29/08/2016 - The Danish director will adapt Jens Blendstrup’s bestselling novel about a psychologist, father and self-appointed, all-powerful god; the film stars Søren Malling

Danish director Henrik Ruben Genz (right) with his lead actors, Søren Malling and Lisa Nilsson (© Natascha Rydvald)

Danish director Henrik Ruben Genz, whose 2008 thriller Terribly Happy [+see also:
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film profile] received six Bodil Awards from the Danish Film Critics’ Association and seven Roberts from the Danish Film Academy, adding top prizes at Chicago, Karlovy Vary and Festroia in Portugal, will today (29 August) commence principal photography for his new drama, God Speaks Out. 

Shooting at a detached house in the Risskov suburb of provincial Aarhus, from Bo Hr Hansen’s screenplay, the film stars Søren Malling in the lead role, alongside Lisa Nilsson (playing his wife), Jesper Asholt, Jacob Kvols and Maria Erwolter. Signe Leick Jensen and Morten Kaufmann are producing for Toolbox Film, with Deluca Film (plus Danish commercial pubcaster TV2 and the West Danish Film Fund), while Scanbox Entertainment will handle the local distribution.

Based on Danish author Jens Blendstrup’s bestselling 2004 autobiographical novel, which has already been adapted for theatre, the film follows Uffe, a psychologist, father and self-appointed, all-powerful god, who controls his environment with a fierce, loving and whimsical hand. His patients have become almost like disciples in a sort of parish, and he meets with them for lively discussions and many drinks.

Uffe and his wife, Gerd Lillian, have three sons: Mikkel, the eldest, has left home, while Thomas, in the middle, wants to as well, but dares not tell God. However, Thomas is protected by his wife, the eternally good mother and an anchor for the whole family, and the youngest son – Jens, a little more grown-up – has a talent considered divine: he can write. A rebellion against Uffe/God is quietly simmering among his sons and his wife.