The film "The Promised Land" was screened in Hall 1 of the Sava Center in Belgrade, as part of the 52nd FEST. The International Film Festival (FEST) was held from February 23 to March 3, 2024.
In 1755, the poor captain Ludvig Cullen sets out to conquer the harsh, uninhabited Danish wilderness with a seemingly impossible goal - to build a colony in the name of the king. In return, he will receive a coveted title from the king. But the sole ruler of the area, the ruthless Frederic de Chinkel, arrogantly believes that the land belongs to him. When de Schinkel learns that the maid Anne Barbara and her husband have fled to Cullen's shelter, the privileged and evil ruler vows revenge, doing everything in his power to drive the captain away.
Scenario: Anders Thomas Jensen, Nikolaj Arcel (Based on the novel The Captain and Ann Barbara / Kaptajnen og Ann Barbara by Ida Jessen)
Photography: Rasmus Videbæk
Assembly: Olivier Bugge Coutté
Music: Dan Romer
Producers: Louise Vesth, Fabian Gasmia, Katja Lebedjewa, Lizette Jonjic
Production: Zentropa Entertainments, Zentropa International Berlin, Zentropa International Sweden
Distributor: MCF MegaCom Film
NIKOLAJ ARSEL / NIKOLAJ ARCEL
Nikolaj Arcel is the author of numerous screenplays, including for the first film in the acclaimed Millennium trilogy – The girl with the dragon tattoo (2009). The film based on Stig Lachon's bestseller earned him a BAFTA nomination in 2011. His feature film Royal affair (2012) won the Silver Bear for Best Screenplay at the Berlin Film Festival and was nominated for an Oscar in the category of Best Foreign Language Film in 2013. Since then Arcel has directed and The Dark Tower (2017) in Hollywood and wrote a number of other screenplays, which makes him one of the most sought-after screenwriters and directors in Scandinavia.
Filmography:
2023 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
2023 – Venice, Toronto, San Sebastian, Busan, Tallinn, Valladolid, Seville, Zurich, Marrakesh
Awards:
2023 – European Film Awards: Best Actor (Mads Mikkelsen), Cinematography, Costume Design
Criticisms:
"An invigoratingly wild Nordic western, The Promised Land is an epic with hope in an honest heart and dirt under the nails."
-Wendy Ide, Screendale
"The art is to bring vitality and modernity to historical drama, and Arcel shows that he has a firm grasp of this."
-David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter
