Film and events about Astrid Lindgren at CPH:DOX 2026
'A World Gone Mad - The War Diaries of Astrid Lindgren,' about the great Swedish author's deeply relevant diaries from World War II, has been confirmed for CPH:DOX 2026. On March 22, the film will be followed by a discussion about Astrid Lindgren's values and spiritual armament in the Nordic region with former member of parliament, long-time minister, and author of ‘Sjælespark’, Bertel Haarder.
Wednesday 10th Dec 2025
Astrid Lindgren’s beloved stories have provided material for dreams for countless children and adults and have sold millions of copies worldwide. But before Lindgren became the name everyone knows and grew up with, she was a young woman in 1930s Stockholm, where she was, in her own words, still just a writer, but not really an author.
Film and events about Astrid Lindgren
A World Gone Mad – The War Diaries of Astrid Lindgren
The Swedish author's early years during World War II, told through her own diaries in a beautiful and thoughtful film about life, death and art in the shadow of war.
Astrid Lindgren’s war diaries - Film and talk with Bertel Haarder
Astrid Lindgren portrait and talk with former member of the Danish Parliament and the author of ‘Sjælespark’, Bertel Haarder, about our collective cultural values in the Nordics.
As the storm clouds of a new world war gather on the horizon, Lindgren watches with despair. And on September 1, 1939, when Germany invades Poland and the war begins, she starts keeping a diary, which becomes her companion during the dark years of the war. Line by line, the sensible Lindgren puts her thoughts about life, death, and art into words and images.
The elegant and very human A World Gone Mad – The War Diaries of Astrid Lindgren uses reconstructions of Lindgren’s life in Stockholm and the archipelago, readings from her diaries, and conversations with her family to tell the story of Lindgren’s formative years in the shadow of war.
Events in both Copenhagen and in DOX:DANMARK
On March 22 at 19.15 at Cinemateket, there will be a discussion about Astrid Lindgren’s values and spiritual armament in the Nordic countries with former member of parliament, long-time minister, and author of ‘Sjælespark’, Bertel Haarder. The event is presented in collaboration with Cinemateket and the Danish Film Institute’s communication project Norden på film.
A World Gone Mad – The War Diaries of Astrid Lindgren will also be screened several times at DOX:DANMARK – Frederiksværk, Skive, Hørsholm og Fredensborg – with events at each screening. Find tickets for these events here.
About Norden på film
‘Norden på film’ builds bridges between Nordic countries through film. The project opens up the Nordic film treasure trove and uses moving images to spark curiosity, create understanding, and start conversations across borders – in the classroom, online, and in the cinema. The initiative is created by the Danish Film Institute with support from the A.P. Møller Foundation and in close collaboration with Nordic cinemas, film archives, and other Nordic partners. Read more about the project here.
