Rita
Season 2 poster
GenreComedy drama
Created byChristian Torpe
Starring
Opening theme"Speak Out Now" by Oh Land
Composers
  • Kristian Leth
  • Fridolin Nordsø
Country of originDenmark
Original languageDanish
No. of seasons5
No. of episodes40 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
  • Christian Torpe
  • Keld Reinicke
  • Karoline Leth
  • Lars Bjørn Hansen
  • Birdie Bjerregaard
  • Christian Rank
  • Jennifer Green
Producers
  • Jesper Morthorst
  • Karoline Leth
  • Theis Nørgaard
Production locationsRødovre, Sjælland
Cinematography
  • Kim Høgh
  • Rasmus Heise
  • Rasmus Arrildt
  • Bo Tengberg
  • Adam Jandrup
  • Niels A. Hansen
  • Brian Curt Petersen
Camera setupSingle-camera
Running time40 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkTV 2
ReleaseFebruary 9, 2012 (2012-02-09) –
July 20, 2020 (2020-07-20)

Rita is a Danish comedy-drama television series created by Christian Torpe for TV 2. It premiered in Denmark on 9 February 2012, and concluded on 20 July 2020, with 40 episodes broadcast over five seasons. Produced by SF Studios, the series was filmed in Rødovre, Zealand, and executive-produced by Keld Reinicke, Karoline Leth, Lars Bjørn Hansen, Birdie Bjerregaard, Christian Rank, Jennifer Green, and Torpe, who also served as head writer. All episodes are available internationally on streaming service Netflix , who partnered with TV 2 to produce the later three seasons, becoming a Netflix Original.

Mille Dinesen portrays the lead role of Rita Madsen, a headstrong and unconventional teacher and single mother who protects and helps her students but struggles to manage her own personal life. One of Rita's closest friends is portrayed by Lise Baastrup, the only other actor who appeared in all the episodes besides Dinesen; a spin-off centered on the character, Hjørdis, was broadcast between 18 May and 8 June 2015, consisting of four episodes. In the story, Hjørdis tries to put together a school play about bullying, one of the many social themes discussed throughout Rita.

Upon airing, Rita received generally favorable response from critics.

Premise

Rita Madsen, a compulsive smoker, is an unconventional secondary education teacher who, according to her, chose this profession "to protect students from their parents". While she goes out of her way to advise and help her pupils, Rita's personal and family life seems to need the same kind of assistance. Her youngest son, Jeppe, is discovering his sexuality, while the older ones, Ricco and Molly, are experiencing the mishaps of adulthood. Other main characters include Hjørdis, a naive teacher who becomes Rita's best friend; Rasmus, the school headmaster with whom Rita has an on-again, off-again relationship; Helle, school counselor and former Rita's rival, Uffe, Hjørdis' husband and Jonas, a former school headmaster who is now a rather self-assured teacher at Rita's school.

Cast and characters

Main

  • Mille Dinesen as Rita Madsen, an unconventional teacher and single mother. Tessa Hoder portrays a young Rita in season 4.
  • Lise Baastrup as Hjørdis, a naive teacher and Rita's best friend.
  • Carsten Bjørnlund as Rasmus (seasons 1–3 and 5), school headmaster in seasons 1-2, and on-again, off-again boyfriend with Rita and Helle.
  • Ellen Hillingsø as Helle (seasons 1–3; guest season 5), school counselor in seasons 1-3.
  • Nikolaj Groth as Jeppe Madsen (seasons 1–3 and 5, guest season 4), Rita's gay youngest son.
  • Morten Vang Simonsen as Ricco Madsen (seasons 1–2; guest season 3), Rita's oldest son.
  • Sara Hjort Ditlevsen as Molly Madsen (seasons 1; guest seasons 2–5), Rita's daughter.
  • Kristoffer Fabricius as Uffe (season 3-5, guest season 1-2), Hjørdis' boyfriend and, eventually, husband.
  • Charlotte Munck as Lea (season 4), Rita's childhood friend
  • Ari Alexander as Ole (season 5), a farmhand and Jeppe's crush

