Families Like Ours: When Climate Catastrophe Hits Home

Canal+

Okay, Netflix, you got me. I’m not usually one to bawl my eyes out over heavy dramas—give me bright colors, absurd situations, and at least a hint of a happy ending. But sometimes (very rarely!) you crave something real. Like this limited series.

On June 10, Families Like Ours—a seven-part Danish drama from Thomas Vinterberg, the same director behind The Hunt and Another Round—drops on the platform. If, like me, you sat in silence for an hour staring at a wall after those films, prepare for a similar effect.

Plot: Apocalypse, Scandinavian Style

Imagine this: Denmark is sinking. Literally. Sea levels are rising so rapidly that the country is being evacuated. The main character, 19-year-old Laura, faces a choice: leave with her father and his new family for Paris, go with her mother to Romania (via a resettlement program), or stay with her boyfriend, who seems ready for anything but concrete plans for the future.

Why You Should Watch It

Urgent Relevance That Hits Hard
Climate catastrophes are no longer sci-fi plots; they’re our potential reality. The series doesn’t scare you with apocalyptic special effects; it shows how ordinary lives crumble. And yes, that’s infinitely more terrifying.

Family Isn’t Just DNA
A father with a new wife, a mother who suddenly decides to "start fresh," a boyfriend who doesn’t even know what he wants… Laura has to decide what’s more important to her: blood ties or those who are truly by her side.

Vinterberg Won’t Let You Relax
His style ensures every scene breathes tension, even if the characters are just silently sitting at a table. Plus, he masterfully shows how social inequality manifests even in a disaster: some have a visa to Paris, while others only have a spot in an overcrowded refugee camp.

What’s Not So Great?

Critics are raving (that 100% on Rotten Tomatoes is no joke), but even they noticed a few flaws:

— The romantic storyline is a bit weak. Elias (Albert Rudbeck Lindhardt) is likable, but his motivations are sometimes unclear, even to Laura.

— Drama at its limit. Sometimes it feels like the characters are given no glimmer of hope. But perhaps that’s exactly the intention.

My Take (Just in Case)

I still prefer shows that don’t make me want to call my mom and ask, "Did we do everything right?" But Families Like Ours is that rare instance where the heaviness is justified. It’s beautiful, painful, and… useful. Like dark chocolate—not great at first, but then you realize that’s exactly the taste you were missing.

So, on June 10, cancel your plans, stock up on tea (or something stronger), and get ready for a Danish emotional storm. No umbrella needed.