Lets not beat around the bush – if you are a fan of Nordic films (and Nordic Watchlist) then The Promised Land is everything you have hoped for so don’t hang around and get to the cinema as soon as you can and catch this absolute Danish masterpiece.
As you might have gathered, we very much enjoyed The Promised Land, in fact during the course of the film I couldn’t help but just grin with sheer enjoyment. Not only is this a fascinating story which has you hooked in from the very beginning, but the cast in it is absolutely outstanding.
Yes, we have Mads Mikkelsen back speaking Danish and working with director Nikolaj Arcel again (the first time since A Royal Affair) which in itself is a good enough reason to take the time to watch this.
But beyond Mads’ phenomenal performance is a cast that includes the likes of Gustav Lindh (Love Me), Kristine Kujath Thorp (Sick of Myself), Amanda Collins (Raised by Wolves), Morten Hee Andersen (Carmen Curlers), and Simon Bennebjerg (The Guilty) playing an absolute bastard (which was the original title for this film).
Eagle eyed fans of Nordic series and films will delight in many other faces to spot too (it really is heaven).
The story follows Ludvig Kahlen, played by Mads Mikkelsen, and his dream to build a farm on some barren heaths where no one has managed to grow anything nor succeed in settling there. But Ludvig is a very determined individual, stubborn as hell and not particularly friendly to those that are even on his side. He goes toe to toe with the land owner Frederik De Schinkel (Simon Bennebjerg) which sees the pair of them elevate a feud that doesn’t only affect them but all those around them.
Along with the phenomenal cast, the film is stunning to look at thanks to Rasmus Videbæk’s cinematography which brings to life this barren wasteland that seems full of danger and little hope. The film’s score is also fantastic, composed by the brilliant Dan Romer (Station Eleven).
Tying it altogether is Nikolaj Arcel’s directing, making this a classic in the making. How it missed out on an Academy Award nomination is a real shame but only goes to show how strong the films nominated must be, but let’s not dwell on that, this masterpiece shows Arcel’s strength in bringing together a solid cast and telling a fascinating story.
The Promised Land is out now in the UK – be sure not to miss this, it has certainly raised the bar when it comes to Nordic film releases in 2024!
