Title – The Promised Land (2023)

Director – Nikolaj Arcel (A Royal Affair) 

Cast – Mads Mikkelsen, Amanda Collin, Simon Bennebjerg, Gustav Lindh

Plot – Inspired by the true story of Danish solider turned farmer Ludvig Kahlen (Mikkelsen) who nominated himself in the mid 17th centaury to be a cultivator of a barren Jutland heath. Upon arrival his determination and goals clash with a ruthless local landowner Frederik De Schinkel (Bennebjerg) who is worried his dictatorship is in danger if Kahlen succeeds and draws the attention of the King. 

“I work for the king”

Review by Eddie on 02/10/2024

A Danish historical drama/biography that also acts as a different take on what usually would be a narrative in a Western film, The Promised Land (also known as Bastarden) was one of 2023’s best reviewed features but a film that curiously managed to remain one that flew under the radar of most, which is a shame considering many viewers who may not know about the film are forgoing a chance to watch a mostly fascinating feature that further establishes Mads Mikkelsen as one of the industries most reliable talents. 

Teaming up once more with his A Royal Affair director Nikolaj Arcel (doing his best to move on from the debacle that was The Dark Tower), Mikkelsen is a force to be reckoned with here as real life Danish solider turned farmer Ludvig Kahlen, a determined and doggedly focussed man who was hellbent on conquering a barren Jutland in the name of his king in the mid-17th centaury.

Kahlen offers Mikkelsen one of his best leading man turns in years and gifts viewers a wonderful chance to sit back and watch this well-rounded epic take place. 

An unrelentingly intense watch and one unafraid to tackle an array of topics and issues that other similar historical dramas may try their best to avoid or skirt over, Land isn’t what you’d typically associate to feel-good viewing but there’s an old-school charm and polished feel to everything that takes place in Arcel’s film and while the film doesn’t always perfectly juggle its many narrative themes that sometimes veer into the melodramatic or balance its many important characters into proceedings the way one might have hoped, they’re all minor issues when for the most part Land is so gripping and well-made. 

Adapted from Ida Jessen’s book The Captain and Ann Barbara, Arcel and co-screenwriter Anders Thomas Jensen (another frequent Mikkelsen collaborator) do a top-notch job at bringing a multi-decade spanning story to life before our eyes and at all times Mikkelsen displays a rare leading man power throughout that makes him at times vulnerable, at times steeped in mystery and at other times utterly commanding. 

It’s the type of layered but in many ways unfussy performance that deserved some awards attention but it’s become somewhat of the norm for Mikkelsen to be delivering this calibre of performance ever since his breakout performances in the likes of After the Wedding, TV series Hannibal and the brilliantly unnerving The Hunt, so it’s not unsurprising that much like the film itself, Mikkelsen wasn’t able to gain the spotlight in a crowded 2023 awards circuit. 

Unable to find a significant audience at the global box office when it appeared late in 2023, there’s hope that this engaging feature can now find a significant audience on the home streaming platforms that will allow for viewers to be treated to an engaging two hours centred around a fascinating man and his plight to succeed against seemingly insurmountable odds. 

Final Say – 

An engaging true life tale expertly brought to life by director Nikolaj Arcel and his talented leading man, The Promised Land may have been a film you skipped or never had a chance to hear about with your chance available now to partake in one of 2023’s most well-rounded dramas. 

4 sacks of potato’s out of 5