Den Attende (The Eighteens) (1996)

Set on the day that Denmark voted to join the European Union (May 18, 1993), this episodic Danish narrative is comprised of three intertwined and parallel tales. Ulla is a career oriented singer who feels guilty when her ex-husband accuses her of neglecting her daughter Sarah. To make amends, she desperately tries to cram a radio interview, an important television interview and the celebration of Sarah's birthday into the same day. Meanwhile, violent and mentally ill Jens escapes from a high-security psychiatric ward with an apparently mute patient in tow and salesman Michael is trying to simultaneously seal a crucial deal and protect himself from the machinations of a ruthless rival. The stories merge in interesting ways. The fleeing Jens turns on a car radio and hears Ulla singing while Ulla picks up the phone and accidentally dials Michael who is quite rude. Both Ulla and Michael end up at the same poll station, collide and accidentally exchange ballots. Later, Jens accidentally runs over Sarah and both end up taken to the hospital by Ulla. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi