Exclusive: The series produced by Anagram Norway stars Nicolaj Cleve Broch, Agnes Kittelsen, Lærke Winter and Johannes Nymark.

The Yellow Affair handles distribution of the 8x42’ dramedy which started shooting in Copenhagen on Monday and is being produced by Anne Kolbjørnsen for TV2 Norway and TV2 Denmark.

“This was one of our first projects when Ole [Marius Araldsen] and I started Anagram Norway in 2016,” says the senior TV executive who has worked with Araldsen on numerous high-profile series as executive producer or producer, such as Maniac, The Third Eye, Milk and most recently on Kieler Street, nominated for the 2019 Nordisk Film & TV Fond Prize. 

Their latest project Love Story ((Kj)ærlighet) is based on an idea by Araldsen and actor Nicolai Cleve Broch (Acquitted, Kieler Street). The relationship dramedy about two couples - one Norwegian, one Danish - seen from each individual’s perspective, was developed in a writers’ room by top Norwegian and Danish writers including Araldsen, Marie Hafting (Young & Promising), Jesper Sundnes (Kieler Street), Patrik Syversen (Kieler Street), Tone Mygind Rostbøll (My Auntie’s Tall Tales), and Anna Neye (Tvillingerne & Julemanden). Oscar-winner Anders Tomas Jensen (Election Night, In a Better World) gave a final polish to the shooting script. 

Kolbjørnsen says loose inspirations for the show were Nikolaj & Julie, Cold Feet, The Affair (without the crime element). “Basically it’s about mis-communicating, and how small things can make a big difference,” she notes.  Merete (Agnes Kittelsen of Happy, Happy, Dag) and her husband Joachim (Nicolai Cleve Broch) move to Copenhagen when Merete starts a business with her old friend Nanna (Lærke Winther, Dicte: Crime Reporter), who lives with Kasper (Johannes Nymark, Something’s Rockin’). Both couples seem very much in love, but things are about to change.

Norwegian music video veteran Eigil Langmark is concept director, handling four episodes with established Danish director Charlotte Sachs Bostrup (Something’s Rockin’, Nikolaj & Julie) the remaining four.

The series is produced by Anagram Norway, in co-production with Finland’s Helsinki Filmi, with support from the Norwegian Film Institute. Further financing is in negotiation. Denmark’s Nimbus Film is line producer and The Yellow Affair handles international distribution. 

Kolbjørnsen says: “Shooting in Copenhagen is going really well. We’ll work quickly, like with Kieler Street, and hope to deliver to TV2 Norway and TV2 Denmark later this fall.” The producer says interest on remake rights from major European companies is already strong.