52. FEST: The promised land

In 1755, the impoverished Captain Ludvig Kahlen sets out to conquer the harsh, uninhabitable Danish heath with a seemingly impossible goal; to build a colony in the name of the King. In exchange, he’ll receive a desperately desired Royal name for himself. But the sole ruler of the area, the merciless Frederik de Schinkel, arrogantly believes this land belongs to him. When de Schinkel learns that the maid Ann Barbara and her husband have escaped for refuge with Kahlen, the privileged and spiteful ruler swears revenge, doing everything in his power to drive the captain away.

Screenplay: Anders Thomas Jensen, Nikolaj Arcel (Based on the novel The Captain and Ann Barbara / Kaptajnen og Ann Barbara by Ida Jessen)

Cinematography: Rasmus Videbæk

Editing: Olivier Bugge Coutté

Music: Dan Romer

Producers: Louise Vesth, Fabian Gasmia, Katja Lebedjewa, Lizette Jonjic

Production: Zentropa Entertainments, Zentropa International Berlin, Zentropa International Sweden

Print Source: MCF MegaCom Film

NIKOLAJ ARCEL

Nikolaj Arcel has written a large number of scripts including the adaptation of the first film in the highly acclaimed Millennium trilogy – The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2009). The film based on the bestselling book by Stieg Larsson earned him a BAFTA nomination in 2011. His feature film A Royal Affair (2012) won the Silver Bear for best script at Berlin International Film Festival in 2012 and was nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Foreign Language category in 2013. Since then Arcel has directed, The Dark Tower (2017), and has written a number of critically acclaimed films, which makes him one of the most sought after both writers and directors in Scandinavia.

Filmography:

2023 The Promised Land

2017 The Dark Tower

2012 A Royal Affair

2010 Truth About Men

2007 Island of Lost Souls

2004 King’s Game

Festivals:

2024 – Palm Springs International Film Festival

2023 – Venice Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival, San Sebastián International Film Festival, Busan International Film Festival, Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, Valladolid International Film Festival, Seville European Film Festival, Zurich Film Festival, Marrakesh International Film Festival

Awards:

2023 – European Film Awards (EFA): Best Actor (Mads Mikkelsen), Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design

Reveiws:

“An invigoratingly savage Nordic western, The Promised Land is epic with hope in its truth heart and dirt under its nails.”

-Wendy Ide, Screendaily

“There’s an art to bringing vitality and modernity to historical drama, and Arcel shows a firm grasp of it.”

-David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter