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It is 1755, and Danish Captain Ludvig Kahlen has just left the army. He approaches the Royal Danish Court with a proposition: he will attempt to build a settlement on the barren Jutland moors in exchange for a noble title. It is a task considered impossible, and though his deal is accepted, the Court thinks nothing will ever come of it. Out on the moors, Kahlen battles the environment, as well as bandits and the machinations of the sadistic local magistrate Frederik Schinkel, in an attempt to realize his dreams.

Directed by Nikolaj Arcel and based on a novel by Ida Jessen- which was, in turn, very loosely inspired by real life characters- 'The Promised Land' is an engrossing, engaging film both powerful and poignant. Arcel's screenplay- written alongside frequent collaborator Anders Thomas Jensen- tells a fascinating tale that offers insight into Danish history, while also functioning as a character study and a compelling drama to boot.

It is a movie that works on many levels, balancing drama with comedy and violence with silence. The narrative- although lumbered with an unnecessarily protracted ending- is strongly written, subtly exploring themes like the cost of ambition and the importance of family. The film presents Kahlen as a complex man who can't see the forest for the trees, so to speak. Over the course of the picture, he undergoes a change of character, realising that there are other aspects to his life he should dedicate his time to, other than his pursuit of dominance over the inhospitable moorland.

Kahlen is reminiscent of other singularly focused cinematic creations, such as the titular characters in Werner Herzog's 'Fitzcarraldo' and Sam Peckinpah's 'The Ballad of Cable Hogue.' Like those two resolute men, he strives to realize his dream in the face of terrible opposition. His perseverance, his assurance that the impossible can be done, makes him a compelling character, while his stoic nature makes him both enigmatic and intriguing.

Toiling through the seasons, tearing up the tough earth of the moors, Kahlen struggles to make any headway, even with the help of a couple, Ann Barbara and Johannes, as well as Anmai Mus, a Romani girl he reluctantly takes into his care. Meanwhile, the villainous Shinkel, who has his eye on the moorland, turns from an irritant into an obstacle Kahlen cannot get beyond. All these characters are well-drawn and believable, with their own arcs and backstories. Although the exploration of Kahlen's personality and ambition is the core of the story, Arcel and Jensen have created rich secondary characters for him to interact with; making the film utterly gripping.

It is a visually evocative affair, boasting atmospheric cinematography from Rasmus Videbæk. By using an aspect ratio of 1.66:1, Videbæk gives the film a wide, epic look, making the most of the rugged Danish landscape; compounding the harsh isolation of the Jutland moors. His use of close-ups heightens the drama of proceedings, while his utilisation of tracking shots- notably during a nighttime raid on a band of thugs- adds tension and suspense.

Moreover, Jette Lehmann's production design is detailed and evocative, creating a period-accurate setting, while Kicki Ilander's costume design contributes to the narrative and its characters astutely. Her juxtaposition of the rich fabrics Shinkel parades around in, compared to Kahlen's simple outfits, accentuates the cultural, societal gap between the men. Additionally, Dan Romer's muted score is stirring, never dominating scenes; complementing them instead. Although Arcel and editor Olivier Bugge Couttélet let proceedings go on a tad too long- there is a natural end point that is followed by an unnecessary extra 25 minutes, an epilogue of sorts- the film has a steady pace as deliberate as its central character.

Mads Mikkelsen stars as Kahlen, opposite Amanda Collin as Ann Barbara, Melina Hagberg as Anmai Mus and Simon Bennebjerg as Shinkel. Mikkelsen demonstrates his incredible talent for saying volumes through the smallest expression or gesture, without the need for words. A nuanced, charismatic performer, he is terrific; his subtle, multifaceted performance again lends credence to the notion that he is one of, if not the best actors around today.

Collin does similarly sterling work as Ann Barbara, delivering an understated and powerful performance full of depth and wit. She shares a fine chemistry with Mikkelsen, while Hagberg- in her first role- is wonderful. Feisty and funny, she has a strong screen presence, working brilliantly with her co-stars- especially Mikkelsen. They share a few scenes full of emotional power; and she impresses greatly with her natural, unostentatious performance.

