Denmark (2019)

Denmark: Directed by Adrian Shergold. With Rafe Spall, Darren Evans, Elis James, Joel Fry. A down-on-his-luck Welshman travels across Europe with one crazy goal: to get himself arrested and sent to a Danish prison where the beds are warm and the water is hot.

“Rafe Spall gives a memorable performance in this bittersweet fish-out-of-water comedy drama.nIt slowly dawns on me after 10 minutes that Adrian Shergold also helmed Funny Cow, one of the bleakest dramas of recent years. Heu0026#39;s a master at constructing compelling dramas with characters trapped in joyless personal prisons.nIn this case itu0026#39;s Herb, a 34-year-old Welshman with a knack for fixing things. But he canu0026#39;t get a proper job, has an estranged son; heu0026#39;s lost his welfare; has a neighbour who plays incessant music, and Herbu0026#39;s diet consists mainly of cheap beer and mushy peas.nLittle wonder heu0026#39;s so depressed.nAfter discovering Danish convicts live a luxurious life he could only dream of, Herb decides to travel across Europe with one goal: to get arrested and sent to a Danish prison.nHowever, after meeting Mathilda, a local barmaid, and a lovable stray dog who wonu0026#39;t leave his side, Herb realises that prison may not be his only chance to get the life he hoped for.nThough the film could become a generic romcom, with Herb drifting into a ready made family, itu0026#39;s not quite so formulaic as that. As the tale unfolds, itu0026#39;s hard not to hope Herb will do the right thing, but heu0026#39;s a troubled soul. To paraphrase Springsteen, like a dog thatu0026#39;s been beat too much, heu0026#39;s damaged by circumstances, and those wounds donu0026#39;t heal overnight.nAs with Funny Cow, Richard Hawley provides some terrific songs, and Jeff Murphyu0026#39;s script never strikes a false note.nWith a star-making turn from Simone Lykke as Mathilda, this really gets under the skin. At 91 minutes it never outstays its welcome, and the fact it left me hungry for more is testament to its success.nRafe Spall has long been one of showbusinessu0026#39;s most in-demand actors, and this is one of his finest turns to date.nHighly recommended.”