In China They Eat Dogs 1999

Action

Comedy

Crime

Runtime

91 mins

Language

Danish

Directed by

Tomas Villum Jensen

Made by

Steen Herdel Filmproduktion

Test your knowledge of In China They Eat Dogs with our quiz!

In China They Eat Dogs Plot Summary

Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for In China They Eat Dogs (1999). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.

Arvid, Dejan Čukić, a bank teller, is worn down by constant harassment from customers and by his girlfriend’s belief that he’s too dull. Seeking a spark of excitement, he ends up involved in a bank robbery when he helps stop the crime. Hanna, Trine Dyrholm, his girlfriend, doesn’t believe his version of events and dumps him, taking most of what they shared.

Astrid, Line Kruse, the wife of the would‑be robber Franz, tracks Arvid down and reveals that Franz robbed the bank to pay for medical treatments so they could have a child. Feeling guilty, Arvid reaches out to his brother Harald, Kim Bodnia, whom he hasn’t seen in years after their father disowned him for his criminal ties, and together they plan a more ambitious theft: robbing a van carrying money to the bank.

The heist goes through, and Arvid delivers the money to Astrid, but he is sickened by the extreme violence Harald and his crew use to complete the job. After breaking Franz out of jail, a confrontation breaks out and Franz is killed; Harald kills Franz, but Astrid manages to flee to South Africa to escape their wrath. Arvid tries to distance himself from Harald to avoid further bloodshed, yet Hanna confronts him again at his apartment, demanding the rest of his possessions. At his breaking point, Arvid kills Hanna and teams up with Harald to pursue Astrid.

Needing money to reach South Africa, the brothers attempt to rob the bank where Arvid works, but are met with retaliation from Onkel, the head of a local Serbian cartel, for the death of his nephew. They manage to kill Onkel and his men, but Arvid is killed in the shootout. In the aftermath, Arvid’s spirit is greeted in limbo by an angel, Richard, Lester Wiese, who had been relaying Arvid’s misadventures to a demonic bartender. Richard surprisingly allows Arvid into Heaven, while the other victims of the tragedy—the barfly Jørgen, Arvid’s closeted co-worker Finn, and his “girlfriend” Olga—are sent to Hell, due to a clerical error on Richard’s part.

In China They Eat Dogs Timeline

Follow the complete movie timeline of In China They Eat Dogs (1999) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.

Arvid's dull life and constant harassment

Arvid is a bank teller stuck in a lifeless routine, constantly harassed by strangers and looked down on by his girlfriend Hanna. He longs for excitement but mostly endures the monotony of his days. This setup establishes his vulnerability and readiness for upheaval.

At the start of the story

Arvid helps stop a bank robbery

When a robbery unfolds at the bank, Arvid steps in and helps halt the crisis, making a rare, dangerous impact on his mundane life. His actions briefly earn respect from bystanders and hint at a brighter, riskier path. The event marks the first crack in his routine.

During the robbery Bank

Hanna dumps Arvid

Hanna refuses to believe Arvid was involved and dumps him, taking most of their shared possessions. The breakup deepens his isolation and pushes him toward seeking something more thrilling. The fracture leaves him adrift and more vulnerable to later confrontations.

Right after the bank incident

Astrid explains Franz's motive

Astrid, Franz's wife, tracks down Arvid and explains that Franz robbed the bank to pay for medical treatments so they could have a child. Her revelation reframes the crime as desperate, not merely criminal, which unsettles Arvid. The connection pulls him deeper into a dangerous world.

Shortly after the bank incident

Arvid recruits Harald for a plan

Feeling guilty, Arvid reaches out to his brother Harald, long estranged because of their father’s criminal ties. They hatch a plan to rob a van carrying money to the bank, hoping to alter their fates. The alliance drags Arvid further into violence and crime.

Soon after the meeting with Astrid

Successful van robbery and delivery

The brothers pull off the van robbery and deliver the money to Astrid. Arvid is sickened by the brutal and reckless violence Harald and his crew use to execute the heist. The payout clashes with his growing moral revulsion and foreshadows deeper conflicts.

During the van robbery

Franz broken out; Vug dies

Harald and Arvid break Franz out of jail to leverage him against Astrid. A violent altercation erupts during the escape, resulting in the death of their driver Vug. The escalation cements Harald’s brutality and pulls Arvid further from his former life.

