Outer space. It's all around us.
A diffuse mass of infinity.
The universe is teeming with darkness and mystery.
95% of it is completely unknown to us.
Only when the universe sometimes shows us its potential
do we get a sense of what it may contain.
One such time was 17 years ago when the universe came to Middelbo.
Middelbo, the world's most mundane suburb on the outskirts of Denmark.
A rich shipping town which hit the skids when they closed the shipyard.
When the yard closed, so did everything else.
Middelbo was going down.
But on 22nd February, 17 years ago,
on the exact day Hussein closed down his grocery store forever,
a meteor landed in the vegetable aisle.
That was the turning point for Middelbo.
People came from all around to see the Middelbo Crater.
Hussein was a smart man.
He made souvenir meteor snow globes.
He had T-shirts printed, caps and cups made. This created jobs.
Suddenly, Middelbo was a tourist attraction.
That's why we are here today.
From Middelbo to Meteorbo.
Thank you.
Have a great day, and thanks for listening.
I want to hear more about the meteor.
There's nothing more to tell.
But you didn't really say anything.
You just talked about the grocer and Middelbo.
If you want more information, then visit the museum.
But I'm asking you.
Sure, and I'd like to answer all of your questions.
-Is that it? -Yes.
Can such a small rock make such a big crater?
Yes, because you can see the giant crater it made.
It's hard to believe. It doesn't look like a real meteor.
Are you some kind of meteor expert?
-Any other questions? -You don't know what you're talking about.
Can I touch it then?
-Of course not. -But you're sure it's real.
It won't break if it's real. Why can't I touch it then?
Because the sign says, "Don't touch."
Because they know it's not a real meteor.
I know your type.
You think you're smarter than everybody else
because you know how to run a Google search.
But, in reality,
you're just a sad little boy.
I'll tell my teacher you hit me.
Jesus, you're annoying.
I'll give you two seconds.
Be careful!
It wasn't me.
You let him touch the rock!
-I didn't know it would break. -It says…
-I can put it back together. -You're doing no such thing.
You're staying well away from it!
People come from all over to see the rock.
Not so many right at this moment.
People come from all over to see the rock!
You know that's not true.
Sorry.
You're fired.
What?
Just go.
Did you seriously smash the meteor?
It wasn't me.
It's super odd if meteors are made of glass.
What are you talking about?
Look.
What's that?
Parts of the rock.
But that's glass.
A meteor isn't made of glass.
-I don't know what they're made of. -Not glass, that's for sure.
Nobody lies about a rock.
Everybody lies.
My parents aren't at a country inn. They're at a swingers' club.
I need more.
Jonas?
-Hi, baby. -Hey.
No, you stink of puke.
Well, I just puked.
But guess what?
I can still drink more.
I just spoke to Zannie. She says the meteor is a fake.
Stop it.
So, the meteor is fake?
I think I'll call Hussein and tell him.
What if he cancels the town fair?
Why would he cancel it?
If you tell him the meteor is fake, he may not want to have a fair.
If it's fake, he already knows.
Emma, can't you just be normal sometimes?
-Everyone thinks-- -What does everyone think?
They think you're really, really nice, Emma.
And I think so too.
Let's just party, okay?
You've called Hussein.
Leave a message or drop me an email at bigboss@middelbomuseum.dk
It's Emma.
Could we talk about the rock?
Because it may not be a meteor. It might be made of glass.
And then it's a fake, right?
I'd like to talk to you about it.
Hey!
THE MIDDELBO CRATER
Good morning, honey.
Good morning.
-Did you sleep well? -I can hardly remember.
I got up a long time ago.
Cool.
I heard you got fired from the museum.
-It wasn't my fault. -Of course not. It never is.
How many jobs have you had this past year?
I don't remember.
Five, Emma.
Five jobs in one year.
This is different.
How so?
This wasn't my fault.
It's ridiculous to fire me when they were the ones who lied.
What are they lying about?
The meteor.
It was made of glass.
Have you told anyone about the meteor?
No. I haven't said anything to anyone.
All right, good. Leave it alone.
-Have a nice day. -You too.
There you go.
I'd like some more pills.
You have enough for two weeks as usual.
I think I have to increase my dose.
I think I need to hear a bit more about your mental state then.
Could you tell me about it?
It's just this town, you know?
It's like
everyone's pissing me off all the time.
How do you do it?
How do I do what?
How do you survive?
This town.
All of this without going nuts.
Well…
I focus mainly on myself.
But you're a teenager. That's different.
How so?
