Filming for the upcoming docudrama Tv series 'Anker' has just started. The series is based on the major events in Anker Jørgensen's life and career, and Lars Ranthe stars in the lead role as Anker - and opposite him is Maria Rich as Anker's wife, Ingrid. Lisbet Dahl plays Anker's aunt, Carla.
He has been called Denmark's most popular Prime Minister. But his life was full of fierce battles in the political arena - and drama in family life. Through three episodes, the docudrama series 'Anker' tells the story of the social democrat Anker Jørgensen's life and career in the years 1972 to 1979.
Using archival material from the time, the story ties reality and dramatizations together in a portrait that shows both great ups and downs for the politician and the person Anker Jørgensen. The series is based on real events, which are described in books, articles and Anker Jørgensen's diaries, just as the production has interviewed a number of Anker's former colleagues over several years. The editorial team behind 'Anker' consists of Søren Steen Jespersen, Bo Tengberg and Troels Uhrbrand Rasmussen.
"We have carried out thorough research of both written and oral sources - from Anker's political colleagues to his survivors. We have also done extensive archival research, which contributes significantly to the image of Anker Jørgensen and of Denmark in the 1970s", says editorial manager at Pipeline Production, Søren Steen Jespersen.
'Anker' takes place in 1972, when Anker Jørgensen - very surprisingly - becomes Prime Minister, and the series follows him through a hectic decade, where he first loses power, but later regains the prime ministership several times. It is a period of oil crisis, war and new political winds, such as when Mogens Glistrup and the Progress Party storm into the Folketing in the landslide election in 1973. And at the same time, it is a turbulent year in Anker's own family, where, as in the rest of society, there is a settlement with the established norms.
"The idea for 'Anker' stems from a fascination with a time of great change. A time that offers many parallels to our present - with a youth fighting for equal rights and the climate, a war that triggers the oil crisis and inflation and a breakdown in the political environment. It is also the fascination of a man who, despite all odds, fought his way up in society and became prime minister", says director Bo Tengberg.
"We hope that the viewers can see themselves in the social crises that Denmark faced at the time, but that they can also see themselves in the private person Anker and the universal dilemmas he finds himself in", adds Søren Steen Jespersen.
From Christiansborg we meet politicians Erhard Jakobsen, Ritt Bjerregaard, Per Hækkerup, Mogens Glistrup, Svend Auken, Jens Otto Krag, Henning Christophersen and Knud Heinesen. The roles are taken by, among others, Ole Lemmeke, Natalie Madueño, Ole Boisen, Esben Dalgaard, Magnus Haugaard, Frank Thiel, Jesper Ole Feit Andersen and Carsten Svendsen. Jens Jørn Spottag plays the role of LO's chairman, Thomas Nielsen.
The docudrama series 'Anker' has three episodes and is produced by Pipeline Production for TV 2 by producer Troels Uhrbrand Rasmussen with support from the Danish Film Institute's Public Service Pool.
'Anker' is expected to be shown on TV 2 and TV 2 Play around the turn of the year 2023/2024.
Photo / Henrik Petit, TV 2