Recurring

  • Lisbet Lundquist as Lillebeth Schmidt Kronborg (season 1), Rita's mother
  • Lykke Sand Michelsen as Bitten Dyrehave (seasons 1–2), Ricco's wife
  • Carsten Nørgaard as Tom Dyrehave (seasons 1–2), Bitten's father and Rita's ex-boyfriend
  • Lotte Andersen as Jette Dyrehave (seasons 1–2), Bitten's mother
  • Lea Maria Høyer Stensnaes as Rosa (season 1), student
  • Ferdinand Glad Bach as David (seasons 1–3), Jeppe's boyfriend
  • Peter Gantzler as Niels Madsen (seasons 1–2, 5), Rita's ex-husband
  • Alexandre Willaume as Jonas Poulsen (seasons 2–3), schoolteacher
  • Tommy Kenter as Erik (season 2), schoolteacher
  • Zaki Youssef as Said (season 3), Rita's crush
  • Belal Faiz as Karim (season 3), student and Said's brother
  • Frederik Winther Rasmussen as Niklas Verner (season 3), student
  • Charlotte Fich as Alice Verner (season 3), Niklas' mom and city mayor
  • Ole Lemmeke as Bjarne (season 4), headmaster
  • Tessa Hoder as young Rita (season 4)
  • Sofie Juul as young Lea (season 4)
  • Christine Exner as Susanne (season 4), Lea's mother and Rita's teacher in 1985
  • Kurt Ravn as Rostrup (season 4), Rita's teacher in 1985
  • William Friis Nelausen as Reinulf (seasons 4–5), Hjørdis' and Uffe's son
  • Søs Egelind as Gerd (season 5), Rita's student

Guest

  • Line Kruse as Gitte Nielsen (season 1), Rita's sister
  • Laura Bach as Gitte Nielsen (season 2), Rita's sister
  • Kristian Halken as Flemming (season 2), teacher
  • Nikolaj Dencker Schmidt as Alex (season 5), Jeppe's boyfriend
  • Lisbeth Dahl as Gudrun (season 5), Ole's grandmother

Episodes

Series overview

SeriesEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
189 February 201229 March 2012
2811 September 201330 October 2013
3823 March 201511 May 2015
4821 August 20179 October 2017
581 June 202020 July 2020

Season 1 (2012)

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateDanish viewers
(millions)
11"Idealisten"
"The Idealist"		Lars KaalundChristian Torpe9 February 2012 (2012-02-09)0.90
22"Læreren"
"The Teacher"		Lars KaalundChristian Torpe16 February 2012 (2012-02-16)0.81
33"Anarkisten"
"The Anarchist"		Lars KaalundChristian Torpe23 February 2012 (2012-02-23)0.88
44"Hun-ulven"
"The She-Wolf"		Jannik JohansenChristian Torpe1 March 2012 (2012-03-01)0.89
55"Beskytteren"
"The Protector"		Jannik JohansenMarie Østerbye & Christian Torpe8 March 2012 (2012-03-08)0.85
66"Hykleren"
"The Hypocrite"		Jannik JohansenChristian Torpe15 March 2012 (2012-03-15)0.79
77"Prinsessen"
"The Princess"		Lars KaalundMarie Østerbye & Christian Torpe22 March 2012 (2012-03-22)0.80
88"Moderen"
"The Mother"		Lars KaalundChristian Torpe29 March 2012 (2012-03-29)0.80

Season 2 (2013)

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateDanish viewers
(millions)
91"Den voksne"
"The Adult"		Lars KaalundChristian Torpe11 September 2013 (2013-09-11)0.65
102"Haven"
"The Garden"		Lars KaalundThomas Levin & Christian Torpe & Christina Sederqvist18 September 2013 (2013-09-18)0.75
113"Far, mor og børn"
"Father, Mother and Child"		Lars KaalundChristian Torpe & Marie Østerbye25 September 2013 (2013-09-25)0.72
124"Teamplayer"
"Team Player"		Kathrine WindfeldMette Heeno2 October 2013 (2013-10-02)0.79
135"Jeg elsker dig"
"I Love You"		Kathrine WindfeldMarie Østerbye9 October 2013 (2013-10-09)0.76
146"Den første kærlighed"
"The First Love"		Kathrine WindfeldMarie Østerbye16 October 2013 (2013-10-16)0.69
157"Rollemodellen"
"The Role Model"		Lars KaalundStefan Jaworski & Christoffer Örnfelt23 October 2013 (2013-10-23)0.75
168"Ukrudt"
"The Weeds"		Lars KaalundChristian Torpe & Marie Østerbye30 October 2013 (2013-10-30)0.73

