Hella Joof rolls cameras on the romantic comedy Nøjsomheden
- The popular Danish filmmaker returns with her tenth feature, an adaptation of Stine Askov’s novel set on a socially marginalised housing estate in Helsingør
Danish writer-director Hella Joof is currently shooting her latest film, Nøjsomheden, a romantic comedy that blends emotional warmth with social realism. Joof is known for her character-driven stories with a humorous edge, and the film marks her tenth feature as a director, further strengthening her status as one of Denmark’s most consistent voices in popular cinema.
The story follows Mona, a young woman who grew up in a chaotic household in the Nøjsomheden social housing complex on the outskirts of Helsingør. Surrounded by social challenges and family dysfunction, Mona has always found solace in books. With her mother unable to care for her and her loving but sharp-tongued aunt Tut recently diagnosed with a serious illness, Mona must now find her own footing in the world. When she gets a job at a local bookshop, she meets Nikolaj, a shy and stuttering literature student from the other, privileged side of town, and an unlikely romance begins to blossom. As their relationship deepens, the stark contrast between their social realities begins to test their connection.
Andrea Heick Gadeberg (Pretty Young Thing [+see also:
trailer
film profile], Hygge!) leads the cast as Mona, while Clint Ruben (Bullshit) plays her romantic counterpart, Nikolaj. The supporting cast includes Iben Hjejle (Maret [+see also:
film review
film profile]) as Tut, Maria Rossing (My Eternal Summer [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Sylvia Le Fanu
film profile]) as Mona’s mother, and Ulrich Thomsen, Lotte Andersen, Thomas Hwan, Mikael Birkkjær, Joachim Kubel, Simon Kongsted, Andreas Dissing, Lone Rødbroe, Maria Boda and Runi Lewerissa in additional roles.
Joof broke out with the hit Shake It All About and is known for All Inclusive [+see also:
trailer
film profile] and, more recently, The Land of Short Sentences [+see also:
trailer
film profile]. In Nøjsomheden, she reunites with screenwriter Bo Hr Hansen (Fidibus), who is adapting Stine Askov’s 2022 bestselling novel of the same name. Behind the camera, her regular collaborator Kim Høgh Mikkelsen serves as director of photography, with production design by Mette Rio, sound by Roar Skau Olsen, editing by Cathrine Ambus and music composed by Jonas Struck. The shoot is currently under way in Helsingør, including on location in the real-life Nøjsomheden housing complex, which was formerly listed on Denmark’s government-designated “ghetto list” until 2021.
Nøjsomheden is being produced by Birgitte Hald and Jasmine Hermann Naghizadeh for Nimbus Film, with support from the Danish Film Institute (via the Market Scheme), TV2 Denmark and the Nordisk Film & TV Fond. Distribution in Denmark will be handled by Scanbox Entertainment, while international sales are managed by Studio TF1 Distribution. The film is slated for release in autumn 2026.
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