After watching lots of Netflix original series recently, it felt really good to watch some traditional movies instead. And since I wasn't able to find the Department Q movies on Netflix, I actually had to find them in some other way. But, let me tell you already - it is well worth it, at least if you love those traditional crime stories written by Scandinavian authors, and then turned into a series or a movie later.
Department Q: The Keeper of Lost Causes is the first movie in a series of four movies (so far), and it introduces us to the so-called Department Q. It is made up of a police officer with whom nobody really wants to work, and after an incident during a raid, he is sent to work in a basement where his job is to close up old files. In other words, boring paperwork where he will not bother anyone. This is Carl Morck, a depressed police officer with some serious alcohol problems.
His partner is Assad, a man with a smile on his face, good values, and something to live for. They might not fit together very well, but maybe that is what is making them a perfect fit.
The first real case...
As they look through old files, they are presented with the case of Merete Lynggaard, a woman who is supposed to have taken her life on a boat, leaving her brother with serious trouble behind. It doesn't seem to be very logical, but with no other explanation available, that is what has been written in the case file. But, instead of just putting a stamp on and saying okay, Carl and Assad are setting forth to find out what actually happened on the boat that day, and what really happened to Merete.
This is the foundation for a very traditional Scandinavian crime story with some brutality and typical "dark" crime. But, to be honest, I really loved the movie, and it absolutely made me hungry for more of this series.
Nikolaj Lie Kaas plays the role as Carl Morck. I recently watched him play a role in another Danish movie (which I found on Netflix) named Morkt. I don't know what kind of guy Nikolaj is, but in these movies, he always seems to be a bit depressed, hard to interact with, and not at all a social kind of happy guy. And in the Department Q series, he is actually entirely unbearable. He is unpolite and doesn't know how to interact correctly with people. Luckily, Assad is there to help him out!
Fares Fares (yes, that is his name) plays the role as Assad. He has actually had quite a bit of an international career, which started with a role in the Denzel Washington movie Safe House in 2012. He has later had roles in Westworld, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, one episode of Chernobyl, and quite a lot of other titles.
Should you watch this movie?
It was a fantastic start on the Department Q series. I loved it, and even though it might feel slow at times as we are fighting with the strange character of Carl Morck, it is still exciting, dark, and it makes your heart beat faster (at times). In other words, a great crime story from Denmark!
My The Keeper of Lost Causes score: 8/10
Have you seen the movie? How did you like it? I would love to hear your thoughts!
You can watch this movie on Netflix in a few countries, but not in many. That is why I actually found it online in some other way and streamed it else how!
