The Scandinavian series is a hallmark of Arte. But if the channel is more used to crime thrillers like Bron or The Killing, it acts here to change the register with Countrymen, a strange Norwegian comedy that will be broadcast on Thursday, June 8 at 20:55.
The series tells the story of three Islamists who decide to go undercover on a farm in Norway to build a bomb sponsored by a terrorist group. The intervention of the locals and the unexpected arrival of a childhood friend accompanied by his daughter thwart the plans of these nickel-plated legs, who are soon forced to reveal the goat cheese.
With a plot rich with twists and explosive characters, Countrymen is a hard-hitting comedy that manages to rise to the challenge and endear us to these anti-heroes in search of identity who have to deal with country neighbors, both benevolent and hostile.
Through these three characters, Yzer Aliu and Anne Björnstad, the two creators, wanted to address the issue of the clash of cultures and especially the relationship to the other. They looked a lot around the stereotypes people might have of each other to play on those prejudices to create a series around three men preparing to attack.
“The theme of the series is different. With the question of belonging as a water sign” explained Ann Bjornstad. “The characters gathered at the farm go there for different reasons. But what they have in common is that they are all from somewhere else and wonder where they can feel “home”. It is this weakness that gives hope.“
Under the guise of humor, Countrymen offers viewers a mirror of current Norwegian society, but also of the world they live in, as Yzer Aliu explained:I think that describes the world, not just Norway.“
“The world as it is, with its mix of populations and complexity. This is today’s reality. We can fear that identity issues will become increasingly powerful and tense, but we can also offer something that brings people together.“Counterman’s goal was mainly to make people laugh about topics that scared and worried them.
Catch episode 8 of Countrymen this Thursday, June 8 from 8:55pm on Arte. The episodes are now available on the Arte.tv platform until July 14.
Source: Allocine
Camila Luna is a writer at Gossipify, where she covers the latest movies and television series. With a passion for all things entertainment, Camila brings her unique perspective to her writing and offers readers an inside look at the industry. Camila is a graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a degree in English and is also a avid movie watcher.
