Erik Poppe

Directing

Erik Poppe

Born

1960-06-24 (66)

Place of birth

Oslo, Norway

Known for

Directing

Credits

15 titles

Erik Poppe is a Norwegian film director, screenwriter and former cinematographer and press photographer. Poppe started his career as a photographer for the newspaper Verdens Gang. He graduated as a cinematographer at the Dramatiska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden in 1989, and had great success as a cinematographer for commercials. He was director of photography on Bent Hamer's film Eggs. His first feature film as director was Schpaaa in 1998, followed by Hawaii, Oslo in 2004. Poppe is co-owner of Paradox Films. Poppe is one of Norway’s most experienced directors of commercials and music videos, as well as short films and documentaries.

Known for

The King's Choice poster
6.8

On 9 April 1940, German soldiers arrive in the city of Oslo. The King of Norway faces a choice that will change his country forever. The King's Choice is a story about the three most dramatic days in Norway's history, the royal family's escape and King Haakon's difficult choice after Nazi Germany's invasion of Norway.

The King's Choice

2016

A Thousand Times Good Night poster
6.8

On assignment while photographing a female suicide bomber in Kabul, Rebecca – one of the world’s top war photojournalists - gets badly hurt. Back home, another bomb drops as her husband and daughters give her an ultimatum: her work or her family.

A Thousand Times Good Night

2013

The Emigrants poster
5.5

Sweden, 1849. A poverty-stricken family decides to move to America in the hope of finding a better and more prosperous life. Although they know the journey will be dangerous and the pressure of facing a new life in a strange and wild land is great, they are determined to succeed.

The Emigrants

2021

Utøya: July 22 poster
7.1

A teenage girl fights for survival and to locate her young sister during the 2011 terrorist attack at a political summer camp on the Norwegian island of Utøya.

Utøya: July 22

2018

Beloved poster
5.0

Asle and Gerd met in a small coastal village far west towards the sea. They have a son, and for a time their happiness is perfect. But Asle, the sailor, is restless and is drawn to the sea, while Gerd is left in the village, alone with the child. The distance between them folds, and the question is asked: How much distance can love tolerate?

Beloved

2026

Quisling: The Final Days poster
5.6

After five years, the German occupation of Norway ends on 8 May 1945. The rebuilding of the nation can begin, but first the final chapter must be written. In a dark cell at Akershus Fortress sits the man who committed the greatest treason of all: Vidkun Quisling. Now he must be held accountable for his actions and the atrocities that Nazi ideology led to.

Quisling: The Final Days

2024

Behind the camera

The King's Choice poster
6.8

On 9 April 1940, German soldiers arrive in the city of Oslo. The King of Norway faces a choice that will change his country forever. The King's Choice is a story about the three most dramatic days in Norway's history, the royal family's escape and King Haakon's difficult choice after Nazi Germany's invasion of Norway.

The King's Choice

2016

A Thousand Times Good Night poster
6.8

On assignment while photographing a female suicide bomber in Kabul, Rebecca – one of the world’s top war photojournalists - gets badly hurt. Back home, another bomb drops as her husband and daughters give her an ultimatum: her work or her family.

A Thousand Times Good Night

2013

A Thousand Times Good Night poster
6.8

On assignment while photographing a female suicide bomber in Kabul, Rebecca – one of the world’s top war photojournalists - gets badly hurt. Back home, another bomb drops as her husband and daughters give her an ultimatum: her work or her family.

A Thousand Times Good Night

2013

The Emigrants poster
5.5

Sweden, 1849. A poverty-stricken family decides to move to America in the hope of finding a better and more prosperous life. Although they know the journey will be dangerous and the pressure of facing a new life in a strange and wild land is great, they are determined to succeed.

The Emigrants

2021

Utøya: July 22 poster
7.1

A teenage girl fights for survival and to locate her young sister during the 2011 terrorist attack at a political summer camp on the Norwegian island of Utøya.

Utøya: July 22

2018

Beloved poster
5.0

Asle and Gerd met in a small coastal village far west towards the sea. They have a son, and for a time their happiness is perfect. But Asle, the sailor, is restless and is drawn to the sea, while Gerd is left in the village, alone with the child. The distance between them folds, and the question is asked: How much distance can love tolerate?

Beloved

2026

Quisling: The Final Days poster
5.6

After five years, the German occupation of Norway ends on 8 May 1945. The rebuilding of the nation can begin, but first the final chapter must be written. In a dark cell at Akershus Fortress sits the man who committed the greatest treason of all: Vidkun Quisling. Now he must be held accountable for his actions and the atrocities that Nazi ideology led to.

Quisling: The Final Days

2024

Troubled Water poster
7.1

A man with a troubled past is released on parole. He finds work as a church organist and develops a rewarding relationship with a priest and her young son. However, his past soon catches up with him.

Troubled Water

2008

No artwork available
NR

Centres on a couple, from their first meeting, through to becoming parents until their separation

Bad Moon Rising

—

No artwork available
NR

Centres on a couple, from their first meeting, through to becoming parents until their separation

Bad Moon Rising

—

Hawaii, Oslo poster
6.8

Hawaii, Oslo is the story of a handful of people who cross each other's path without necessarily knowing each other, during the hottest day of the year, in Oslo. We follow Frode and Milla. They are having their first child, who they are told will not live long. We follow Bobbie-Pop, a faded singer who tries to commit suicide. We follow Leon, an institutionalized kleptomaniac who is loking for Åsa, to whom he has a ten year old deal to get married. We meet Leon's brother, Trygve, who fetches Leon at the institution to celebrate his birthday, but who himself has plans to use his leave from prison to run away. And most of all we meet the angel Vidar, Leon's best buddy at the institution, who sees things no one else can see, and who may be able to save everyone - except himself?

Hawaii, Oslo

2004

Per Fugelli: Siste resept poster
6.5

A final meeting with the life affirming Per Fugelli, who wasn't afraid to speak out on behalf of the weak. A man called the wisest man in Norway died in September 2017. This is his legacy.

Per Fugelli: Siste resept

2018

No artwork available
NR

Explores the raw and realistic universe with young people in Oslo's criminal environments, and works as a preliminary study for the feature film Schpaaa.

Brats

1997

Bunch of Five poster
5.8

Jonas and Emir are members of a criminal gang of 14-15 year-olds in Oslo. Emir has slight brain-damage after being beaten by his father as a 5-year-old, and Jonas' biggest problem is stopping Emir from hitting people on the head. One day, they are offered a job by a gang of drug-dealers: Deliver a packet of heroin to one guy and beat up another. This is the start of a chain of events that sends their lives spiraling out of control.

Bunch of Five

1998

Bunch of Five poster
5.8

Jonas and Emir are members of a criminal gang of 14-15 year-olds in Oslo. Emir has slight brain-damage after being beaten by his father as a 5-year-old, and Jonas' biggest problem is stopping Emir from hitting people on the head. One day, they are offered a job by a gang of drug-dealers: Deliver a packet of heroin to one guy and beat up another. This is the start of a chain of events that sends their lives spiraling out of control.

Bunch of Five

1998