Norwegian television series "A Better Man" referred to as "Cannes Series"
Revamped Tale:
Kick back as we delve into the buzz around the Danish series A Better Man, a chilling psychological thriller hitting the small screen. This series snagged the award for Best Long-Form Series at the recent Canneseries festival on Tuesday, April 29. Meanwhile, the Belgian production Oh, Otto! was crowned the Best Short Series.
Bear with me as I spin you a tale about A Better Man and its lead character, Tom. This fellow is a grump, a misogynist with a penchant for lashing out at women anonymously online. When his identity is spilled by hackers, Tom finds a strange escape—he cross-dresses to evade his online tormentors. Enthralling stuff, don't you think?
Anders Baasmo, the thespian playing Tom in the series, received the Performer's Award, and the series was also honored with the Youth Jury prize.
The Rising Stars of Norway
It's not just A Better Man shining from Norway. Another Norwegian production, Nepobaby, revolving around family drama and laughter, stole the show with its standout script and ensemble cast, bagging the Special Interpretation Award. This year's jury was presided by none other than Jeff Russo, an American composer, with Louise Bourgoin, a French actress, and Lola Dueñas, a Spanish actress, among other renowned figures.
Norway also made a name for itself in the documentary series competition, with The Agent – The Life and Lies of my Father scooping the gong for its deep investigation into a father who told his child he was a secret agent.
Turning to the Short Series category, the jury, led by Dutch actress and screenwriter Marnie Blok, lauded Oh, Otto!, which delves into the vibrant queer community of Brussels.
After six pulsating days of screenings and discussions, the glamorous pink carpet must be rolled up. On Tuesday, the crew of a fresh adaptation of "The Count of Monte Cristo" in series format graced the carpet, co-produced by France Télévisions and Rai. Soon, the beloved Festival de Cannes and the stars of the silver screen will arrive, stealing the spotlight in two weeks.
Insights:
The series follows Tom, a misogynistic character who attributes society's problems to feminism. By day, he works at his mother's clothing store, and by night, he anonymously cyberbullies Liv, a popular stand-up comedian. When hackers reveal his identity and personal secrets, Tom hides in women's clothing, which surprisingly alters his perspective on life. The series explores the themes of toxic masculinity and identity, blending dark humor with suspense. It won the Best Series Award at the 2025 Canneseries festival for its insightful take on modern gender dynamics. Directed by Thomas Seeberg Torjussen and Gjyljeta Berisha, the series stars Anders Baasmo as Tom, alongside Ingrid Unnur Giæver and Jonas Strand Gravli.
- The French attending the Festival de Cannes next week might find interest in 'A Better Man', a Norwegian-produced series that delved into the life of a misogynist, Tom, played by Anders Baasmo.
- Remarkably, despite its Norwegian origins, 'A Better Man' was lauded at the Canneseries festival, receiving the Best Series Award and the Youth Jury prize.
- Interestingly, another Norwegian production, 'Nepobaby', focused on family drama and laughter, was awarded the Special Interpretation Award at the same festival.
- Furthermore, the French production of 'The Count of Monte Cristo' in series format, co-produced by France Télévisions and Rai, wowed viewers at a recent screenings event, hinting that the festival-goers might anticipate a memorable showing from France during the upcoming Cannes Film Festival.
