Promised Land, The: Nikolaj Arcel’s Danish Rural Epic, Starring Mads Mikkelsen, Amanda Collin, Simon Bennebjerg (Oscar Entry)

Photo: Courtesy of Magnolia Pictures

Director Nikolaj Arcel goes back to Denmark, after a disappointing attempt at The Dark Tower, to make a sweeping epic tale about agricultural triumph.

Set in 1775, this epic historical drama was directed by Arcel and co-written by him and Anders Thomas Jensen, based on the 2020 book “The Captain and Ann Barbara,” by Ida Jessen.

This engaging film should have found its appreciative audiences, especially due to the presence of its star, Mads Mikkelsen.

Mads Mikkelsen
Mikkelsen in 2022

Premise:

Mikkelson plays a stubborn Danish officer with ambitious plan to cultivate the frozen, unfarmable moorland, in exchange for noble title, based on his belief that potatoes can thrive almost anywhere.

Narrative:

Captain Ludvig Kahlen, an impoverished Danish officer of humble origins, retires after 25 years of service in the German Army with a meager pension. He obtains permission from the Royal Danish Court to build property on the barren Jutland moorland for land cultivation. He hopes to establish a settlement, and in return requests from the Court the privilege of a noble title with associated manor. Soon after arriving at the prospective homestead, he comes into conflict with Frederik Schinkel, a local magistrate at the Hald Manor and merciless landowner, who has been trying to monopolize ownership of the moorland.

Critical Status:

The Promised Land had its world premiere at the 2023 Venice Film Fest, where it competed for the Golden Lion.

It was selected as the Danish entry for the Best International Feature Oscar, and was one of the 15 finalists in the December shortlist.


International release poster

Credits:

Danish Title: Bastarden
Directed by Nikolaj Arcel
Screenplay by Arcel, Anders Thomas Jensen, based on The Captain and Ann Barbara by Ida Jessen
Produced by Louise Vesth
Cinematography Rasmus Videbæk
Edited by Olivier Bugge Coutté
Music by Dan Romer

Distributed by Nordisk Film Distribution (Denmark)

Release dates: August 31, 2023 (Venice Fest); October 5, 2023 (Denmark)

Running time: 127 minutes

Budget €8 million (about $9.0 million)
Box office $2,246,680

Promised Land, The: Nikolaj Arcel’s Danish Rural Epic, Starring Mads Mikkelsen, Amanda Collin, Simon Bennebjerg (Oscar Entry)

The Promised Land

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