Hærværk (1977) - Danish alcoholism drama a true downer

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'Who wins when you fight against yourself?' asks the poignant tag-line on this very 1970s-styled poster for Ole Roos' Hærværk

A man latches himself to alcoholic fringe characters and lets his life fall apart.

 

Hærværk is written by Klaus Rifbjerg (Tukuma (1984)) and co-writer/director/editor Ole Roos (Kys til Højre og Venstre (1969)), adapting the same-titled 1930 novel by Tom Kristensen (Fribytterdrømme (1920)). The original Danish title translates to 'vandalism'.

Ole Ernst (Okay (2002)) and Jesper Christensen (Before the Frost/Før Frosten (2018)) are both increasingly sad and consumed by alcoholism in the long, downbeat drama downer with Kristensen's apt title encapsulation of the universal discipline of self-destruction and downfall. The obvious lack of 'fun' in the circle of the addicted, the mean misery of it all and the ritualized and egotistical nature of the behavior, - all aspects are caught vividly here in a seething depiction of alcoholism. Regrettably Hærværk is simultaneously an overlong and dour watch.

 

Here a video with Ernst talking about addiction

 

Cost: Unknown

Box office: Approximately 1.68 mil. $

= Uncertain

[Hærværk was released 4 November (Denmark) and runs 132 minutes. The film was a hit in Denmark, where it sold nearly 209k tickets. It was also released in Norway, but its sale here is unknown. Roos returned with 4 TV credits prior to his theatrical return with Forræderne (1983). Ernst returned in Lille Spejl (1978). 227 IMDb users have given Hærværk a 6.5/10 average rating.]

 

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