Sol over Danmark: A sunny, slightly messy trip to the past

Is it worth your time?

Honestly, only if you have a weird itch for 1930s Danish aesthetics or you’re a completist for black-and-white romances that don't really go anywhere. If you’re looking for a tight script, you’re in the wrong place. But if you want to watch people cycle through the countryside while wearing outfits that look like they’d be incredibly hot in the sun, you’ll be fine.

The whole thing starts with a rainstorm. It’s the kind of "movie rain" that manages to get everyone soaked just enough to make them look disheveled but still perfectly composed for the camera. Ebba and Kirsten are on bikes. Jørgen and Poul show up in a car. You know exactly what happens next.

There’s this moment on the ferry to Grenå where everything is supposed to be magical and romantic. The music swells. The lighting hits their faces just right. But I couldn't help but stare at the background extras, who look like they’re just waiting for the craft services table to open. It’s weirdly grounding.

Then there’s the debt thing. It’s barely a plot, really. Ebba’s mom owes money to Poul’s dad, and it’s meant to add some weight to the romance, I guess? But it feels like a chore the movie has to do so it can get back to the nice summer scenery.

It’s not as chaotic as A Bedroom Scandal, which at least had the decency to be a bit more frantic. This one is just… pleasant. Maybe a bit too pleasant.

• The bike scenes are surprisingly long. Like, really long.
• The dialogue is incredibly polite, even when they’re talking about ruinous debt.
• I’m still not sure if the mother actually likes the car guys, or if she’s just tired.

The movie gets noticeably better when it just lets the characters hang out and stop trying to explain the financial stakes. There’s a scene where they’re just sitting around, and for a second, it feels like a real summer afternoon. Then someone mentions a ledger, and the magic dies a little bit. 🙄

If you liked the vibe in Girl O' My Dreams, you might find this familiar territory. It’s not trying to win any awards for complexity. It just wants to show you some sun, some rain, and a couple of bicycles.

It’s a light snack of a film. Don’t expect a five-course meal. 🚲☀️