In China They Eat Dogs

1999 1h 31m DA

👍

7.3

SOLID

⭐

7.3

IMDB

★7.3TMDB · 312★7.3IMDB · 23,931

ActionComedyCrime

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Arvid is an ordinary bank clerk who lives a rather unassuming life with his dear girlfriend. But his life is turned completely upside down when he bravely manages to avert a robbery against the bank where he works.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Kim Bodnia
Harald
Dejan Čukić
Arvid
Nikolaj Lie Kaas
Martin
Tomas Villum Jensen
Peter
Peter Gantzler
Franz
Trine Dyrholm
Hanne
Line Kruse
Astrid
Brian Patterson
Vuk

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Lasse Spang Olsen
Writers: Anders Thomas Jensen
Languages: Danish, English, German, Serbian
Countries: Denmark

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

27 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 4 languages: Danish, English, German, Serbian.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

CINEMA

Did you know

Part of the "In China They Eat Dogs Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Lasse Spang Olsen, shot by Morten Søborg. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by George Keller. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Lasse Spang Olsen shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Kim Bodnia and Dejan Čukić and Nikolaj Lie Kaas carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0180748 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Lasse Spang Olsen directs. Morten Søborg behind the camera. George Keller scores. Lasse Spang Olsen cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Denmark. Dialogue in Danish, English, German, Serbian.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

127 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Dialogue crosses 4 languages: Danish, English, German, Serbian.
3Part of the "In China They Eat Dogs Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
4Directed by Lasse Spang Olsen, shot by Morten Søborg. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by George Keller. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Lasse Spang Olsen shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Kim Bodnia and Dejan Čukić and Nikolaj Lie Kaas carry the top of the cast.
8IMDB entry: tt0180748 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Classified under 12 themes, including "army", "robbery", "sibling relationship", "denmark".

The technical file

Cinematography: Morten Søborg
Original score: George Keller
Editing: Lasse Spang Olsen
Production design: Robert Grant
Makeup / hair: Charlotte Laustsen
Sound: Benni Christiansen
Stunt coordinator: Lasse Spang Olsen
Runtime: 91 min · 1h 31m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Original language: DA
IMDB: In China They Eat Dogs (1999)
IMDB rating: 7.3/10 · 23,931 votes
MPAA: Not Rated

Awards

3 wins & 2 nominations total

Robert Award for Best Visual Effects

Individual records documented via Wikidata; the summary above may count more.

Part of

In China They Eat Dogs Collection

These two films involve storylines centered around the themes of family and crime, and the complicated intersection between the two. The first installment follows the main character's mission to help a dying monk find peace by reconnecting him with his estranged son, who is imprisoned for unknown crimes. The sequel follows the continuing journey of the main character, Harald, as he attempts to fulfil the dying monk's request of reuniting his foster child with his long-lost brother, while also being implicated in a web of crime and corruption himself.

Also by

Lasse Spang Olsen

Stills · wallpapers

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Trailers & featurettes

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Community reviews

What people are saying

deepkino2025-09-16
★ 7/10
This film delivers a tremendous black comedy, masterfully blending a sharp plot with a signature Nordic coldness. The entire cast of characters is delightfully eccentric. It's essentially Snatch done Nordic-style—a must-watch for anyone seeking a top-tier dark comedy from Denmark.

Production companies