🇩🇰 CHOSEN 🇩🇰
Chosen (2022) is a new Danish sci-fi, mystery/fantasy series on Netflix internationally. 6 x 41-49 min. 15 Cert U.K. In Danish with English subtitles and dubbing available.
Premise:
“A teenager finds her world turned upside down when she discovers the disturbing truth lurking in her sleepy Danish town.” IMDb
Cast:
Malaika Mosendane as Emma
Andrea Heick Gadeberg as Marie
Andreas Dittmer as Fredrik
Albert Rudbeck Lindhardt as Mads
Mohamed Djeziri as Elvis
Anders Heinrichsen as Lukas
Magnus Juhl Andersen as Jonas
Line Kruse as Lykke
Marie Louise Wille as Susan
Rikke Eberhardt Isen as Leyla
Henrik Prip as Hans
Nikolaj Kopernikus as Adrian
Crew:
Creators: Jannik Tai Mosholt, Kaspar Munk, Christian Potalivo, Ida Maria Rydén
Director: Kaspar Munk
Writers: Jannik Tai Mosholt, Kaspar Munk, Christian Potalivo, Ida Maria Rydén, Stefan Jaworski, Julie Budtz Søresnsen
Composer: August Fenger
Editors: Rasmus Gitz-Johansen, Anders Albjerg Kristiansen, Andri Steinn GuĂ°jĂłnsson, Jakob Juul Toldam
Production Designers: Sabine Hviid, Heidi Plugge, Charlotte Snede Sørensen
Art Director: Benjamin Salomon
Sound Designer: Eddie Simonsen
Visual & Special Effects: Martin Madsen & Hummer Højmark,
Notes:
The cast includes: Malaika Mosendane (Sommerdahl Murders)
Andrea Heick Gadeberg (Riders of Justice)
Albert Rudbeck Lindhardt (Another Round, Riders of Justice, Follow the Money, The Rain, The Day Will Come)
Anders Heinrichsen (The Rain, DNA, The Lawyer, Greyzone, Follow the Money)
Line Kruse (Follow the Money, Rita, Cry Wolf)
Nikolaj Kopernikus (The Lawyer, The Killing, The Bridge)
Chosen has a great pedigree behind it with the creators being Jannik Tai Mosholt, Kasper Munk and Christian Potalivo. Jannik co-created The Rain with Kasper but also co-created Follow the Money and was also a screenwriter for Borgen, Rita etc. Kasper was also a screenwriter for Ride Upon the Storm and Follow the Money. Christian is also a producer for shows such as Elves, The Rain and Dicte.
The cinematographer is the award-nominated Laust Trier-Mørk (The Idealist, Equinox, Follow the Money, Cry Wolf). Costuming is by award-winning Stine Thaning (Ride Upon the Storm, The Investigation, The Day Will Come). Hummer Højmark is special effects coordinator as he was for Riders for Justice, Shorta, Furia, The Chestnut Man, Ragnarok, Equinox, The Rain, When the Dust Settles etc.
Review:
I was excited by the prospect of Chosen as I am a life-long fan of sci-fi (both “hard” and “soft”) mystery and fantasy TV shows and films. Members of the production team behind this have been involved in several series I have enjoyed and some of the actors are familiar to me (most notably Nikolaj Kopernikus).
Firstly, it was an absolute positive for me to see an inclusive cast with a young woman of colour in the lead role. As much as this was a positive for me I suspect that others who have reviewed this show come from a diametrically opposite position (draw your own conclusions…) That her character is exploring her sexuality and appears to be bisexual will, sadly and inevitably, alienate or anger some viewers. To have a character who uses a wheelchair not defined at all by his “disability” nor given an automatic “good guy” pass because of it makes a truly refreshing change.
My second main observation (and I cannot believe I am having to write this) is that this show requires substantial suspension of disbelief. If that degree of suspension is not possible then this is not the show for you. That not everything is explained this season when this show is very clearly meant to extend over a likely 3 seasons is really not a negative.
All characters (not just the major ones) have desires, goals and motivations whether they be love, “pulling” girls, uncovering lies, protecting or destroying etc. I appreciated that we do not, as yet, know quite who, or what, everyone is; in this respect, the show treats the audience like adults who do not have to be spoon-fed.
What I also liked in Chosen is that the ground is continually being shaken (just like when the “meteor” hit) and we, like our heroine, cannot quite get our bearings. It kept me guessing right up to the end and beyond as to what is happening and who is good and who is bad… in truth, I am still not sure.
Who am I? This is the question that lies at the heart of this show. Along with, how much of what I thought was true is actually a lie, or a deceit? The major point of finding out who you really and being true to oneself is not the preserve of the young, and in this respect, this is a show for everyone, no matter their age (perhaps not though for those who find any sort of philosophy a “waste of time” or “stupid”).
I am honestly baffled by comments I have seen about bad acting and equally bad dialogue, indeed some of these come over as being from a standpoint of prejudice and into the realm of directed personal attack.
The dialogue is intelligent and meaningful. There is a lot of humour in the show (some of which lands, some of which does not quite stick the landing) which works as a good counterbalance to the darkness of the story. Some of the scenes with Lukas are hilarious!
I loved the overall production design of this, especially the saturated Blade Runneresque visuals. The cinematography (as to be expected from this crew) is outstanding, with great editing. The music score works very well enhancing the visuals and increasing tension. I loved the costuming! The special and visual effects are outstanding, again expected by some of the best in the business in Denmark. It is often a visually beautiful show.
Some have commented that this show is slow, again, as someone who had no problems shamelessly binging my way through it I cannot understand why (although I am used to the pace of Nordic shows and my goodness this show has a blistering pace compared to many I have watched!)
Overall, I very much enjoyed watching Chosen and if you enjoy soft sci-fi with great visuals and interesting, conflicted characters then you may well enjoy it as much as I.
Trailer:
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