Danish Thriller "Terribly Happy," from Karlovy, at Oscilloscope

A scene from Henrik Ruben Ganz's "Terribly Happy."

North American rights to Henrik Ruben Ganz's Danish thriller "Terribly Happy" (Frygtelig Lykkelig) are going to Oscilloscope Laboratories. The film premiered in competition at the 2008 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, where it took the Grand Prix Award, the fest's top nod. "Happy" also won seven prizes at Denmark's equivalent of the Oscars, including best feature film, best director, best leading actor and actress as well as best screenplay.

Oscilloscope's David Fenkel negotiated the deal with Susan Wendt for Trust Nordisk on behalf of the filmmakers. The company plans to open the film in theaters with a DVD digital release to follow in late fall 2009.

The film revolves around Robert Hanson (Jakob Cedergren), a Copenhagen police officer who, following a nervous breakdown, is transferred to a small provincial town to take on the mysteriously vacated Marshall position and subsequently gets mixed up with a married femme fatale. Robert's big city temperament makes it impossible for him to fit in, or understand the uncivilized, bizarre behavior displayed by the townspeople.

"I love this film," commented Oscilloscope head Adam Yauch in a statement. "It is just further proof that Danish people are clearly out of their minds."