The Day Will Come (2016)

The Day Will Come is a historical drama set in Denmark in the 1960s about two young brothers (Erik and Elmer) who are sent to a home for “difficult” boys. It is a story (based on true events) about abuse, brutality, and medical experiments. Here is some basic information about this drama which premiered in 2016:

** Original Danish title: Der kommer en dag

** Director: Jesper W. Nielsen

** Writer: Søren Sveistrup

** Soundtrack: Danish – no English subtitles!

** Run time: 119 minutes

The cast includes the following:

** Harald Kaiser Hermann as Elmer – the younger brother

** Albert Rudbæk Lindhardt as Erik – the older bother

** Lars Mikkelsen as Frederik Heck – headmaster at Gudbjerg home for boys – this character is based on a real person

** Sofie Gråbøl as Lilian – teacher

** Lars Ranthe as Toft lassen – head teacher

** Søren Sætter Lassen as Aksel – teacher

** Sonja Richter as the mother of Erik and Elmer

** Paw Henriksen as the uncle of Erik and Elmer

** Solbjerg Højfeldt as Mrs Oskarson – secretary at Gudbjerg home for boys

** Mads Ville as Dr Hvidtfeld – psychiatrist at Gudbjerg – this character is based on a real person

** Laurids Skougaard Andersen as Tøger – one of the boys at Gudbjerg

** Jens Jørn Spottag as the first government inspector

** David Dencik as Hartmann - the second government inspector

While most of these characters are fictional, almost every episode in this drama is based on real historical events in Godhavn and other homes for children.

In the drama, the home is called Gudbjerg, which means “The Mountain of God.” The real name of the home is Godhavn, which means “The Safe Harbour.” In fact, this home, which is located in Tisvildeleje, in the north of Sjælland, was not a safe harbor for children.

In the drama the headmaster is called Frederik Heck. His real name is Christian Bek (1905-1981).

In the drama the psychistrist is called Hvidtfeld. His real name is Ib Ostenfeld (1902-1995).

Here is some background information about the drama:

In 2005, Danish television DR-TV showed a short documentary film (directed by Rikke Skov) about conditions found at Godhavn home for boys in the 1960s. Two former “inmates” came forward and talked about what had happened to them while they were placed at this home.

This film triggered an important series of events:

(1) Former inmates realised they were not alone. Using the internet, they began to search for each other and to contact each other.

(2) An association of former inmates was established. For many years, these people had been trying to forget the past. Now things were changing. Now they were trying to remember what had happened and to share this information with each other and with the general public.

(3) An official investigation of conditions at Godhavn and other homes for “difficult” children was conducted. The final report was published in 2011.

(4) The association of former inmates tried to sue the Danish government for abuse and neglect. They were hoping to get an official apology and perhaps economic compensation. So far, the Danish government has refused to do this.

(5) The drama The Day Will Come, which premiered in 2016, is based on information in the documentary film from 2005, information in the official report from 2011, and on interviews with several former inmates. The movie covers events from 1967 to 1969.

What do reviewers say about it? On IMDb it has a rating of 78 per cent, which corresponds to (almost) four stars on Amazon. This average rating is quite high, quite good, but if you ask me, it is too low. Why?

The script is well-written and the actors play their roles well; not only the adults but also the children. The story is captivating, dramatic and often highly emotional. In addition, it is based on true events.

Since the drama is about brutality against children, I cannot say you will enjoy it. But I think you can appreciate it, because this story deserves to be told, even if some scenes are not pleasant to watch.

I want to go all the way to the top with this product. I think it deserves a rating of five stars.

PS # 1. If you google keywords mentioned in this review, you will find a lot of information on the internet. While much of this is in Danish, there are also some documents in English.

PS # 2. There is a factual mistake in the drama: when Elmer is visiting Copenhagen, he passes a street musician who sings and plays a song on a Spanish guitar.

The song is Shadow of a Gypsy written by the Danish band Ache. Elmer’s visit to Copenhagen is set in 1969, but this song was not released until 1970! What we have here is an anachronism.

PS # 3. The following historical movies deal with the same topic in different countries in different decades:

** Abandoned (2001) – set in Hungary in 1960

** The Magdalene Sisters (2002) – set in Ireland in the 1960s

** Song for a Raggy Boy (2003) – set in Ireland in 1939

** The King of Devil’s Island (2010) – set in Norway in 1915

** Und alle haben geschwiegen (2012) - set in West Germany in the 1950s. This movie is based on the book Schläge im Namen des Herrn by the German reporter Peter Wensierski (2006, 2007).

*****