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The Keeper of Lost Causes
Kvinden i buret
2013 93 min Denmark, Germany, Norway, Sweden 16+
★7.0
Thriller, Mystery, Crime
Director: Mikkel Nørgaard
🎭 Based on
«The Keeper of Lost Causes»
byJussi Adler-Olsen
Trailers
EN
Teaser
Description
Denmark, 2013. Police officers Carl Mørck and Hafez el-Assad, sole members of Department Q, which is focused on closing cold cases, investigate the disappearance of politician Merete Lynggaard, vanished when she and her brother were traveling aboard a ferry five years ago.
Budget:
$5.65M
Worldwide:
$13.7M
Starring
Nikolaj Lie Kaas
Actor
Per Scheel Krüger
Actor
Troels Lyby
Actor
Awards
3 wins & 21 nominations total
Key opinion
Kvinden i buret is widely recognized as a classic entry in the Scandinavian noir genre, praised for its atmospheric tension and strong performances from its lead duo. While many appreciate its methodical pacing and visual style, others find the narrative simplistic or note that the transition from novel to film results in underdeveloped character arcs.
| Acting | Nikolaj Lie Kaas and Fares Fares deliver compelling, organic performances that anchor the film's gritty tone | |
| Cinematography | The film effectively utilizes a moody, muted aesthetic and a tension-building score to create an authentic Scandinavian noir atmosphere | |
| Adaptation | The adaptation of the source material is polarizing; some find the script a tight, gripping mystery, while others argue it simplifies the complex character dynamics of the novel | |
| Pacing | The film's slow-burn pacing satisfies those who appreciate methodical procedural work, though some viewers find the 90-to-120 minute runtime feels overly long or unevenly structured | |
| Screenplay | While the central mystery is functional, critics disagree on its depth, with some finding it a high-quality investigation and others dismissing the villain's motives as vague and unconvincing |