After the bank van robbery Prison

Franz's revelation; Harald kills Franz; Astrid flees

Franz reveals that Astrid is actually his sister and had been avoiding her after she conned him. In a burst of rage, Harald kills Franz. Astrid uses the chaos to flee to South Africa, hoping to escape their wrath.

Following Franz's revelation

Arvid distances from Harald; Hanna returns

Afraid of further violence, Arvid tries to distance himself from Harald's criminal circle. Hanna reappears, showing up at his apartment to claim the rest of their belongings after being dumped. The mounting pressure pushes Arvid toward a breaking point.

After Franz's death Arvid's apartment

Arvid kills Hanna; pursuit of Astrid begins

At his breaking point, Arvid kills Hanna, severing another tie to his old life. He then reunites with Harald to chase Astrid, plunging deeper into the violent circle they inhabit. The pursuit sets the stage for a final confrontation.

Following Hanna's death

Final plan to rob the bank for South Africa

To fund their escape to South Africa, the brothers attempt to rob the bank where Arvid works. They are ambushed by Onkel, the head of a Serbian cartel, retaliating for their earlier actions. The confrontation escalates into a deadly showdown.

During the attempted robbery

Arvid dies in the final shootout

During the confrontation with Onkel and his men, Arvid is killed. Harald and their associates are left to grieve amid the wreckage of their violent plans. The death marks the tragic end of Arvid's attempted escape from his fate.

During the final shootout Bank surroundings

Arvid's spirit and the path to Heaven

In limbo, Arvid is greeted by an angel named Richard who had been guiding his misadventures to a demonic bartender. Richard explains the verdict and Ariid’s chance for Heaven. Arvid is ultimately allowed into Heaven while the other victims of the shootout are sent to Hell.

After the shootout Limbo/Heaven

In China They Eat Dogs Characters

Explore all characters from In China They Eat Dogs (1999). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.

Arvid (Dejan Čukić)

Arvid is a bank teller who feels dismissed and dull, craving excitement. He involves himself in a plan to rob a van for money to support medical needs, guided by a desire to prove himself. He is pulled into a web of violence by Harald, and his guilt grows as events spiral out of control. He is ultimately killed in the shootout, his death framing the moral fallout of the story.

💼 Banker 😟 Vulnerable 🧭 Risk-taker

Harald (Kim Bodnia)

Harald is Arvid’s older brother with a history of crime who has not turned away from violence. He exerts a brutal, persuasive energy and pushes Arvid toward more dangerous actions. He has ties to criminal networks and a ruthless sense of loyalty that justifies deadly means. His ruthless leadership culminates in brutal confrontations and the siblings' moral disintegration.

🔪 Violence 👬 Brotherhood

Hanne (Trine Dyrholm)

Hanne is Arvid's girlfriend who belittles him for being dull and ultimately ends the relationship, taking most of their shared possessions. Her confrontation at Arvid's apartment marks him reaching his breaking point and intensifies the sense of isolation. Her role underlines the personal costs of the couple's failed relationship.

💔 Breakup 🧭 Self-Interest

Franz (Peter Gantzler)

Franz is the would-be bank robber whose motive is to fund medical treatments for his child, aligning with Astrid's schemes. He explains the plan to Arvid but is ultimately killed during a confrontation with Harald and the others. His actions trigger Astrid's deception and set off the chain of violence.

💡 Motive 🗡️ Deception

Astrid (Line Kruse)

Astrid is Franz’s wife, who tracks Arvid down and spins the story of the robbery to manipulate him. She has a complicated motive and is embroiled in deception that draws the brothers deeper into violence. It is revealed that Astrid is Franz’s sister, and she flees to South Africa to escape retribution for her role.

💔 Betrayal 🗺️ Cross-border

Jørgen (Lasse Lunderskov)

Jørgen is a barfly who becomes entangled in Richard and the bartender's world; his fate is tied to the afterlife misadventures as a barfly in Hell. He represents the ordinary life caught in extraordinary supernatural events and moral reckonings.

🍻 Bar scene 👼 Afterlife

Bartender (Jesper Christensen)

Bartender is a demonic figure who narrates Arvid's misadventures to the angel Richard and serves as a cynical observer of both the living and the dead. He influences outcomes in the afterlife and illuminates the film's dark humor and moral critique.

