Vinterberg’s Climate Drama “Families Like Ours” Premieres in Venice, Reflecting Global Crisis

It’s no coincidence that “Families Like Ours,” the climate change disaster drama miniseries, is premiering in Venice, a city facing its existential crisis due to rising sea levels. Directed by Thomas Vinterberg, the Danish filmmaker known for his Oscar-winning feature “Another Round,” this marks his first venture into television.

“All the water here made it the obvious choice,” says Vinterberg about the Venice premiere. “Even in my first letter to Alberto [Barbera], I said there was nowhere to show this than in Venice.”

“Families Like Ours” delves into family and societal dynamics, focusing on a scenario where Danish authorities suddenly announce that the country’s citizens must be evacuated and scattered across the globe. While the actual flooding isn’t shown on screen, it is a looming threat that forces one family to make life-altering decisions.

“It was conceived several years ago as a crazy, futuristic idea and was rejected by some of my friends,” Vinterberg explains from Venice. “And suddenly, it has become a normality, which is a little scary.”

Vinterberg intended to create a realistic portrayal of Denmark, a country he believed would be prepared for such a catastrophe. “I think, in reality, it would be a catastrophe movie in slow motion as it unrolls,” he says, emphasizing that a “fairway” would likely be found to rescue as many people as possible.

Despite its deep roots in Danish society, “Families Like Ours” touches on global themes, making it a drama ripe for international adaptations. Vinterberg notes that while his specifically Danish projects tend to travel well, his more general ones do not. This insight is especially relevant given the recent success of his film “Another Round,” which is being remade in the U.S. by Leonardo DiCaprio and Chris Rock.

Vinterberg admits that he had concerns about how “Another Round”—a film about the relationship between alcohol and four friends—would translate to the U.S. context, given the different cultural attitudes towards alcohol. However, he acknowledges that the core experience and story have the potential to resonate universally, especially when adapted to an American context.

In a humorous moment, Vinterberg reflects on a comment he made about Rock’s involvement in the project, jokingly saying, “If it’s shit, he’ll get slapped again.” Although he later apologized to Rock, fearing the star might not have found it amusing.

“Families Like Ours” is set to resonate with audiences far beyond Denmark, offering a poignant exploration of global climate crises through the lens of a deeply personal family story.