Bennebjerg creates in Shinkel a villain for the ages, a sadistic cad full of pomp and vanity. Although the character is fairly cliched, Bennebjerg plays him so well one forgets this. Slimy, slick and sinisterly funny; he cannot be faulted. Additionally, Thomas W. Gabrielsson and Jacob Lohmann are both brilliant as Shinkel's right hand man Bondo and Trappaud, an associate of Kahlen's. Furthermore, Kristine Kujath Thorp is commendable in the role of Edel Helene, a noblewoman betrothed to Shinkel who wants to escape his vile clutches.

In conclusion, Nikolaj Arcel's 'The Promised Land' is an engaging epic, a character study and a moving drama all in one. With a strong screenplay examining interesting themes, witty, minimalist dialogue and well-drawn characters, the narrative consistently engages. The cinematography and production design are striking, while the score is subtly powerful. Boasting strong performances from all in the cast- led by the incomparable Mads Mikkelsen- 'The Promised Land' is a fascinating tale about a conquest of the useless that one wouldn't want to miss.

The Promised Land takes place in 1700's Denmark and tells the story of a retired military officer who wants to settle and farm in an inhospitable area where no one else has been able to survive. He has visions of making a great success, and being greatly rewarded by the King and other noble people. That is just the vaguest outline of the story but the film goes deep into the characters involved and becomes unexpectedly dark, much darker than I had imagined. I will not say more so as not to spoil it, but this is a truly great movie. The main character is played to perfection by Mads Mickelson. The associated actors Amanda Collin, Kristine Thorp, and the young child actor Melina Hagberg are very much up to the task of making their characters come alive. A great film that I could not recommend more.

This was a surprisingly good movie. I've been disappointed by quite a few period drama pieces from the last years, so my expectations going in were not very high, especially given the description of it being "Western set in 18th century Denmark". But going out of the theatre I had to admit that I had a near perfect cinema experience. The movie was beautifully filmed with nearly each frame being a work of art. The acting was superb and the characters were interesting and well-developed. Mads Mikkelsen was stellar in his role, and I loved Ann Barbara, Anmai Mus and the priest. Simon Bennebjerg was great as the unhinged, but charismatic Frederik de Schinkel. The plot wasn't particularly original, but it kept you invested in the story, and was logical and well-rounded and the ending left no loose threads. The love story was compelling without being overly dramatic - because most love stories aren't! Another reviewer commented that it felt unnatural to him but to me on contrary it felt very realistic that these characters would seek out each other's warmth and comfort in the circumstances they were placed in. Other parts were well-balanced too - it had just enough blood and fighting and torture scenes to get the story across, but none just for drama's sake. The movie borrowed a lot of elements from the Western genre, but it felt authentic and in no way like a Hollywood clone. All in all, it was fantastic, well rounded film and a great cinematic experience.

Possibly one of the most engaging and powerful European movies of the year. Great storytelling, acting, directing, cinematography, art direction, costumes, make up.

This film uses all the tools of the western genre. Wide landscapes, settlers developing harsh lands, the fight against greed, injustice, cruelty and impunity of the ruling class, a stubborn loner who learns to follow his heart and old vs. New technologies, in this case agricultural, settlers fighting rich landowners, racial prejudices and of course a showdown with a powerful obligatory scene.

For the longest time I have been waiting for a period piece set in Europe with the look and feel of epic westerns. There have been a few efforts so far and they all failed on me in one part or another. This one could be leading the pack. Do yourself a favor and go see it on a very, very big screen.

I watched this movie at the Busan International Film Festival this week. I went into it, without much information and didn't know what to expect. And oh wow, it blew me away. I straight away put it on my "Top 10 Favourite Movies of all Time" list.

