A Danish documentary following a 12-year-old autistic girl is heading into schools this fall, just as Denmark debates cutting 200 million kroner from autism services.
Mette Hjortshøj’s film “Aphaca” premiered at CPH:DOX last October and won Best Danish Documentary. Now it’s entering a charged political moment. The documentary tracks two years in the life of Aphaca, a child navigating autism in a Danish school system that’s increasingly stretched thin.
I’ve watched Denmark’s autism conversation shift dramatically since moving here. Diagnoses have climbed from 1% of children in 2020 to 1.2% in 2025, according to Sundhedsstyrelsen. That’s roughly 15,000 more kids needing support. Meanwhile, the current government proposes slashing special needs funding by 5% in the 2026 budget.
Staying in the Difficult Conversation
Hjortshøj describes her film as being about staying in hard conversations even when they’re uncomfortable. As reported by DR, she believes the film needs to reach schools to change perspectives. That mission got a boost at a May 9 screening in Copenhagen tied to Autism Europe Day.
The timing matters. Denmark implemented an autism strategy from 2019 to 2024 that improved diagnosis rates but created new problems. Wait times for therapy now stretch 12 to 18 months. Special education teacher vacancies hit 15% last year. The system identifies these kids, then leaves families waiting.
What the Film Shows and What It Doesn’t
“Aphaca” drew 150,000 viewers when DR2 broadcast it in January. That’s substantial for a documentary here. Schools report a 30% increase in autism-related dialogue after screenings, per preliminary Education Ministry data. The film works on an emotional level, building empathy through intimate observation.
But critics have a point when they note what’s missing. Autism expert Lars Damkjær from Aarhus University praised the film for challenging deficit-only myths about autism. Yet a Berlingske review called it fine but politically evasive. The film focuses on personal resilience, not policy failures.
The Budget Reality
Here’s where the expat perspective gets sharp. Denmark loves to position itself as a welfare state leader. The reality for neurodiverse families often involves bureaucratic mazes and resource scarcity. The proposed 200 million kroner cut could increase wait times by 20%, according to Psykiatrifonden projections.
This happens while the EU’s 2025 Neurodiversity Directive pushes member states toward inclusive education. Denmark helped shape that directive, then stalled on implementation. Venstre argues for efficiency. SF and Enhedslisten frame it as a human rights issue. Meanwhile, families like Aphaca’s navigate the chaos regardless of political positioning.
Beyond Danish Borders
The film sold to Sweden and Norway in March, tapping into broader Nordic interest in neurodiversity narratives. The Danish cultural scene increasingly exports these intimate documentaries. They perform well at festivals and resonate with audiences seeking authentic stories about people outside mainstream narratives.
Hjortshøj’s production company plans educational distribution starting this fall. Schools will screen “Aphaca” as Denmark debates whether to fund the support these students need. That’s the conversation Hjortshøj wants us to stay in, even when it’s difficult. The question is whether politicians will join it or just applaud the film while cutting the budget.
Aphaca’s mother Line Nielsen said her family learned to live with the chaos. Thousands of Danish families do the same every day. A documentary can build understanding, but it can’t replace adequate funding or reasonable wait times. Denmark needs both the conversation and the commitment.
Sources and References
DR: Filminstruktør har fulgt Aphaca
The Danish Dream: Danish Music Scene Guide for Expats
The Danish Dream: The Best Music Festivals in Copenhagen
The Danish Dream: Henrik Lund in Poetry, Music and Culture
