Renowned Danish filmmaker Thomas Vinterberg, best known for Another Round and The Hunt, returns with his latest project, Families Like Ours. This seven-episode mini-series, premiering on October 20, 2024, on Denmark's TV2, offers a thrilling and thought-provoking take on a global issue — the refugee crisis — but flips it on its head. What if, in the not-so-distant future, Denmark itself became uninhabitable due to climate change, forcing millions of Danes to flee?
The story is set in a world where rising water levels force the evacuation of Denmark, turning its 6 million citizens into refugees. Vinterberg deftly uses this apocalyptic setting to explore not just the logistics of survival, but the emotional and social turmoil such displacement would cause. At the heart of the series is Laura, a high school student facing a heartbreaking decision: choosing between her divorced parents and the boy she loves, all while her country crumbles around her.
The ensemble cast includes Amaryllis August, Albert Rudbeck Lindhardt, Paprika Steen, and Nikolaj Lie Kaas, delivering performances that are as intense as the series' premise. With all seven episodes directed by Vinterberg, his sharp focus on family dynamics shines through even in the face of a world-ending disaster.
Families Like Ours premiered at the 2024 Venice Film Festival, where it received praise for its emotionally gripping narrative and timely reflection on climate change. By merging personal dilemmas with global catastrophes, Vinterberg has crafted a series that feels both intimate and urgent — a rare feat for a genre often overwhelmed by spectacle.
With stunning visuals and a premise rooted in today's harsh realities, Families Like Ours promises to be a must-watch, not just for fans of Vinterberg's work, but for anyone interested in stories of resilience and love in the face of overwhelming odds.