First of all Mads Mikkelsen is a phenomenal actor and the perfect choice to play Ludvig Kahlen. He shines especially in the scenes, where he "only" acts out pure emotion with his facial expressions without having to say a word. There is one scene at the very end, where he sits all alone in his farm house, eating at a table and the camera zooms into a close up shot onto his face. It is a captivating scene, were no words are spoken but so much was said. He is a superb actor.

Throughout the movie you feel all kinds of emotions yourself: anger, hatred, sadness, frustration, disgust, joy, relief,.. I felt it all. It is a rollercoaster ride of emotions.

I felt strong hatred for the villain of the story played by Simon Bennebjerg, who was also a perfect cast for this. You really start to hate his character pretty early on, his arrogance, greed and disrespect for all people around him, make him a despicable character.

After watching the movie, my friend and I had a long discussion about human greed and what our motivation in life is. Is it worth to betray, let down and/or loose loved ones over a title, money and/or fame?

10 out of 10, worth every second.

Danish cinema has made some impressive films in the past and while, The Promised Land is no where my favorite Danish movie, it certainly is one of the most gorgeous looking one I have seen in awhile.

Filmmaker Nikolaj Arcel created A Royal Affair which I thought was pretty good. Unfortunately his work a The Dark Tower was pretty awful but luckily, this new movie is big improvement as it showcases Arcel's talents on the direction, narrative and the characters. Throughout, the camerawork is gorgeous and many of the costumes, sound designs and the effects are well-done as it helped captured the time era and the setting. Many of the themes of fight aganist greed, cruelty, land ownership, landscapes, people, and other themes on the western genre are well explored. All of the performances are pretty great as Mads Mikkelsen and Amanda Collin provided the best performance throughout.

The narrative is pretty interesting, although a few writing concepts that felt a bit predictable. I personally enjoyed the characters but I felt some of the other characters could have been explored a little more on certain levels of development. The soundtrack is great, the dialogue is well-written and the pacing, while a few slow moments, is pretty good as I didn't feel bored throughout observing the movie.

Overall, It's a good film from Denmark and it's great to see Arcel getting a new chance with a better film.

This film is as good as they get and has everything anyone could ever want. A fantastic storyline, wonderful cinematography, sharp dialogue without a word extra or wasted, the actors pitch their performances at exactly the right level and the time flies by without a single dull moment.

Other reviewers here have commented that this is the best film they have seen all year. As someone who goes to the cinema a LOT to watch all genres of movies from all over the world I feel I should add that - yes, they are right and i agree - this is the best movie I have seen this year.

Treat yourself and go to see it. Magnificent.

"The Promised Land" (Bastarden in Danish), based on a book by Ida Jessen called "The Captain and Ann Barbara" which in turn, based on a real life person is about a captain (Mads Mikkelsen) who sets out to conquer the Heath in Jutland which is said to be impossible to grow anything in. Throughout, he meets a lot of resistance working towards his goal.

I like Mads Mikkelsen as an actor, let me just get that straight out of the way. This guy rarely RARELY makes bad movies. He's just too good and underrated. The movie itself was pretty good too. I found myself pretty invested in the plot and the different characters. Mads Mikkelsen was brilliant in the role of Ludvig Kahlen and Amanda Collin was amazing as Ann Barbara the housekeeper. And not to talk about how good Simon Bennebjerg was as the villain, Frederik de Schinkel (also based on a real person). The film was emotional at times too.

Here's my only strife with the movie and literally my only strife... Although both Mads Mikkelsen and Frederik de Schinkel existed back in the 1700's which the movie took place, in real life they had absolutely nothing to do with each other. At least from the little i've read online. I found it weird they decided to mix them together in this.

I've been waiting on this film since it was under preproduction and it was worth the wait. The acting from everyone was fantastic. Mads Mikkelsen went deep into his character and it really showcased his acting skills. He was amazing.

It was witty, brutal, beautiful, funny (I give credit to Anders Thomas Jensen for that) and nail biting. It had a great flow to it.

