The Promised Land (2023 film)

The Promised Land (2023 film)
The Promised Land (Danish: Bastarden) is a 2023 epic historical drama film directed by Nikolaj Arcel from a screenplay by Arcel & Anders Thomas Jensen. Starring Mads Mikkelsen, Amanda Collin and Simon Bennebjerg accompanied by Kristine Kujath Thorp, Gustav Lindh, Jakob Lohmann, Morten Hee Andersen, Magnus Krepper and Felix Kramer. It is based on the book The Captain and Ann Barbara by Ida Jessen. It is a co-production between Denmark, Germany and Sweden.
The Promised Land had its world premiere on 31 August 2023 at the 80th Venice International Film Festival where it competed for the Golden Lion. It was selected as the Danish entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards.
Synopsis
Poor soldier, Ludvig Kahlen, arrives in 1755 on the barren Jutland heath with a single goal: to follow the king's call to cultivate the land and thereby achieve wealth and honor himself. But Kahlen quickly makes an enemy. The merciless landowner, Frederik De Schinkel, who is sole ruler of the area, believes that the heath belongs to him and not the king. When De Schinkel's serf runs away with his wife Ann Barbara and seeks refuge with Kahlen, the landowner does everything to drive Kahlen away and at the same time exact a cruel revenge. Kahlen does not bow, but stubbornly takes up the unequal battle and now risks both his life, but also the bond with the small, troubled family that has arisen around him on the heath.
Cast
Mads Mikkelsen as Ludvig Kahlen
Amanda Collin as Ann Barbara
Simon Bennebjerg as Frederik de Schinkel
Melina Hagberg as Anmai Mus
Kristine Kujath Thorp as Edel Helene
Gustav Lindh as Anton Eklund
Morten Hee Andersen as Johannes Eriksen
Thomas W. Gabrielsson as Bondo
Magnus Krepper as Hector
Søren Malling as Paulli
Morten Burian as Lauenfeldt
Jacob Lohmann as Trappaud
Olaf Højgaard as Preisler
Felix Kramer
Production
Principal photography began on September 5, 2022 and finished filming in early November of the same year. It was filmed on location in Germany, Sweden, and Czechia.
Release
The Promised Land had its world premiere on August 31, 2023 at the 80th Venice International Film Festival, to then screen on September 7, 2023 at the 48th Toronto International Film Festival. It was also invited at the 28th Busan International Film Festival in 'World Cinema' section and was screened on 6 October 2023.
It was released commercially on October 5, 2023, in Danish theaters.
Reception
Critical response
Accolades
See also
List of submissions to the 96th Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film
List of Danish submissions for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film
References
External links
2023 films
2023 biographical drama films
Danish historical drama films
Danish biographical drama films
Swedish historical drama films
Swedish biographical drama films
German historical drama films
German biographical drama films
2020s historical drama films
2020s biographical drama films
2020s Danish-language films
Films directed by Nikolaj Arcel
Films with screenplays by Anders Thomas Jensen
Films produced by Louise Vesth
Films scored by Dan Romer
Films shot in Denmark
Films shot in Germany
Films shot in Prague
Films set in 1755
Films set in the 18th century
Films based on books
Films based on actual events
Zentropa films
Nordisk Film films
2020s German films
2020s Swedish films