Danish Film ‘Sommeren 92’ Scores With Audiences In Denmark

Danish director Kasper Barfoed’s Sommeren 92, about the Danish national football squad’s against-the-odds victory in the 1992 European Championships, has scored with Danish audiences. The UK-Danish co-pro is about to cross 300,000 admissions, repping 5% of the entire population and double the returns of the likes of big budget studio fare Mission: Impossible- Rogue Nation and Kingsman: The Secret Service.

Barfoed, who was there to witness the national team’s unlikely victory as a child, co-wrote the script with Anders August (Superclasico). UK-based Kris Thykier (Burnt) produced though his Archery Pictures along with Meta Films’ Meta Louise Foldager (A Royal Affair) and Nina Bisgaard. SF Film distributed the film in Denmark with Hanway Films handling international sales.  “We set out to make a film that would delight audiences in its home market, and now hope that its local success will transfer to the rest of the world,” said Kris Thykier.  

Denmark’s victory in the 1992 European Championships ranks as one of the great football upsets in the history of the game. The film follows the true story of how Richard Nielsen, the Danish football manager, united his unprepared, mismatched team of national superstars and nobodies to win against the reigning world champions, Germany. They almost didn’t make it there at all. Initially knocked out of the championship in the qualifying playoff stages, the Danish football team choose to drown their woes by throwing themselves into a summer of leisure – no exercise, no training, no football. However, when Yugoslavia is forced to forfeit its place in the tournament- following the outbreak of civil war that would lead to its disintegration- the Danes suddenly find themselves wrenched back from their freedom, and only a week from facing some of the world’s best teams and players.