Nicolaj Arcel filmed this one and he also did "A Royal Affair", but I really can't compare the two of them. Two completely different stories. "A Royal Affair" had more of romance story attached to it, but this goes a bit deeper and darker.

Please do yourselves a favor and see this in the theater if you get a chance. You won't regret it!

That's the overarching question, or rather field of tension, in Nikolaj Arcel's BASTARDEN - a film that offers both beautiful cinematography and a brilliant, subdued performance by Mads Mikkelsen.

Set in Ancien Régime Denmark, a retired soldier attempts to cultivate the heath of Jutland in the name of King Frederik V for wealth and social advancement - a rather venturous project, not only because of wolves and bandits, but above all the property claims of local landlords. While one particular nobleman insists on his inherent rights, Mads Mikkelsen's protagonist relies on hard work to sustainably secure the rights to the land for himself. It is a case of ethics of merit (Verdienstethik) vs. Ethics of status (Standesethik). This fundamental conflict of modernity ironically seems to be better expressed by the film's international title THE PROMISED LAND than by the Danish one, which emphasizes the protagonist's dubious origins.

Unfortunately, the film somewhat loses sight of this basic theme as the running time progresses. A brilliant first half is followed by a half-baked second one, increasingly unsure what it is actually about - with echoes of a revenge thriller and even a love story. There is also a sub plot involving an adopted child that superficially tackles themes of exclusion and belonging, which felt a little out of place. Thus, some of the plot lines sort of fizzle out at the end. Given the 18th century setting, there are also some noticeable, though never distracting anachronisms, be it some forms of behavior, the perfect High German spoken by the peasant colonists or certain terms used (the "German army" f. E.).

In the end, however, Mads Mikkelsen's strong performance, the great direction as well as cinematography almost completely make up for these weaknesses. Arcel crafted a period piece that so confidently ignores the jarring conventions of modern Hollywood that you can't help but admire it.

The Promised Land (2023)

Mads Mikkelsen is an actor who needs no praise and yet every time I see him in a film, my level of admiration grows even more. The sense of honor and dignity are so profound in this man as he commands a powerful on-screen presence in every scene. Asides from knowing that this was a historical drama, I didn't even bother to read the synopsis as I had faith in the lead actor. Oh and if you love potatoes, you are going to enjoy this even more.

The Promised Land is a true story of Ludvig Kahlen, a man determined on building a settlement in the Danish wilderness in order to attain wealth and honor. Being an ex-soldier he will use his meager savings in an attempt to make this dream a reality but before long, he will encounter more than a handful of obstacles imposed by a wealthy landowner who is determined to prevent Ludvig from achieving his goal. Despite taking place in Denmark, this film can somewhat be classified as a Historical-Western due to it's use of wide shots, beautiful nature, a respectable stoic protagonist and a sense of perpetual struggle against oppressors.

When you think about it, the historical event in question is quite insignificant on a large scale and if not for Mads Mikkelsen, this film wouldn't have existed. Thankfully it was made and asides from Mads' captivating performance, the rest of the cast came to put in a collective effort that made me genuinely care about the struggle. The cinematography is simple yet beautiful and the well used score manages to both accentuate a rural setting and pull on the emotional strings. Overall, a well made film that leaves a pleasant aftertaste and if you are a fellow fan of Mads, you won't be disappointed.

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"The Promised Land" (2023) offers a fascinating glimpse into 18th-century Denmark, and for those with a personal interest in that period, it certainly has its appeal. The film does a commendable job in bringing the era to life, but unfortunately, it lacks the nuance that could have made it truly compelling. The narrative feels heavy-handed at times, particularly with the inclusion of a gypsy child-a character that could have been intriguing if given more depth. Instead, it feels like a box-ticking exercise rather than a meaningful addition to the story. The film's pacing is another issue, as it could have benefited from tighter editing; some scenes drag on unnecessarily, making it feel a touch flabby. In short, while it has its moments, "The Promised Land" falls short of its potential."

