Studio: Magnolia Pictures
Release Date: 4/30/2024
Rating: R
Film Grade: A-
The Story: The year is 1755. Location: the kingdom of Denmark. Captain Ludvig Kahlen, a 25-year veteran of the German army, presents the king’s advisors with a bold proposal: allow him to cultivate an inhospitable area of the vast Jutland heath, expanding the kingdom’s reach and resources. In exchange, he will receive a royal title and manor.
It’s been a long-time goal of the king since it accounts for about a third of his territory, but previous attempts have always been met with failure. Seeing little to lose in the proposition, the court agrees on his behalf. And so, Kahlen begins his formidable quest financed only with his modest military pension. The Jutland is a vast territory, marked by mostly barren land dominated by evergreen heather. The scarce inhabitants mostly consist of ruthless bands of outlaws. Taming this land will be a daunting task and he will gather both allies and adversaries in the attempt.
My Take: Classic storytelling involves man versus man, man versus nature, man versus himself, and man versus society. All four elements are present in this movie. Adapted from a novel, and based on real people and situations, the story adds fictional details to fill in historical gaps, creating a rich and compelling story. There are themes aplenty. Among them: nobility and the common man, the strength of determination and will against formidable odds, and the many senses and meanings of family.
It's hard to imagine an actor other than Mads Mikkelsen in the role of Kahlen. Played with stoic determinism, he brings life to the character despite minimal dialog. The audience can see the gears constantly turning in his mind as he’s presented with myriad new and unexpected challenges from both the unyielding environment and human adversaries. Difficult decisions have to be made, frequently presenting Kahlen in a harsh and unsympathetic light. This is a vital part of the story, and the film doesn’t shy away from that angle. Mikkelsen’s portrayal brings all of that to the screen in a thoroughly engaging way.
The rest of the cast is filled with names that will be unfamiliar to most of the American audience, but director Nikolaj Arcel brings out distinct and interesting characters from all of them. Most notably is Simon Bennebjerg as Kahlen’s main rival, Frederik De Schinkel. He fills the role with a mix of playfulness and cruelty in an attempt to match wits with Kahlen, relying on his aristocratic authority and power when needed. It’s a part that could have verged into camp, but never crosses that line. The interplay between the two ranges from thoughtful to tense.
Production values are convincing and transport the audience to that time. Palaces and manors are filled with the proper accoutrements and dressings of the period. This is in deep contrast to the large but humble abode that Kahlen has built for himself in the harsh clime of the dull and desolate heath. The sharp contrast makes it easy for the audience to quickly fall into the mindset of the people living in that era.
Video: Shot digitally, the film’s earthy palette paints the vastness of the Jutland in an appropriately stark and harsh tone. Daylight scenes are bright with clear blue skies, some bathed in the magical golden hour, yet others having an indistinct hazy look to them. Interiors are lit with the yellow hues of lantern light, with murky shadowy areas, as one would expect for the time period. Colors are typically muted and dull, properly conveying what must have been common for that time period, often feeling like a Rembrandt painting come to life. Beauty is not the operative word here, but evocative is.
Audio: The 5.1 DTS-HD soundtrack does a fine job of representing the environment of the movie. From the echoey halls of palaces and regal manors to the harsh winds of the vast wasteland, it keeps the viewer anchored to each setting. There’s nothing groundbreaking here, but it’s proper for the film, not leaving anything to be desired.
Yes, the movie is presented in the original Danish language. There is an option for the English dub, but I would strongly advise against it. I sampled some scenes, and much of the nuance of the performances are lost and some of the dialog is changed. You’ll get the most out of it sticking with subtitles and the original audio.
Special Features: None, unfortunately. The movie begs for both making-of and history-behind featurettes.
Final Verdict: If you find yourself attracted to period pieces and/or the work of Mads Mikkelsen, this is an easy recommendation. Lest one think this is some dull, heady affair dependent on one’s knowledge of historical Denmark, rest assured that none of that is required. There’s no stodginess to be found. Anything you need is clearly explained within the well-written story. You may actually benefit from not knowing that much about it before watching.
Produced with an estimated budget of under $9M, it proves that movies of this scope and scale can still be made with a reasonable amount of money compared to the typical Hollywood product.
My wife liked it as much as I did, and the movie will definitely make its way to our personal collection. It’s the best movie we’ve seen so far this year.
Fun Fact: The Danish title of the movie is Bastarden. While less audience-friendly, it offers a different take and connotation to one of the movie’s central themes.
My Review System:JVC DLA-RS3100 4K Ultra High-Definition Front Projector
Elite Screens Sable Frame B2 117” Width with Infinitely Variable Height
Monolith by Monoprice HTP-1 16 Channel Processor with Dirac Live
Monolith by Monoprice 7x200 Watts Amp
Monolith by Monoprice 3x200 Watts + 6x100 Watts Amp
JBL Studio 590 for Left, Center, Right, Wides, and Rears
JBL Studio 580 for Side Surrounds
JBL Studio SCS 8 for Tops
JTR Captivator 1400 Subwoofer X 4
Panasonic DP-UB420 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Player
Oppo BDP-93
NVIDIA Shield Android TV - 4K
Xbox One X
HTPC Running madVR (work in progress)
Remote: URC MX-780
Mini DSP 2X4 HD controlling all subwoofers
APC S15 Power Conditioner with Battery Backup
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