Thomas Vinterberg Explains Why Venice’s Flooding Made It the Perfect Venue for ‘Families Like Ours’ Miniseries

The debut of “Families Like Ours,” a miniseries depicting a climate-induced catastrophe where Denmark is submerged due to flooding, aligns fittingly with its premiere in Venice— a city itself grappling with the rising sea levels.

Thomas Vinterberg, the Danish director behind the series, sees this setting as almost symbolic. “The prevalence of water here made Venice the perfect location,” he explains. This marks Vinterberg’s foray into television, following his acclaimed Oscar-winning film “Another Round.”

StudioCanal is handling international distribution, while Danish broadcaster TV 2 will start airing the seven-episode series on October 20. Vinterberg made it clear from the outset that Venice was the only suitable venue for showcasing this project, given its thematic resonance.

The concept for “Families Like Ours” emerged years ago as a speculative, futuristic notion that initially faced skepticism from peers. Vinterberg reflects on how this once-dismissed idea now feels eerily prescient. The series doesn’t depict the flooding directly but uses it as a backdrop to explore the upheaval faced by a family forced into global displacement by the Danish government’s drastic measures.

Vinterberg describes his intent to create a narrative grounded in reality, emphasizing that Denmark would be proactive in disaster management. He envisions a “slow-motion catastrophe” as the crisis uncovers. Despite its Danish roots, the series’ universal themes of climate change and displacement render it adaptable for a global audience.

Recalling his previous work, Vinterberg notes the international success of his film “Another Round.” The film, which explores four friends’ quest to improve their lives by maintaining a certain level of alcohol, is set to be remade in the U.S., with Leonardo DiCaprio producing and Chris Rock writing and directing.

Vinterberg admits to having concerns about how the story will translate across cultures but believes its core narrative is universally applicable. He humorously added a light-hearted jibe about Rock’s involvement, though he later offered an apology, unsure if his comment was taken in the intended spirit.