Copenhagen, 1918. Seemingly abandoned by her soldier husband Peter (Besir Zeciri), Karoline (Vic Carmen Sonne) finds herself in deep debt and with no place to go. She finds a job in a factory, where she gets romantically involved with the boss and ends up pregnant. She comes into contact with Dagmar (Trine Dyrholm), who runs an innocent-looking sweet shop which is also a front for an underground adoption agency…
In 20th Century Danish history, the name Dagmar Overbye is something of a household name even now – for reasons that will become apparent in The Girl With The Needle. The film is inspired by the case of Overbye, but tells a fictionalised account of events with a frame of reference in the viewpoint of a young, unfortunate woman called Karoline who comes into contact with Dagmar, less for the better and more for the worse. The Swedish-born, Poland-based director Magnus Van Horn, whose previous film Sweat slipped out during the pandemic, proves to be an ideal fit for this gasp-inducing horror story of sorts.
After seeing the impressive and emotionally stirring Danish film, The Girl with the Needle Graham Day sat down and discussed the intricacies with the lead actor Vic Carmen Sonne and director Magnus von Horn….
So, Vic, congratulations on The Girl with the Needle. It’s a stellar film. How was it to film that kind of story about a victim of a prolific serial killer?
Vic – That’s a good question. It was to me, like a story about Karoline, more than a story about a victim of a prolific serial killer.
What was it like playing Caroline?
Vic – It was really interesting. I think it was one of the most meaningful things that I’ve ever had the opportunity to do in my life, honestly. I felt a great sense of responsibility to Karoline and to the story, and it was tough and incredible and fun as well as expansive.
You have two major partners in the film, Dagmar and Peter. What was it like working with the two of them? We’ll start with Besir (Zeciri)
Vic – It was incredible to work with Besir. He’s one of the most hardworking, fun, committed people that I’ve ever gotten to work with. And he put so much preparation into this role, and he gives such a profound presence.
When you’re like, in a scene with Besir, he has an incredible strength. He’s hyper vigilant and it’s almost like playing tennis, you know. It was an amazing back and forth.
And with Trine (Dyrholm), it was incredible. I watched her in Danish cinema since I was basically born. She’s done so many great roles and she’s always been extremely committed to go to places with the characters that she’s been. It was really fun to work with someone like her.
What’s it been like for the two of you collaborating Magnus?
Magnus – It’s been a long and I mean, very big journey, I would say, because we started working on this film two years before shooting together. So, I think we have gone through, like, everything we can together. You know, from this, when the script was so, you know, not ready, it was much more of an idea to watching it take shape, to watching it getting financed, become reality, and then you start testing clothes and finding all the other actors which Vic was very involved with.
What was like filming and then seeing the finished result on the big screen?
Magnus – We worked for a very long time with Michał Dymek on how our intentions and our ambitions were very high, then we set them extremely high, and then we are aware that we have to be taken down because we confronted reality.
Vic – I feel like you never really budged, which, I mean, hindsight and all, but honestly, I feel like, when you say that, taking them down. I feel like, if that ever happened, then that that must have been rare.
What do you hope audience audiences learn from this story?
Magnus – I don’t know. I think it’s so difficult to say that you want someone to learn anything from a film.
Vic – I think, if anything, maybe I would hope that people learn to have more compassion with themselves. It’s very corny, maybe, but that’s something that I’ve thought about.
Magnus – I absolutely want to co-sign under that.
The Girl with the Needle is out in Irish cinemas on the 10th of January.