Watched the movie twice. The first one was without subtitles cause I really wanted to feel and see the whole thing without being distracted by subtitles.

Such an incredible movie with exceptional acting of mads mikkelsen.

The little girl's acting was so natural and beautiful. The storyline, cinematography, acting, everything is well done. This movie easily entered my top 10 movies of all time. The last scene where Ludvig is sitting all alone eating, his eyes spoke more than any words could ever do and it made me teared up. Mads' acting ability keeps blowing my mind with each of his "danish" movies.

I love Mads' work, ever since i first saw him in a 007 movie, and he always delivers. I'm no movie critic, just a guy that loves to watch a good flick, but Mads always delivers intense performance, no matter be it a comedy or drama. Every character in this movie, as soon as they are introduced on the screen, shows layers and layers of their persona and its just incredible how they do it. Acting, by all of the actors, was absolutely superb! Within first few sentences of a character, you feel like you know their past, what drives them, why are they the way they are etc...just incredible. The whole movie is heavy with emotion you can cut with a knife, and I felt sucked into the story from minute 1. Thats what we need in a movie, engrossing entertainment, great acting and great stories, not agenda pushing. No sub-story here, just good 'ol acting and entertainment.

In a pile of all sorts of (mostly bad) films, a film like this emerges, without an agenda, without forced scenes and characters, a real film and a real story, which does not lose its depth and essence from beginning to end. Fantastic movie. Finally, to watch something meaningful. Mads Mikkelsen masterfully portrays an honorable man, consistent in everything, a strong-willed man dedicated to his goal, in which he stronlgy believes, but not because he is arrogant or unrealistic, but because he possesses knowledge and abilities. In addition to being a brave, modest and disciplined man, Ludwig Kahlen is an emotional man who makes essential and human choices, facing great challenges, losses and rewards during his difficult life journey. A historical saga with strong characters, without unnecessary dialogues and with a lot of emotions. Bravo.

The film was very capably directed, very capably acted, the production was beautiful, but it was still a bit off. The problem was either in the screenplay, or it was in the edit. There were either too many parts or not enough, depending on how you look at it.

I went in expecting a very gritty tale about a violent land dispute, but what I got instead was a very thoughtful tale about about a classist society and man trying to rise to nobility in a corrupt system without being corrupted himself....and then suddenly it turns into a gritty tale about a violent land dispute...and then back to a somewhat unnecessary epilogue about the life of this farmer in the aftermath of it all.

I think what it needed to balance it out a bit was a battle scene in the beginning, showing the hells of war the Kahlen had struggled to only to deal with someone like De Schinkel. Then maybe a little bit less of the Ann Barbara story, which I understand is the focus of the book it's based on, or just cut the gypsy kid out to tighten it up.

And I have to praise Simon Bennebjerg's performance, he brought a lot of character to a very unlikeable creep. He and Mikkelson were a great contrast of stoicism and hedonism. There were no poor performances, not to an English speaker's eyes and ears at least.

This is the type of adult content that we have been missing and craving for a long long time...

Pre industrial revolution, brutal times. Life was cheap, bought and sold.

Blood lines owned the land and the people forced to toil on it for their enrichment.

Life was a constant struggle against the elements and the system that enslaved and fed upon the people.

There are no punches pulled in this film and this is a good thing.

In modern times people with iphones would take us back to this state of play, but they are ignorant of the consequences of their actions.

This film is both a warning and a stark portrayal of what was in our past and if we are not forthright could very well be in our future.

Digital slavery is just around the corner if we are too weak and feeble to stand up against it and honour the memory of our ancestors who have brought us to this juncture in history.

There is a direct parallel with the chicanery of modern net zero globalist control and the past actions of the landed gentry who would rather rule over barren land than cede control for the betterment of society.

When our birthright is up for sale by those who would coerce it away from us with guile and obfuscation, this film is a brutal reminder of our responsibility to ourselves and our progeny.

