This month, we celebrated Grundlovsdag (Constitution Day) and Father’s Day on June 5th. We also observed Valdemar Day on June 15th, the day of the flag, named after King Valdemar II. Some might know the Danish flag is the oldest in the world, dating back to 1219 (805 years!). Called Dannebrog in Danish, dialect for “the cloth of the Danes,” the legend says the linen fell from the heavens during a battle in current-day Estonia. With no real evidence for the tale, some believe it was white fabric stained with blood; others, only symbolism. Curiously, the flag was a royal matter for centuries, and only became publicly used in the 1850s.
As we all know, summer has turned moody and unpredictable. But if there’s anything currently occupying Danish minds more than the weather, it is Den Sorte Svane (The Black Swan), TV2’s new documentary. Hosted by journalist Mads Brügger, the five-episode program follows lawyer Amira Smajic as she unveils illegal activity from the underground world. Years ago, Smajic had a secret office where she helped launder money for local gang members, lawyers and businessmen. As her past started to catch up with her, she contacted the media to tell her story, setting herself up as a mole to put some of Denmark’s biggest criminal faces on public television, in high definition.
Those of us who have watched this masterpiece are both amazed and horrified: how does this choice make sense for her? With close-up, unaware confessions of some of the most notorious individuals in Denmark (as well as high-profile businessmen), there is no longer a safe place for her in the country, and maybe the world… but the answer remains unclear. Public reaction has been polarized: those whose jaws hit the floor and those who are angry about the jaw-hitting. For some, it is outrageous that people are unaware that even in fairytale Denmark, not everything is rainbows and butterflies. Unfortunately, the documentary is not available in English. If you were waiting for an excuse to start Danish classes, consider yourself served.
