanced and overwhelmingly delicate.”

    ★★★★★

    Kulturkupeen, Denmark

Screenwriter
Jakob Weis
Premiere
2023
Genre
  • Drama

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