👹 Supernatural 🎭 Narrator

Richard (Angel)

Richard is an angel who guides Arvid's spirit in limbo and relays his misadventures to the bartender. He ultimately allows Arvid into Heaven while assigning other victims to Hell, framing the moral verdict of the tale.

👼 Angel 🌟 Afterlife

Vuk (Brian Patterson)

Vuk is the driver of the van who dies in the ensuing violence. His death adds to the film's sense of fragility and the cost of crime.

💥 Death 🚗 Vehicle

In China They Eat Dogs Settings

Learn where and when In China They Eat Dogs (1999) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.

Time period

Late 1990s

The events unfold in a contemporary late-1990s setting. The technology and social attitudes reflect that era, with banks, cars, and city life shaping the actions. This period context grounds the crime drama in a plausible modern world.

Location

Denmark, South Africa, Heaven, Hell

The film is grounded in Denmark, focusing on a bank, urban streets, and a sense of ordinary life under pressure. A cross-border thread pushes part of the story toward South Africa as Astrid's ambitions stretch beyond Europe. The narrative also ventures into supernatural space, with sequences in Heaven and Hell that frame the characters' fates.

🇩🇰 Denmark 🏦 Bank setting 🌍 South Africa 👼 Heaven 😈 Hell

In China They Eat Dogs Themes

Discover the main themes in In China They Eat Dogs (1999). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.

⚖️

Crime & Consequences

A bank robbery triggers a chain of violence that spirals beyond Arvid’s control. The film tracks how every action leaves a mark on victims and survivors, showing guilt, revenge, and moral fallout. Violence and crime destabilize relationships and push characters toward drastic choices.

👨‍👩‍👦

Family & Betrayal

Brothers Arvid and Harald navigate a fraught past and competing loyalties. Astrid’s manipulations reveal how personal ties are exploited for survival, while Franz’s actions complicate trust. The story tests whether family bonds can survive deceit and violent ambition.

👼

Death & Afterlife

Death punctuates the action as shootouts claim victims, and Arvid’s spirit encounters an angel. Heaven and Hell are used as moral framing for the characters' fates. The afterlife sequences mirror the consequences of their actions.

💰

Desperation & Money

Money drives the plot: the initial bank work, the van heist, and the cross-continental escape all hinge on cash. The pursuit of wealth fuels violence and risk, and desperation distorts judgment. The film uses financial motive to reveal the fragility of ethical lines.

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Explore the mobile app

In China They Eat Dogs Spoiler-Free Summary

Discover the spoiler-free summary of In China They Eat Dogs (1999). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.

In the quiet rhythm of a small Danish city, Arvid works the teller window at a modest bank, his days a careful choreography of numbers and polite smiles. He shares a comfortable, if unremarkable, partnership with his girlfriend, a relationship that grounds him as much as it quietly hints at something missing. The everyday is cushioned by familiar faces and the predictable hum of a community that seems to move at a measured pace.

All of that steadiness is jolted when a sudden robbery erupts inside the very walls where Arvid spends his hours. Instinct and an unexpected burst of courage push him into the fray, and the clash leaves his routine irrevocably altered. The incident ripples through the town’s otherwise placid atmosphere, turning ordinary streets into spaces where tension and possibility coexist.

As the dust settles, Arvid finds himself drawn into circles that were previously only peripheral—an aging sister‑in‑law with hidden motives, a brother named Harald who carries his own shadows, and a network of acquaintances whose lives intersect in ways that blur right and wrong. The film balances a dry, almost deadpan humor with a lingering sense of unease, letting the audience feel both the absurdity and the weight of choices made in moments of crisis. The world feels simultaneously familiar and off‑kilter, a place where small personal dramas echo larger questions about destiny and agency.

Through these shifting relationships and the lingering echo of that first daring act, the story invites curiosity about how far a man will go when the predictable confines of his life crack open, and what new realities await him beyond the confines of the bank’s glass doors.

Can’t find your movie? Request a summary here.

Movies with Similar Twists and Themes

Uncover films that echo the narrative beats, emotional arcs, or dramatic twists of the one you're exploring. These recommendations are handpicked based on story depth, thematic resonance, and spoiler-worthy moments — perfect for fans who crave more of the same intrigue.