When you're a teenager,
you're either part of something, or you're against it.
You're against it right now.
You'll be okay, Emma.
Most of us are.
One a day.
Thanks.
-See you. -Yes.
Emma!
Would you get in, please?
Do I look like an idiot?
Hussein wants to talk to you.
Okay.
Can you ride your bike to him then?
Welcome.
Can I have my job back?
No.
So, why am I here?
Follow me.
Did you know that when most meteors hit the ground
the force of the impact is so great that they disappear when they hit the surface?
They simply evaporate.
Into tiny dust particles carried away on the wind.
Poof!
Gone.
So the meteor is a fake?
-It's a symbol. -Yes, of a lie.
-It's not a lie. -It is, if you made the rock.
You can't fire me for destroying a fake rock.
Drink tickets?
Go to the fair tonight.
Have a good time.
That'll get you free drinks all night. Not just you. Your friends too.
Seriously?
Let's not talk about it anymore. Pretend it didn't happen.
Okay?
Hi, babe!
Hi!
Where are you going?
Just home to Nik's.
Are you excited?
-What about? -The fair.
Let's get wasted, yeah?
Cool. And fortunately I have all these drink tickets.
Where did you get them?
Hussein tried to bribe me with them when I said he was a liar.
-Did you speak to Hussein? -Yes.
And he's a real jerk.
But I told you not to speak to him.
-It doesn't matter. -It totally does!
We have one day a year in this shithole that's actually a good day.
One day!
And you can't fucking ruin it.
I just don't think people should lie.
I think you're really crossing boundaries right now.
Okay.
Every time you think something is a lie,
we all have to pay for it and then we're not allowed to have fun.
Do you think that you always just want to have fun
because you're petrified of taking a good look at yourself
and doing something with your life?
Do you remember when I said everyone thinks you're super nice?
That was a big, fat lie.
Everybody thinks you're a giant pain in the ass!
You can stick the fair where the sun doesn't shine.
Does that mean you're not coming?
I love you!
Are you ready?
I'm not going.
Of course you're going.
I don't want to.
It's a tradition.
We're having candied apples.
We'll laugh at drunk people. All the stuff we always do.
I can't.
Okay.
Okay?
Yes, it's fine.
"I, Emma…"
No.
"…hereby grant my mother
permission to decide three things I have to participate in every year
until I leave home. Love, Emma."
-I was 13! -So what? You're still living at home.
I call a Mom veto.
See you in a minute.
Holy crap. They taste so bad.
I always forget that I don't like them.
That's traditional too.
-It's like biting into red cement. -No, it's delicious.
You've got to be kidding me!
What are you doing?
Hi, babe.
I didn't think you were coming.
So you decided to make out with Noreen?
I thought you wouldn't find out.
That's a hell of an excuse.
What about you?
-Me? -Yeah.
Why are you doing it? You're not interested in him.
Calm down!
Fuck you.
Emma!
Hey!
There you go!
Did you know they were snogging? Jonas and Noreen?
Everything's fake!
Dear Middelbo.
Thank you for coming out tonight.
Today, I have the great honor of presenting the man who'll save us all.
Thomas Damborg, the future of Middelbo.
Having a great night, huh?
Thanks a million. It's an honor to be here.
I represent Astraeus, an international hedge fund
with a long tradition of finding the diamond in the coal mine.
We believe that, together,
we can turn Middelbo into the center of shipping in Northern Europe.
We believe that this town has the identity, the sheer cohesion,
and the experience passed down from generations of shipyard workers
since the start of the last century.
Middelbo will show everyone that we can build anything.
A proud town hit by the universe.
This created unity.
Hello!
Sorry?
Don't you get that it's all a fucking lie?
-What? -He's a fraud.
The meteor is fake.
Thank you to our local stand-up comedian.
If the youth of Middelbo has not yet drunk us dry,
the bar over there is very reasonably priced.
Have a good evening. Thanks.
MIRROR, MIRROR ON THE WALL WHO IS THE WOBBLIEST OF THEM ALL?
What do you know exactly, Emma?
Tell us what you know.
Shit.
Okay.
I'm so wasted…
Fuck!
Ouch.
Come on inside.
Drink this.
What am I doing here?
You were asleep outside.
It was freezing, so we helped you. Or the vampire over there did.
Vampire?
Yup.
Marie is 99% vampire.
And the last percent?
I don't drink blood.
-You don't drink blood? -Not yet.
But aren't you 0% vampire then?
I'm just going to go home.
We'd like to talk first.
