Department Q: The Absent One
dir. Mikkel Nørgaard (2014) [Danish, subtitled; originally ‘Fasandræberne’]
![Film poster: “Department Q: The Absent One” dir. Mikkel Nørgaard (2014) [Danish, subtitled; originally ‘Fasandræberne’]](https://www.derelictspacesheep.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Department-Q_Absent-One.jpg)
The second Department Q film is particularly confronting, bringing to light a spree of assaults, rapes and (ultimately) murders perpetrated at the carefree whim of wealthy, privileged boarding students. Johanne Louise Schmidt furthers the cast dynamic, playing the proactive new secretary Rose.
Department Q: The Keeper of Lost Causes
dir. Mikkel Nørgaard (2013) [Danish, subtitled; originally ‘Kvinden i buret’]
![Film poster: “Department Q: The Keeper of Lost Causes” dir. Mikkel Nørgaard (2013) [Danish, subtitled; originally ‘Kvinden i buret’]](https://www.derelictspacesheep.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Department-Q-Keeper-of-Lost-Causes.jpg)
Danish cold case crime drama whose value (beyond standard Nordic Noir) lies in a killer driven by plausible motivation, and the ‘thrown-together’ relationship between brooding misanthrope police detective Carl Mørck (Nikolaj Lie Kaas) and his genial new immigrant partner Assad (Fares Fares).
The Keeper of Lost Causes
dir. Mikkel Nørgaard (2013) [Danish; subtitled]
If Nordic cinema does one thing well, it’s grimly captivating crime drama — the sort that gives the audience credit and stays true to life. If only Hollywood would learn from Scandinavian productions, rather than remaking them to its own improbably greasy formula.