Recently in our, Russian cinemas and online platforms new Scandinavian cinema has often appeared and after the alco-drama "Druk" a very interesting tragicomedy mixed with a dashing action film "Riders of Justice" (Retfærdighedens ryttere) by the Danish director and screenwriter Anders Thomas Jensen appeared.

It stars Mads Mikkelsen, whom I absolutely adore after his TV series "Hannibal" by Bryan Fuller, so of course I couldn't miss it and am happy to share my impressions.

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The wife of Markus, a Danish serviceman somewhere in the Middle East, is killed in a train wreck and the brave serviceman is forced to leave the service to help his daughter through the grief. After the funeral, a trio of strange men -- two mathematicians, Otto and Lennart, and their acquaintance Emmental, a gruff but brilliant IT specialist -- show up unexpectedly on the doorstep.

The guests claim that the accident was no accident, and that real gangsters are involved - a gang of bikers called the Knights of Justice, except that the police think their evidence is an oddity and the only person they can turn to for help is Markus...

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"Mathematics is the queen of the sciences," as the famous German scientist Carl Gauss said. But as is fitting for a crowned person, she can afford to be a little capricious and presumptuous, causing her subjects a state of mild (or not-so-mild) bewilderment. That's exactly how this film works, starting as a heavy drama about a tragic loss, continuing as a black comedy, occasionally slipping into a classic action movie plot in the style of "you guys have got the wrong guy," and ironically flirting with Knight M. Shyamalan-esque thrillers.

It would seem that there is too much stuff mixed in, but it works brilliantly and the main reason for that is the acting and the great characters, reminiscent of the dumb scientists from "The Big Bang Theory", who are suddenly joined by the cold-blooded and ruthless "John Wick". Believe me, it's an apt comparison.

The crippled Otto (Nikolaj Lie Kaas) - relying on math and numbers for everything, his fellow chatterbox Lennart (Lennart), not only an outstanding scientist but also a seriously traumatized man who has "learned" psychology from the endless sessions associated with his breakdowns. Emmental (Nicolas Bro)- easily enraged by wires or monitor resolution and out of boredom hacks into government systems to make friends get free gym passes. And of course Marcus (Mads Mikkelsen)-a rugged man, a true Viking descendant who can't afford tears under any circumstances.

The company of traumatized people is top-notch, and perhaps this film is one of the best statements in recent years on the subject of "how to overcome loss" and a truly masculine film in which the characters don't need superpowers to be real heroes. Knights without fear and without reproach who, like all of us, make mistakes.

Separately, I would like to note the scene of Marcus' nervous breakdown. Very vivid, emotional and once again proves Mikkelsen's neurotic acting talent.

9 out of 10