“Comedy Is Like Music”

Niclas Bendixen, director
Can you briefly describe what DITTE & LOUISE is about?Niclas Bendixen: DITTE & LOUISE is a movie about two friends who want to make it in show business. Ditte has a wish to become a film star. When she realizes she is too old and and the only roles she is offered are old prostitutes or someone’s mother. Ditte makes the decision to make herself an alter ego as the man Ditlev. Instantly, Ditlev is cast as the leading Viking in a large-scale movie, and fame is just around the corner. This puts a strain on the friendship with Louise. Ditte puts it off stating that Louise is just jealous because she is not a man. Chaos is lurking around the corner.

The characters are based on a popular series with the same title, named after the main actresses, Ditte Hansen and Louise Mieritz. What was the initial idea and how did you develop it?

Ditte Hansen and Louise Mieritz are two actresses and comedians in real life. Their idea was originally to create a comedy for women made by women. And now you can ask the question what was I doing in that context. Well actually we were two men and two women. Ditte Hansen and Louise Mierits are the creators/writers and Manuel Claro (DOP) and I developed the visuals and style. This partnership started already during the television series.

What were the challenges moving from the shorter serial format to feature film?

I would say it was the other way around; the film gave us the opportunity to go more in depth with the characters than the television format would allow. After making two seasons it was time to let “Ditte and Louise” expand and become a movie. It all felt really natural.

You combine comedy with a reflection on gender equality and #metoo, especially in the entertainment industry. How would you define the humour of your film? How did you find the right tone?

Comedy is always individual, but I always laugh when I can reflect myself in the situation occurring in a comedy. A good way to talk about gender equality is through humour. Both sides of an argument will learn a little more about each other, when humour is used as a means to communicate. You may understand the opposing side a little better. And suddenly it’s not about gender but about human beings. In comedy, if you point the finger at yourself the right tone will present itself.

Besides directing you have also worked as a choreographer in theatre, film and television. How has this influenced your approach on DITTE & LOUISE, for example in terms of timing or the more physical scenes?

Comedy is in a sense like music, you can hear if the scene is playing the way it should. It’s about the pause, attack or the pulse, sometimes even the simple construction of the line/melody. We are all a product of what we have done in life, and my way of doing arrangements with actors and camera can be similar to choreography. It takes a certain kind of actor to play this game on set. They must be free to add a physical layer on top of their acting. Ditte and Louise are absolute masters of this game.

Comedy is not always easy to translate to other languages and cultures. In your opinion, what makes your film resonate with international audiences?

DITTE & LOUISE is most of all a movie about the difficulties in life. The drama is recognizable because it is universal, and right next to the drama is the comedy. If the drama resonates so will the comedy. Or so I hope.

Since its successful pan-European launch in November 2022 Europe’s own film and award season, the Month of European Film has been growing continuously: Starting with 35 partners from 35 countries in 2022, the Month of European Film collaborated in 2024 with 108 partners from 42 countries. The number of screenings of European films within the initiative rocketed from 1,553 in 2022 to 9,310 in 2023 to 16,140 screenings in the 2024 edition. Admissions increased from 61,199 in 2022 to 164,206 in 2023 to almost half a million admissions (467,697) in the last year. The participating partners reported that their activities during the Month of European Film increased audience interest in European films and it also makes them want to programme more European films in the future. This is the result of an evaluation with the participating partners of this unique initiative.

“The European Film Academy senses growing interest in Europe for an ‘award season’ celebrating the best European cinema has to offer,” says Mattthijs Wouter Knol, Academy CEO and Director. “With the Month of European Film we build a network and a window for the simultaneous celebration of European cinema and to bring the diversity of European film closer to home for many people: first of all to their local cinema. Only three years into the initiative we are proud and happy that the Month of European Film is becoming more and more visible across Europe and is attracting a significantly growing number of visitors from Norway to Malta, from Portugal to Georgia. In the upcoming years until the European Film Academy’s 40th anniversary in 2028, we will further build a European ‘award season’ with our partners. It is time to deepen the awareness of European film culture. It is time to bring us as Europeans closer together through the culture and values we share: cinema has that power.”

Feedback from the audience regarding the Month of European Film was also very positive: The partners reported that in an audience survey cinema visitors from across Europe saw the Month of European Film as an important celebration of European culture. They said the Month of European Film has raised their interest in European films significantly and that they would like to see more European films. It also made them feel more united with fellow Europeans.

This year, the Month of European Film will start with the nominations announcement on Tuesday 18 November 2025, with cinemas all over Europe offering a tailor-made programme for their local audience. The Month of European Film will have its grand finale on Saturday 17 January 2026 with the celebration of the European Film Awards in Berlin.

The Month of European Film is an initiative of the European Film Academy supported by the Creative Europe MEDIA Programme of the European Union, in co-operation with Europa Cinemas, CICAE, MUBI, DAFilms, Festival Scope, as well as numerous other European and local partners.

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