Journal 64 is a solid addition to the Department Q series, but it's not particularly exceptional. The film is quite gruesome and strays into the ridiculous at times, but overall, it's an enjoyable Krimi. The story begins when some workers make a grisly discovery in an old apartment in Copenhagen. They find three mummified corpses seated around a dining table, with an empty seat left for a fourth person. Detective Carl Mørck and his assistant Assad are assigned to find out who the corpses are and who the fourth seat was intended for. They begin investigating the apartment's residents and eventually trace the trail back to the notorious women's institution on the island of Sprogø, where mentally challenged and "immoral" girls were housed and mistreated, and most were ultimately sterilized.
The historical part of the story takes place in the 1950s, and it's a dramatization of a sad and interesting chapter in Danish history. The film sheds light on the mistreatment and medical experimentation with forced sterilization that was a regular part of life for the girls placed on the island. While these horrors are now part of Denmark's past, some people emerge in the present, claiming that the experiments have continued to this day. Carl and Assad race against time to prevent new murders and abuse.
The film's direction by Christoffer Boe is competent, and the performances by Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Fares Fares, Johanne Louise Schmidt, and Søren Pilmark are excellent. The production design and cinematography by Nikolaj Danielsen and Jacob Møller respectively are also commendable. The film has received positive reviews, and while it may not be the best of the Department Q series, it's still worth watching, especially for its insight into Denmark's past. Overall, Journal 64 is an interesting and enjoyable watch.
The historical part of the story takes place in the 1950s, and it's a dramatization of a sad and interesting chapter in Danish history. The film sheds light on the mistreatment and medical experimentation with forced sterilization that was a regular part of life for the girls placed on the island. While these horrors are now part of Denmark's past, some people emerge in the present, claiming that the experiments have continued to this day. Carl and Assad race against time to prevent new murders and abuse.
The film's direction by Christoffer Boe is competent, and the performances by Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Fares Fares, Johanne Louise Schmidt, and Søren Pilmark are excellent. The production design and cinematography by Nikolaj Danielsen and Jacob Møller respectively are also commendable. The film has received positive reviews, and while it may not be the best of the Department Q series, it's still worth watching, especially for its insight into Denmark's past. Overall, Journal 64 is an interesting and enjoyable watch.