Season 3 (2015)

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateDanish viewers
(millions)
171"Kandidaten"
"The Candidate"		Lars KaalundChristian Torpe & Marie Østerbye23 March 2015 (2015-03-23)0.80
182"Kælderen"
"The Basement"		Lars KaalundChristian Torpe & Marie Østerbye23 March 2015 (2015-03-23)0.87
193"Sponsorbarnet"
"The Sponsor Child"		Lars KaalundChristian Torpe & Marie Østerbye & Simon Odid Weil30 March 2015 (2015-03-30)0.70
204"Aftenskole"
"Evening School"		Lars KaalundChristian Torpe & Marie Østerbye6 April 2015 (2015-04-06)0.77
215"Lus"
"Lice"		Lars KaalundChristian Torpe & Simon Odid Weil13 April 2015 (2015-04-13)0.76
226"Frit fald"
"Freefall"		Mogens HagedornChristian Torpe & Jenny Lund Madsen20 April 2015 (2015-04-20)0.76
237"Lederen"
"The Head"		Mogens HagedornChristian Torpe & Marie Østerbye27 April 2015 (2015-04-27)0.72
248"Testen"
"The Test"		Mogens HagedornChristian Torpe11 May 2015 (2015-05-11)0.74

Season 4 (2017)

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateDanish viewers
(millions)
251"Nutid/datid"
"Present/past"		Lars KaalundChristian Torpe & Jannik Tai Mosholt21 August 2017 (2017-08-21)0.77
262"Du bliver, hvad du spiser"
"You Become What You Eat"		Lars KaalundChristian Torpe & Jannik Tai Mosholt28 August 2017 (2017-08-28)0.68
273"Tøbrud"
"Thaw"		Lars KaalundChristian Torpe, Jannik Tai Mosholt & Simon Oded Weil4 September 2017 (2017-09-04)0.56
284"Rigtige Venner"
"Real Friends"		Natasha ArthyJannik Tai Mosholt, Christian Torpe & Jenny Lund Madsen11 September 2017 (2017-09-11)0.66
295"Dig og mig"
"You and I"		Natasha ArthyJannik Tai Mosholt, Christian Torpe & Ina Bruhn18 September 2017 (2017-09-18)0.60
306"Barndommens gade"
"Childhood Streets"		Lars KaalundJannik Tai Mosholt, Christian Torpe & Simon Oded Weil25 September 2017 (2017-09-25)0.59
317"Familie"
"Family"		Lars KaalundJannik Tai Mosholt, Christian Torpe & Ina Bruhn2 October 2017 (2017-10-02)0.63
328"Hjemme"
"Home"		Lars KaalundJannik Tai Mosholt, Christian Torpe & Marie Østerbye9 October 2017 (2017-10-09)0.63

Season 5 (2020)

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byOriginal air dateDanish viewers
(millions)
331"Fake News"
"Fake News"		Lars Kaalund1 June 2020 (2020-06-01)0.76
342"Hurlumhejhus"
"Hullabaloo House"		Lars Kaalund8 June 2020 (2020-06-08)0.62
353"Udflugten"
"The Outing"		Lars Kaalund15 June 2020 (2020-06-15)0.48
364"Do You Speak English?"
"Do You Speak English?"		Lars Kaalund22 June 2020 (2020-06-22)0.56
375"Hedetur"
"Hot Flash"		Lars Kaalund29 June 2020 (2020-06-29)0.56
386"Grænser"
"Boundaries"		Lars Kaalund6 July 2020 (2020-07-06)0.53
397"Søen"
"The Lake"		Lars Kaalund13 July 2020 (2020-07-13)0.44
408"Kaos"
"Chaos"		Lars Kaalund20 July 2020 (2020-07-20)0.44

Reception

Critical response

Henrik Palle wrote for Politiken that the series "works really well with some characters who actually look like people".[1]