In the XVIII century, a retired Danish army captain is a given barren crown land to try improve it, a task deemed impossible by most due to its poor soil conditions. If he succeeds, he will be given a title and become an aristocrat, his long held ambition. Growing crops in marginal land will not be his only challenge, he will have to face the unforgiving weather, the wandering outlaws, and worst of all, a megalomaniac aristocrat that does not tolerate a commoner owning his own land besides his manor.

The movie had all the ingredients to be a thrilling "Eastern" (a Western set in Europe) and to appeal to a broad audience, even American ones if done right. It does that during the first half, we see the captain struggling with all the aforementioned foes, and despite may setbacks, his unbreakable will prevailing. We accompany him in a journey of turning a desolate land and desperate people into a blossoming grove and a jolly community.

However, because of European pessimism or some other reason, all the hope built goes to naught in the second part as the movie descends into ever darker parade of explicit violence, cruelty, and revenge. The dreams, the hope of a better life of the first half we were starting to feel a part of are thereafter turned into nightmares, and the only hope that seems to remain is that of revenge.

It is because of this inexplicable dark and bloody turn in the second half that I cannot recommend this movie to a general audience. It is a pity that the director, maybe out of ideas, or wanting to avoid a happy outlook to life at all costs, chose to grip the audiences with shock value and hateful motives rather than more subtle character development (and believe me, the movie has an immense unrealised potential on this part).

Yes, in the last three minutes of the movie there is a sweet pill, but it happens so late, so randomly, that it might have as well not been there).

Rating: 8.7 Overall, a very polished period drama that is executed well on many fronts as the direction, cinematography, and performances from Mads Mikkelsen and Amanda Collin help create a very captivating movie, but the writing and story construction hold it back from being something great.

Very Good Direction (Does a great job on a macro-scale as some of the scenes look stunning as he effectively uses cinematography and editing to capture their grand nature (like in the palaces and especially in the farming scenes; does a very good job on a micro-scale as he develops sequences very well; gets a lot out of his actors as they all work well with Mikkelson to drive the story forward; the biggest drawback is the storytelling as it is kinda predictable with what is going to happy next (especially with the conflict between the protagonist and the antagonist as its pretty generic and cliche with how its told), Good to Very Good Acting (Very Good to Great from Mads Mikkelsen (Has somewhat of a grit to this performance that helps show who his character is; he controls every scene he is in and really lifts the performances around him as he acts as someone to work off of; shows his experience and why he is one of the most renowned Danish actors in cinema history), Very Good from Amanda Collin (Very Good female lead to Mikkelsen as the two have great chemistry, but she also has moments where she shines on her own (especially in the climax); really embodies someone who is of the working class and looking for revenge), Good from Simon Bennebjerg (Plays the pompous prick role well as he does his best effort to make sure everyone hates him (though this makes his performance a bit one-sided as he is written pretty shallowly), Good from the rest of the cast (does their job helping move the story forward and working with Mikkelsen to make the scenes more interesting)), Pretty Good to Good Story (The concept uses a baseline source material that is very interesting and draws your attention because its based on a true story; The story construction is kinda an issue because the conflict between the protagonist and the antagonist is pretty shallow since it just follows many cliches about the power trip of royalty, and this affects the plot as it has to construct itself around this major conflict (although the overarching storyline between the protagonist and the king and the protagonist developing relationships with the female lead and child are written well); the flow of sequences is fine and does a good job in making the story interesting; the character writing for the protagonist, the female lead, and child are good as their grit present them as more well-rounded characters trying to achieve something, but the writing for the other characters (especially the antagonist) is very shallow that you do not really care for them towards the end of the movie), Good Screenplay (The dialogue is well written and comes off very polished (staying true to 1700s vernacular); the humor is used decently well to lift the tension in some of the traumatic scenes (especially with the antagonist to show how twisted he is); the use of symbolism is decently present, but the message just feels like it isn't clearly conveyed with the direction they chose in the end; the foreshadowing is pretty good)), Very Good Score (Felt really similar to Joker and used well to set the tone), Great Cinematography (Really polished and helps show the vastness of the world and the emotions of the characters), Very Good Sound (Felt very crisp and helped with building tension), Very Good Editing (Used well in conjunction with the Cinematography to deliver a polished product), Very Good Visual Effects (The use of practical effects makes the move stunning (especially the use of fire and blood)), Great Production Design (Helps with setting the time period as they build these grand palace sets as a dichotomy to the rural landscapes to show the separation of the classes), Very Good Costumes (Helps with setting the time period and showing the juxtaposition between the upper and lower classes), Plot Structure was fine for the most part as all the overarching plot elements were there and built on each other in a standard fashion; the main issue is the conflict between the protagonist and antagonist is just a bit too cliche and forced that it has a major impact on how the rising action develops (but it does help with the climax though); the exposition just drags a lot and is very unnecessary/forced (could have been removed and the movie would have been the same), Pacing was a bit on the slower side as it followed the pace of other period dramas (but it does move faster than most movies in its genre), Climax was very good itself and executed well (especially with Collin's performance); the exposition just really dampers this climax as it ruins the momentum built up by a well-executed sequence, Tone was very similar to other period dramas (does not provide anything new on this front), Saw a premiere at Austin Film Fest.

