Danish War Veteran Finds Solace in Unique Retreat Center

On November 16, 2025, the film 'Hercules Falling' by director Christian Bonke is set to world premiere at the First Feature Competition program at Tallinn. The film stars Dar Salim as Youssef, a war veteran whose experiences in Afghanistan and Iraq continue to haunt him. After a near-fatal incident at home, Youssef enrolls in a special facility on the Danish island of Strynø, where he prepares to battle his own anger.

The film blends documentary and fiction elements, featuring real war veterans who run the retreat center alongside Youssef. Salim, who won the best actor award at PÖFF 2018, delivers a performance that the festival website describes as "brutal honesty and frank authenticity." The director explains that the script is a "cocktail of real experiences" from the veterans themselves.

Meanwhile, Danish actress Iben Dyrholm is starring in the new six-episode series 'The Danish Woman,' where she plays Ditte Jensen, a retired Danish Secret Service agent who struggles with PTSD from her past deployments. Unable to leave her warrior mentality behind, Ditte decides to help her neighbors in Reykjavik, Iceland, taking on a vigilante role. The director describes Ditte as a mix of "Napoleon, Pippi Longstocking, and Rambo."

Both 'Hercules Falling' and 'The Danish Woman' explore the lasting impact of war and the challenges veterans face in reintegrating into civilian life, particularly when dealing with PTSD. The stories aim to give a voice to these real-life experiences and provide a deeper understanding of the struggles soldiers endure.