Awards and nominations

Award ceremony Year Category Recipient(s) Result Reference(s)
Monte-Carlo Television Festival 2012 Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series Mille Dinesen Won
Lise Baastrup Nominated
Outstanding International Producer (Drama Series) Christian Torpe (executive producer) and
SF Studios (production company)		 Nominated
Outstanding European Producer (Drama Series) Nominated
Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series Carsten Bjørnlund Nominated
Nikolaj Groth Nominated
Robert Awards 2013 Best Danish Television Series Rita Nominated
Best Actress in a Leading Television Role Mille Dinesen Nominated
Best Actor in a Leading Television Role Carsten Bjørnlund Nominated
Best Actress in a Supporting Television Role Sara Hjort Ditlevsen Nominated
Best Actor in a Supporting Television Role Nikolaj Groth Nominated
Monte-Carlo Television Festival 2014 Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series Carsten Bjørnlund Nominated
Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series Mille Dinesen Nominated
Zulu Awards Best Actress Won
2016 Best TV Series Rita Nominated
Robert Awards Best Danish Television Series Rita Nominated
Best Actress in a Leading Television Role Mille Dinesen Nominated
Best Supporting Actress in a Leading Television Role Lise Baastrup Nominated
Best Supporting Actor in a Leading Television Role Carsten Bjørnlund Nominated
2018 Best Danish Television Series Rita Nominated
Best Actress in a Leading Television Role Mille Dinesen Nominated
Best Supporting Actress in a Leading Television Role Charlotte Munck Nominated
Copenhagen TV Festival 2021 Best Television Series Rita Won

Spin-off

Hjørdis follows the eponymous teacher as she tries to put together a school play about bullying. It was broadcast between 18 May and 8 June 2015, consisting of four episodes.[12][13]

Adaptations

A US remake was planned with a pilot episode filmed in 2013, starring Anna Gunn, but it was not picked up as a series.[14][15] In 2019, American premium cable network Showtime commissioned a pilot order for a remake starring Lena Headey. The series was to be a joint production between Showtime Networks and Platform One Media, with Torpe serving as showrunner and writing the pilot episode and Headey also acting as executive producer. This pilot was not picked up for a full series either.[16]

A Dutch remake called Tessa was made, airing in November 2015 on NPO 1, lasting only one season. The lead role was played by Thekla Reuten, following the storyline of Rita Season one, with only a few changes. The series has also been remade in France by TF1 as Sam, starring Mathilde Seigner in the title role for the first season. The second season of Sam entered production in 2017 with Natacha Lindinger replacing Seigner in the title role.[17] The show has aired three seasons to date.

References

  1. ↑ Palle, Henrik (9 February 2012). "Palle om ny tv-serie: »Rita, du, har ramt mig nu«" (in Danish). Politiken. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  2. ↑ "HBO's 'Game of Thrones,' 'Game Change' Win Top Prizes at Monte Carlo TV Festival". The Hollywood Reporter. 14 June 2012. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  3. ↑ "Danish Film Awards (Robert) (2013)". IMDb. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  4. ↑ "Robert Awards 2013". 1 March 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  5. ↑ "Monte-Carlo TV Festival (2014)". IMDb. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  6. ↑ "Zulu Awards (2014)". IMDb. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  7. ↑ "Zulu Awards (2016)". IMDb. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  8. ↑ "Robert-priser 2016". Det Danske Filminstitut (in Danish). Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  9. ↑ "Nominations Revealed For The 2018 Robert Awards". Nordic Drama. 11 January 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  10. ↑ "Winter Brothers conquers the 34th Robert Awards". Cineuropa. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  11. ↑ "Copenhagen TV Festival (2021)". IMDb. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  12. ↑ Didriksen, Karina (2014-06-11). "Hjørdis fra "Rita" får sin egen TV-serie". BILLED-BLADET (in Danish). Retrieved 2021-02-21.
  13. ↑ Erlendsson, Kirsten (2014-06-10). "Naive Hjørdis fra 'Rita' får sin egen tv-serie". www.bt.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 2021-02-21.
  14. ↑ Boesen, Steffen (10 December 2012). "Populær TV 2-serie bliver genindspillet i USA" (in Danish). Copenhagen, Denmark: Politiken. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  15. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (2013-07-26). "UPDATE: Pilot 'Rita' Gets A Pass At Bravo, Other Networks Interested". Deadline. Retrieved 2017-01-14.
  16. ↑ Petski, Denise (June 27, 2019). "Lena Headey To Star In & Executive Produce Dramedy Pilot 'Rita' Based On Danish Series At Showtime". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on July 1, 2019. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
  17. ↑ "Sam : la saison 2 en tournage dès le mois de mai". hd1 (in French). 2017-03-03. Retrieved 2017-08-26.
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