MovieChat Forums > Borgen (2011) Discussion > Politically Naive Series

Politically Naive Series

posted 13 years ago by cbormson
39 replies | jump to latest

I watched the first two episodes of Borgen. Although there are things that I like about the series, it seems that it was written by someone with no political knowledge. I have some knowledge about parliamentary systems (although no knowledge of Danish politics), but I would be surprised that an election would swing on a two minute speech. Plus, despite being a party leader, the main character knows practically nothing about politics, has practically no staff, sees the PM by herself, etc. The media seems to know nothing about her, despite her leading a respectable party.

[–] Mr-Garcia 12 years ago

Honestly, I could see such a last minute flip like this happen in a Belgian, or an Italian election. In France, they even changed the constitution in the 1950's from a parliamentary system to a semi-presidential one because it used to happen quite a lot.

European politics are way different than US politics.

[–] eabakkum 12 years ago

@ all
It is not the speech itself, but the reaction of the media to the event.

I am politically active, and believe that Borgen is realistic, credible and convincing.

If you adore this topic, consider watching "Mevrouw de minister". It is exactly the same stuff, and perhaps even better. Being made before Borgen, it is a predecessor (a pilot, you could say).

[–] renzopiano 12 years ago

The second season just finished airing in France and damn it is a really good show.
I usually like political series and movies (just started reading the book "House of Cards" which the serie is based on)
and I have to say that this show is up there with the best ones out there.

[–] gtbarker 12 years ago

I think that is probably of most arrogantly naive posts I have ever read - she didn't win the election, but it was enough to swing the election in her favour along with the other factors such as the perceived fraud of one candidate and the unpleasantness of another. Oh and just to clarify - the 1960 US Election was swung by one shot of Nixon's sweaty brow, so if you think a two minute speech can't swing an election then it is you who is naive.

[–] ib011f9545i 12 years ago

Just watched the last 2 episodes of the second series/season(I wish people would not call these things seasons unless they are American).
I liked it a lot,but it was a bit of a truimph of style over content,the original post is correct,it is politcally naive,or you could just say unrealistic,I did not get the feeling that these people were really political animals,they did not seem to believe in much,a bit like the current UK government.
I liked it but it was not political enough for a series about politicians and politics,for example the immigration/race issue was not as big in this as I think it is in real life in Denmark (and Sweden and Norway).

Another problem for me was that everybody was so good looking and everything looked nice,the cars and clothes and so on,I have been to Denmark a few times and dare I say that the women are many pretty women,and indeed handsome men but I doubt that the polticians are all as photogenic as the actors in this were.

Did someone not say that politics was sex for ugly people?

[–] pbn 12 years ago

Denmark has some pretty photogenic politicians. Just look at them:

Prime Minister: http://cdn1.beeffco.com/files/poll-images/normal/helle-thorning-schmid t_6077.jpg
Party Leader: http://www.folkeskolen.dk/Images/620/500/2/7/margrethevestager2011-JPG
Minister of the Environment: http://a.bimg.dk/node-images/94/5/800x600-u/5094224-ida-auken-gster-nr rebro---1.jpg
Party Spokeswoman: http://rokokoposten.dk/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Johanne_Schmidt_Niel sen.jpg

[–] ib011f9545i 12 years ago

Yes quite attractive but none of them are as beautiful as the Prime Minister in the BORGEN series.
I don't doubt that polticians in any country are well turned out and get advice on their image but even when she was meant to be at home she looked like she should be in DALLA or DYNASTY (that is praise by the way).

If you have seen THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU you might remember the scene where the politican tells us that his shoes should not be seen to be too shiny or new ,he has to look a bit like an ordianry person.

In the same way you want to be seen going shoppping for food or washing your car.

I like BORGEN but it is not deep just because it is foreign,if they made a similar series about British politics then we would see that it is not as clever as we might think it is.

[–] Stirchley 11 years ago

Just watched the last 2 episodes of the second series/season(I wish people would not call these things seasons unless they are American).

It's only very recently that I realized that in America we do use the word seasons while in the U.K. (and elsewhere?) they use the word series.

[–] jepaan 11 years ago

No, Danish media has begun using seasons too, in their eternal pursuit of becoming American.

[–] bradjanet 12 years ago

The Danes seem to think that it's pretty realistic ... I have just finished seeing all three series and, quite apart from how minutely it mirrors Danish politics, i think it is one of the best scripted, best acted television series made anywhere, by anyone. It's a triumph.

But you ARE Blanche ... and I AM.

[–] gtbarker 11 years ago

Oh dear, another expert on teaching because you once went to school.

[–] suicidea 11 years ago

It's not really politically naive.

I live in Turkey and our political life, particularly in the last ten years, looks like a whole different world, even a whole different galaxy compared to the political events in Borgen. But since I have no knowledge of the political system in Denmark (you also said so yourself) I look at the way the Danes view the series. Since they don't find it all that unrealistic (except a few minor plot points for dramatic purposes) I take their word and say that Borgen is a realistic show.

Knowing about your own country's politics and assuming it's the same everywhere else on the world, now that's naive.

Never be complete.

[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Zhow 10 years ago

It takes place in Denmark, a country with only 5.6 million people, where the Queen rides her bicycle in the streets of Copenhagen. Local politicians are not similar to their British, American or French counterparts, even if they are as professional and skilled as them. Politics are not the same as in other large Western countries. Less money, less people, less MPs, etc... And the main character was never supposed to be the PM, her party being kind of new and "amateurish" in a sense (without being judgmental). So stuff like in House of Cards would be impossible.

As for her "surprise election", it's not only based on her speech during the debate but on a succession of events 3 days prior the election. I suppose it would be a bit more complicated and not as fast in real life, but for drama reasons, it was a bit forced. I don't think it really impacts the quality of the series, it's not meant to be a documentary (I don't think that spin doctors are that good at helping journalists who wake up next to a corpse). It's realistic but dramatic.

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