A costume drama played out in the 1600 Denmark. Its a rough and cold depiction of the life of a man trying to make a name of himself.

What makes this movie is the characters and the acting. Mads Mikkelsen plays Ludvig Kahlen, the main character of this movie. Mads makes a believable character depiction of Ludvig, although we dont really know how Ludvig was, so he couldve been quite different IRL. The rest of the cast performance is mostly good but two characters are misscasts. The guy who plays the priest and the girl who plays the stray girl are really bad actors. Both playing swedish characters. Its not just bad acting, it seems the director wanted to make them look bad. The dialect is of present time(2023) and its like they forget they are suppose to play characters of the past. Im just gonna assume they got their roles through corruption.

Besides some misscast and poor directing, this movie seem to follow some diversity quota bcs the stray girl is played by a mixed raxe girl looking very middle eastern, thus does not fit the history but probably the movie criteria for casting. Its sad to see the movie industry engaging in politics bcs its rewriting history for political ends.

The story is quite simple, Mads character are met with people who tries to ruin his attempt to further himself. It gets bloody at times and its a very harsh and sad story. Not much beauty or warmth in this flic, in fact you will probably leave the theater having a cold.

In summary, you wont laugh to this movie and I dont really see why they made it. It doesnt leave you with much but a cold rough stain. Go out and lick the street on a chilly autumn day and you will get the same feeling as this movie will give you.

In 1755, retired soldier Ludwig Kahlen (Mads Mikkelsen) decides to attempt the impossible - to cultivate the Danish Heath. This is a bleak and infertile wilderness which produces nothing but gorse and heather (though there are forests nearby, for some reason). He hopes to win honour and renown thereby.

Kahlen builds his house, and collects a motley crew of workers, including a priest, a pair of runaway serfs, and some lawless folk akin to gypsies. He sort-of adopts a gypsy girl. With much labour, he clears some land, then unveils his secret weapon - the potato.

Unfortunately, he runs foul of a sadistic local landowner (a wonderfully sinister performance by Simon Bennebjerg), who considers himself above the law and has no problem with violence.

The film follows Kahlen through one growing season, at the end of which his feud with the landowner reaches a bloody climax.

The epitaph on screen seems to suggest that this is based on a true story, but I don't know if that's the case.

The performances are excellent throughout; the landscape is compelling, and the cinematography superb.

