The Girl with the Needle (2024)
A chilling Danish historical drama rooted in one of Copenhagen's darkest true-crime stories, told through haunting black-and-white imagery.
The Girl with the Needle - Movie Information
- Original Title: Pigen med nålen
- Release Year: 2024
- Directed by: Magnus von Horn
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama, History
- Runtime: 2h 3m
- Original Language: Danish
- Spoken Languages: Danish
- Release Date (Theatrical): September 6, 2024 (Finland), January 10, 2025 (United Kingdom), January 9, 2025 (Germany - 16), April 9, 2025 (France), March 21, 2025 (Spain - 16), December 10, 2025 (South Korea - 15)
- Alternative Titles: A Rapariga da Agulha (PT), 藏針女子 (HK), La Jeune Femme à l'aiguille (FR)
- Production Companies: Lava Films, Nordisk Film Sweden, EC1 Łódź, Film i Väst, Creative Alliance, Dolnośląskie Centrum Filmowe
- Production Countries: Denmark, Poland, Sweden
The Girl with the Needle - Plot
Struggling to survive in post-WWI Copenhagen, a newly unemployed and pregnant young woman is taken in by a charismatic elder to help run an underground adoption agency. The two form an unexpected bond, until a sudden discovery changes everything.
The Girl with the Needle - Trailer
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The Girl with the Needle - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Magnus von Horn
Main Cast
- Vic Carmen Sonne
- Trine Dyrholm
- Besir Zeciri
- Joachim Fjelstrup
- Tessa Hoder
- Ava Knox Martin
- Ari Alexander
- Søren Sætter-Lassen
- Magnus von Horn
- Anna Terpiłowska
Writers
- Magnus von Horn
- Line Langebek Knudsen
Producers
- Malene Blenkov
- Mariusz Włodarski
The Girl with the Needle - FAQs
Is The Girl with the Needle based on a true story?
Yes, the film draws on the real-life case of Dagmar Overbye, a Danish woman who ran an illegal adoption service in Copenhagen in the early 20th century and was later convicted of murdering multiple infants. It remains one of Denmark's most notorious criminal cases.
What is The Girl with the Needle about?
Set in the bleak aftermath of World War I, the film follows Karoline, a young pregnant woman struggling to survive in Copenhagen. She finds shelter with Dagmar, who runs a clandestine adoption agency. The two form an unlikely bond — until a devastating discovery shatters everything they've built together.
Where can you stream The Girl with the Needle?
You can stream The Girl with the Needle on MUBI or through the MUBI Amazon Channel. It's also available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Fandango At Home.
Does The Girl with the Needle have a happy ending?
Not at all. The film builds toward a deeply unsettling conclusion rooted in its true-crime origins. Director Magnus von Horn crafts a bleak, morally complex finale that lingers long after the credits roll — this is not a film that offers comfort or easy resolution.
Who are the main actors in The Girl with the Needle?
The film stars Vic Carmen Sonne as Karoline and Trine Dyrholm as the formidable Dagmar. Dyrholm, one of Denmark's most celebrated actresses, delivers a towering performance that anchors the film's darkest moments. Besir Zeciri and Joachim Fjelstrup round out the principal cast.
Why is The Girl with the Needle filmed in black and white?
Director Magnus von Horn and cinematographer Michał Dymek chose black and white to evoke the stark, suffocating atmosphere of post-WWI Copenhagen. The monochrome palette strips the world of warmth, reinforcing the film's themes of poverty, desperation, and moral decay in a society left shattered by war.
Was The Girl with the Needle well received by critics?
Yes, the film earned strong critical acclaim. It was Denmark's submission for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film and premiered to significant praise for its direction, performances, and uncompromising visual style. Critics highlighted Trine Dyrholm's performance as particularly extraordinary.
Who directed The Girl with the Needle?
Swedish director Magnus von Horn helmed the film, working from a script he co-wrote with Line Langebek Knudsen. Von Horn is known for his unflinching approach to dark subject matter, and The Girl with the Needle stands as one of his most ambitious and visually striking works to date.
More About The Girl with the Needle
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