The Girl with the Needle, directed by Magnus von Horn, is an intense and disturbing period drama set in Copenhagen after the First World War. It opened in German cinemas on January 9, 2025. Its moral dilemmas and struggle for survival make for a gripping film.
Black and white between beauty and oppression
Von Horn’s direction is dark yet poetic. Shooting in black and white heightens the oppressive atmosphere, while the sets and costumes evoke Copenhagen in the years after the war. The images can be beautiful and deeply unsettling at the same time.
Contrasts and restrained music
Michał Dymek’s strong contrasts and close-ups emphasise the characters’ vulnerability as well as their strength. Frederikke Hoffmeier’s music complements the images, intensifying the mood without overwhelming them.
Spoilers: detailed discussionContains story spoilers. Open deliberately.
The encounter with Dagmar
Karoline, played by Vic Carmen Sonne, is a factory worker who finds herself pregnant and in severe financial difficulty. An encounter with Dagmar, played by Trine Dyrholm, appears to offer a way through her predicament. The film examines the dependence created when someone in desperate circumstances has few alternatives.
The historical basis matters to the film’s darker implications: it draws on the case of Danish serial killer Dagmar Overby. Karoline initially sees Dagmar’s adoption arrangement as a rescue, before confronting the reality behind her apparent generosity. Dyrholm makes the character’s manipulative, unpredictable nature disturbingly convincing. The relationship becomes a study of power, dependence and betrayal.
Performances and psychological dependence
The performances are impressive. Sonne conveys Karoline’s divided loyalties and determination to survive with remarkable depth. Dyrholm’s performance is equally precise; the tension in her expressions and measured presence adds greatly to the disturbing atmosphere.
The position of women in a patriarchal society is central, along with the uncertain boundary between survival and moral collapse. Karoline’s relationship with Dagmar creates a complex psychological network of power and dependence.
Verdict
The Girl with the Needle is an outstanding film whose thematic depth and compelling performances leave a lasting impression. It is demanding drama that raises questions which continue to resonate.
Watch the film at home
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