The Girl with the Needle

Having been trained as a journalist, I’m generally not one to back away from an unsettling story, whether told through reporting or on the silver screen. However, there are times when I have to question the wisdom of whether certain films should be made in the first place. Just because it can be done, in my estimation, does not necessarily mean that it should be done. Such is the case with writer-director Magnus von Horn’s third feature outing, a dark, fact-based story that’s innately disturbing and, frankly, pushes the boundaries of good taste. The film, set in Copenhagen as World War I comes to an end, follows the life of Karoline (Vic Carmen Sonne), a factory seamstress whose husband, Peter (Besir Zeciri), was believed killed during the conflict. In his absence, she becomes romantically involved with, and subsequently pregnant by, her boss, Jørgen (Joachim Fjelstrup), who summarily abandons her when his wealthy, controlling mother (Benedikte Hansen) threatens to cut him off financially if they wed. Karoline is thus left with the prospect of becoming an unemployed single mother. She takes drastic steps to end the pregnancy but reconsiders her decision when she meets a seemingly compassionate and supposedly legitimate but highly unscrupulous baby broker, Dagmar (Trine Dyrholm), who offers to help Karoline out of her dilemma – for a price. Little does she know, though, that the cost is far higher than she ever imagined, especially when she becomes involved with the new stranger and her wholly unprincipled operation. What ensues is one of the most troubling stories I have ever seen committed to film, one that genuinely makes me wonder whether it should have ever been told in the first place. Admittedly, this picture is technically well made, with gorgeous black-and-white cinematography and fine performances across the board. However, it’s so cold and unsettling that even viewers with cast-iron stomachs and unflinching cinematic sensibilities may find this one difficult to sit through. Perhaps it may have worked better as a documentary than as a narrative reenactment, but that’s precious little comfort in the face of this offering’s ominous subject matter. It also makes me wonder how so many critics, awards competitions and film festivals have come to lavish so much praise on it, despite the undeniable technical prowess that’s gone into making this picture. Those accomplishments hardly seem to be enough to justify this release’s existence and represent a growing trend toward an inherently unfeeling, irresponsible approach to moviemaking, one whose further development, in my opinion, should be nipped in the bud, no matter how groundbreaking, inventive and provocative it might be seen. Some have tried characterizing “The Girl with the Needle” as a chilling horror film, but, from where I stand, I see it more as a horrific film, a truly dubious distinction to be sure. Indeed, don’t say you weren’t warned about this one.

The Girl with the Needle: Technical Brilliance, Narrative Limitations

Magnus Van Horn's "The Girl with the Needle" is a masterclass in period production design and atmospheric storytelling, yet ultimately falls short of its narrative potential.

Set in the bleak landscape of post-World War I Denmark, the film is visually extraordinary. The cinematography and production design meticulously reconstruct a world ravaged by war and social upheaval. Every frame feels authentically gothic - a world of shadows, desperation, and moral ambiguity.

Frederikke Hoffmeier's soundtrack is a haunting character in its own right, amplifying the film's psychological tension. The gothic elements - particularly the morphing faces - are initially striking, though Van Horn's repeated use becomes more stylistic excess than meaningful technique.

The film's technical achievements, however, cannot fully compensate for its narrative shortcomings. Dagmar's courtroom scene, despite strong performance, reveals a script that fails to fully explore the complex moral landscape it attempts to navigate.

"The Girl with the Needle" emerges as a technically stunning work that ultimately feels more like an exercise in style than a profound exploration of its thematic potential.

Just after the end of the Great War, the young and expecting “Karoline” (Vic Carmen Sonne) finds herself alone and with little prospects after confusion around whether her soldier husband is alive or dead reigns and she is swiftly shunned by the family of her lover, the father of her unborn child. Through the grapevine, she learns of “Dagmar” (Trine Dyrholm) who runs a popular sweet shop that doubles up as an adoption agency where people in her predicament may try to find suitable homes for their children. It’s not so much that “Karoline” wants to go down this path, but she is faced with a stark reality that perhaps only her new friend can alleviate. This isn’t just a transaction, though, and gradually the two women begin to bond - to the extent that soon she is also assisting with this illegal enterprise, but is all as benevolent as it might seem? In many ways it has something of the “Vera Drake” (2004) to it, in that it features a very strong leading role for a woman set at a time when the whole process of conception and/or childbirth outside of marriage was seriously frowned upon, and thereby necessitating sometimes quite drastic action from the would-be mothers - only this rapidly becomes something much more sinister. The timeframe also works disturbingly well to illustrate just how straightforward it was following the chaos and destruction of the War to engage in the trafficking of everything from drugs to people - the black market knew few bounds. This is loosely based on a real life story, which only adds to the shock factor as does the setting in a Copenhagen that is anything but the stuff of the “Little Mermaid” and the two leading performances are gritty, poignant and compelling to watch as the story plumbs the frequently odious depths of human nature, addiction and venality. This is not an easy watch, at times you might find yourself looking out of the window or checking your watch, but it’s that authenticity, coupled with an eerily effective score from Frederikke Hoffmeier that creates an atmosphere that wouldn’t look out of place in a “Jack the Ripper” story. By the end the audience is faced with quite a quandary. Sympathy or loathing, empathy or disgust? Maybe all of these, maybe none? Certainly not for the squeamish but definitely a thought-provoking and stylish film to watch.

*“The Girl with the Needle is a subtly cruel piece of cinema, a film that toys with the viewer's emotions much like Lars von Trier's Breaking the Waves.

What makes this sadistic tension even more striking is the film's almost naïve sincerity — the kind of naked, unfiltered directorial intent you might associate with early Xavier Dolan.

The photography and the soudtrack are stunning, with each frame carefully composed, offering moments of quiet beauty even as the story becomes increasingly suffocating.

*“The Girl with the Needle is a subtly cruel piece of cinema, a film that toys with the viewer's emotions much like Lars von Trier's Breaking the Waves.

What makes this sadistic tension even more striking is the film's almost naïve sincerity — the kind of naked, unfiltered directorial intent you might associate with early Xavier Dolan.

The photography and the soudtrack are stunning, with each frame carefully composed, offering moments of quiet beauty even as the story becomes increasingly suffocating.