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A civilized country

Joergen is a forensic expert and is therefore used to examining the dead and determining how they died. It is a science and by careful examination, Joergen Lange Thomsen is more often than not able to arrive at a conclusion.

But one day Jorgen is ”hired” to solve a different type of case, which raises new demands to his professional judgment. On behalf of a large human rights organization, he is to investigate a group of Iraqis, who are still alive, and determine whether they have been subjected to torture or not.

Joergen is a forensic expert and is therefore used to examining the dead and determining how they died. It is a science and by careful examination, Joergen Lange Thomsen is more often than not able to arrive at a conclusion.

But one day Jorgen is ”hired” to solve a different type of case, which raises new demands to his professional judgment. On behalf of a large human rights organization, he is to investigate a group of Iraqis, who are still alive, and determine whether they have been subjected to torture or not.

The case is of political importance, and Joergen’s conclusion is vital to whether the case ends up at court, accusing the Danish State of war crimes in Iraq. But is Joergen able to determine who is telling the truth and who is lying? What other agendas are at play behind the scenes? And does it make sense at all for the Iraqis to take the State of Denmark to court?

Affected by many years of pioneer work within the field of human rights, Joergen begins to question whether any of it matters at all. And these doubts will soon put him to the test.

As a contrast to Joergen, and in some way his counterpoint, Christian Harlang, is an indignant and deeply dedicated human rights lawyer, who accompanies him to Beirut and Amman. Joergen’s report reveals that the Iraqis have been subjected to torture, and Harlang starts preparing for a historical case against the state of Denmark.As it turns out, the case is met by systematic and massive political resistance, including a cover-up of the evidence by the Danish military.

But when a whistle-blower comes forward the case takes yet another turn.

A forensic scientist, Joergen, is a guardian of objectivity. As we follow his work into the heart of a particularly sensitive case, we discover the frailty of truth and the challenge of remaining neutral and ethical while under great external pressure. Ironically, this plays out in a country that touts itself as one of the greatest democracies in the world.

 

 

Facts
Original titel: 
A civilized country
Working title: 
Embracing the Dead
Year of production: 
2014
Length: 
75/58
Cast: 
Jørgen Lange Thomsen, Christian Harlang, Anders Kærgaard
Director: 
Nanna Frank Møller
Script Writer: 
Rasmus Heisterberg, Nanna Frank Møller
Producer: 
Helle Faber
Co-producer: 
Antonio Russo Merenda
Cinematographer: 
Nanna Frank Møller
Editor: 
Marlene Billie Andreasen, Nanna Frank Møller
Sound: 
Roar Skau Olesen
Music: 
Uno Helmersen
In co-production with: 
DR, Det Danske Filminstitut, Undervisningsministeriet, Knowledge Network, UR, SFI & Ginesta Film
Festivals
CPH:DOX 2014 Selected for Fact:Award
Contact
Festival distribution: 
kurstein@dfi.dk
International sales: 
kimc@dr.dk
All other queries: 
hello@madeincopenhagen.dk