I've already talked to your dad. I know I have to shut up.
But you don't have to shut up.
You have to tell us what you know.
-I don't know anything you don't know. -Maybe. Tell us.
How did you know about the meteor?
It just broke, that's all.
I don't know anything.
-I told you so. -What did you say?
That it was all just a coincidence.
What was?
Elvis thought you knew something.
It doesn't matter. See her out, Marie.
Sure.
Just go home.
-She's cute, huh? -Yeah.
You said it.
What are you doing?
It doesn't matter. Just go home.
No, I don't want to.
Relax. She's okay.
-You don't know that. -Don't tell anyone, okay?
Or she'll bite me?
We know everything. We know everything about you.
We keep an eye on people.
We're the only ones investigating what's wrong in Middelbo.
This town has secrets.
We want to expose them.
There are people who were there 17 years ago.
We know they were in the area when the so-called meteor hit.
-They saw it, but never said anything. -How do you know they were there?
We looked into it.
Everyone of interest to us was within a 500-meter radius.
But they've kept it secret.
Why?
Because the truth is dangerous.
They know it wasn't a meteor that hit back then.
Okay, so what was it?
A spaceship.
A what now?
-Isn't that the term? -A spaceship.
All right. See you. I'm leaving.
Seriously?
You can't just reject it.
Why not?
Because it's true.
Is your life such a comic book that you actually believe
that some sort of spaceship landed in Middelbo 17 years ago?
What if I tell you
that three days ago there were rumors of a signal from outer space?
And that Middelbo replied?
Sure, so what?
What if I told you Astraeus didn't exist a month ago?
How did they grow so big so quickly?
Something is really odd here. I think it's worth looking into.
There you are.
I called you.
Ten missed calls, Mom?
Come on in, schnookums.
CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations.
Thanks.
Did you forget?
Yes. A little.
I wasn't sure if I should treat it as a kid's birthday
or a hangover, so there's birthday cake and chips.
Yum.
Seventeen years old…
-I remember it-- -Like it was yesterday.
Exactly. Your dad says happy birthday too.
My dad doesn't know I exist.
I'm sure he knows somehow, somewhere.
What happened yesterday?
Were you there?
I left early, but a lot of other people were there.
I think I got a little bit drunk.
-Didn't I tell you to leave it? -You did.
-It was probably stupid. -Yeah, a bit.
Everyone needs to believe in something.
What if they believe in a lie?
Then they do.
You don't have to focus on that. Just focus on what makes you happy.
Yes. And that's not arguing with people all the time.
I know.
It's not worth it.
No.
Put it behind you.
Okay.
Okay?
Yeah, I'll put it behind me.
-Promise? -Yes.
MIDDELBO SHIPYARD
Great attendance, huh?
Aren't you the girl from last night at the fair?
What was it? Something about the meteor?
It was nothing.
It was just something I thought I knew.
Every time we discover something new,
it turns out that what we thought we knew yesterday is wrong today.
And here you are.
Yes.
Would you like a tour?
Yes, please.
I'm actually looking for a job.
You've come to the right place then.
What kind of jobs do you offer?
-Are you picky? -No, I'm not.
-But I am pretty difficult. -We can always fire you.
I've tried that before.
What do you do exactly?
We're building.
It's a shipyard.
Middelbo deserves to return to its glory days.
And you were founded a month ago?
That's what I heard.
You can look us up online.
We've been on the verge of disappearing a few times, but we're still here.
And have been since 1875.
Sure. Of course.
Hi.
What's up?
I just signed up for a job.
Come on.
Where are we going?
We're keeping an eye on someone.
Come on.
Okay.
It's here.
But that's my doctor.
What's up with her?
I told you. We're keeping an eye on her.
Would you like a cracker?
Sure.
And happy birthday.
What?
Isn't it your birthday?
Thanks.
What do you think she knows?
Susan was there 17 years ago.
Maybe she'll reveal something if we keep an eye on her.
What would Susan reveal? She's just a boring old doctor.
If you really wanted to hide something,
wouldn't you want to appear as boring as possible?
Like you, you mean?
Yes.
But why are we watching?
Because everyone's got secrets.
Mads and Elvis are…
They're completely consumed by this conspiracy.
I'm actually not.
I just like to watch people.
The more I look,
the more I realize that everyone's as fucked up as me.
And that makes me feel a bit better.
What's going on now?
Look.
That's my biology teacher, Hans.
Yup, you're right.
Is she fucking around?
Subtitle translation by: Helle Kaiser-Nielsen