Based on Ida Jessen's novel from 2020 : ¨The Captain and Ann Barbara¨, has von Kahlen as the main character and is about his project to cultivate the heath. Danish writer Ida Jessen recreated - with some license - the real story of Ludvig Kahlen. The stubborn but poor officer Ludvig Kahlen (Mads Mikkelsen) arrives in 1755 on the barren Jutland heath with a single goal: to follow the king's call to cultivate the moorland and thereby achieve wealth and honor himself. But Kahlen quickly makes an enemy. The merciless landowner, Frederik De Schinkel (Simon Bennebjerg) , who is sole ruler of the area, believes that the heath belongs to him and not the king. When De Schinkel's serf runs away with his wife Ann Barbara (Amanda Collin) and seeks refuge with Kahlen, the landowner does everything to drive Kahlen away and at the same time exact a cruel vengeance.

This is a gripping drama in 'Western style' that deals with ambition, power, revenge, love and forgiveness. The novel was made into a film in 2023, where Ludvig von Kahlen was competently portrayed by Mads Mikkelsen in The Promised Land. Mads Mikklesen plays perfectly the man who pursued his lifelong dream: To make the heath bring him wealth and honor. His performance earned him the European Film Award for Best Actor.

Well directed by Nikolaj Arcel, who already directed Mikkelsen in ¨A Royal Affair¨ and with an interesting screenplay by Arcel himself and Anders Thomas Jensen . In 2024, the film received a Robert for Danish feature film of the year and a Bodil award for best Danish film of the year. For his leading role in the film, Mads Mikkelsen received a Robert and a Bodil for Best Actor. Rasmus Videbæk was the splendid cinematographer on the film and received the Bodil Award for Best cameraman. The motion picture was decently directed by Nikolaj Arcel. He is a notorious writer/director of known films, such as: "Milennium" saga, "Island of lost souls", "Department Q : a conspiracy of Faith", "A Royal Affair", ¨The Dark Tower¨, among others. Rating : 7/10. Above average.

Adding more real details about this brave man Ludvig von Kahlen (c. 1700 - 1774): He was a Danish captain and one of the first cultivators of the Jutland heath. As a young man, von Kahlen had worked in agriculture and had experience as a surveyor. Later he served his military service in a Holstein regiment. In 1753 he was a lieutenant and at this time interested in cultivating the heath. He sent several proposals for the financing of heath farms to the Treasury, but was only heard when he presented more detailed calculations, which involved colonists from his home area. This proposal was approved by Frederik V. South of Sejbæk in Fjends Herred, now Viborg Municipality, Ludvig von Kahlen built a house in 1755 that he called "Kongenshus". He then went to Mecklenburg to pick up his countrymen. The first German colonists arrived on October 16, 1759; The herd consisted of nine men and a mule. Only a few families were persuaded, but they could not thrive in the deserted region and wanted to return home after only a week. They fled in the darkness of the night, even though von Kahlen had arranged for an armed guard. Others were incarcerated in Viborg penitentiary, so that they would not escape; But in the end, each family was paid six shillings for travel money so that they could return home. Ludvig von Kahlen then employed local servants, but they too lost heart. After eight years of ploughing and sowing with little yield, he gave up. In 1766, after several applications, he became a captain in a military unit in Fladstrand (now Frederikshavn), and here he died in 1774. The house that Ludvig von Kahlen built no longer exists, and its location is unknown. A memorial stone with his name has been erected in Kongenshus Memorial Park. In other places on the heath, the state had similar experiments with the cultivation of the heath, including in Randbøldal and at Havredal.

Well as a Dane you sort of have to go see a film directed by Nikolaj Arcel, one of our most successful directors, and starring Mads Mikkelsen our most internationally celebrated actor. Now, in Denmark it's common knowledge that Mikkelsen has a tendency to mumble and can be hard to understand without subtitles, and alass no exception here! I wish I had waited for this to appear on Netflix so I could've turned the subtitles on. But HOW is this even possible? With all the post-production options there are of retaking lines? And Mikkelsen wasn't the only actor allowed to mumble.

I also felt that in the direction the actors' choices could have been a lot bolder. And the delivery of lines was often flat - lacking in intention, and without infusion of real emotion, as if the director thinks 'flat' equals quiet and intense.

All in all pretty underwhelming!