Austerity

Mona is a young woman and bookworm with no formal education, living in the social housing project Nøjsomheden in Helsingør. She falls head over heels in love with Nikolaj, who comes from a more well-off neighborhood on the other side of town. Meanwhile, she is also desperately trying to get her pusher cousin Frederik to realize that he must visit his dying mother, Mona's beloved and all-embracing Aunt Tut. Will Mona succeed in getting Frederik to reconcile with his mother - and how? Can she match the intellectual Nikolaj - or is the class gap too great?

Directed by Hella Joof, Austerity leans on a strong ensemble — Andrea Heick Gadeberg, Clint Ruben, Iben Hjejle — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about romance titles of 2026.