Killers of the Flower Moon meets Braveheart with elements of The Patriot and The Revenant? I’m unsure where Nikolaj Arcel’s (A Royal Affair, The Dark Tower) The Promised Land falls when compared to these four powerhouse movies. It has elements of each of these films, yet still feels wholly unique. When Mads Mikkelsen (The Hunt, Another Round) is the lead actor, especially in independent movies filmed in his native Danish, it’s a near guarantee the film will be great.
Set in 1775 Denmark. Mikkelsen stars as Ludvig Kahlen, an impecunious Danish soldier who rose to the rank of Captain in the German Army. Upon his retirement, he finds himself, in the middle of his life, left with just a paltry pension and no property of his own to survive on. Without much to go on, he asks for permission from the Royal Danish Court to build property and cultivate on The Heath, a barren plain that generations of seasoned settlers before him failed to fertilize. Ludvig is mocked and almost laughed out of the room by King Frederik V’s dignitaries, who disbelieve that a man such as him would even waste their time asking for money. When Ludvig says that he is not asking for their money, they reconsider. While they do believe that Ludvig’s attempts will be futile, his attempt will allow the court to tell the king that they have not given up hope of harvesting the heath. The King permits Ludvig to settle on a plot of land and promises a noble title with an accompanying manor if he is able to crop. Ludvig wants to be recognized for the success he’s certain he will achieve.
By sowing and harvesting without fertilizing, the original farmers of the Heath repeatedly drain the soil of the nourishment it requires. Ludvig’s search for fertile turf proves more challenging than he could have imagined. He spends days trying various locations, only to find the ground so tough that he can barely get a shovel into it. He does have help. Anton (Gustav Lindh), a young pastor who approves of Ludvig’s efforts, agrees to join him. Then, runaway peasant farmers Joannes (Morten Hee Andersen) and his wife Ann Barbara (Amanda Collin) join. While Joannes and Ann Barbara pose a risk to Ludvig (as their desertion will undoubtedly lead to their being searched for), he knows he needs them. They provide the hands he needs for a price he can afford. Anmai Mus (Melina Hagberg), a young girl who has been abandoned by the nomads she had been traveling with because her mixed-race ancestry is believed to bring bad luck, is the final member of Ludvig’s group.
The difficult terrain is not the only obstacle Ludvig must manage. The harsh weather conditions of the changing seasons, a band of outlaws looming in the forests hoping to steal his food and cattle, and Frederik de Schinkel (Simon Bennebjerg), the nobleman, landowner, and self-appointed judge. At first, after sending his men to scope Ludvig out, he sees this man living on “his” land as a minor nuisance. But as Ludvig starts achieving small successes, he has three choices. Realizing the man’s desperate situation, offering first to buy him off with a bucket full of freshly cooked food and a lump sum of money to take his idea and start over elsewhere, somewhere outside of what he believes to be his territory. de Schinkel then offers him a compromise. He will allow him to continue living on his land and to cull his land, but will give him a percentage of his proceeds. The third option is to eliminate Ludvig by force, one way or another. Their confrontation is inevitable.
The showdowns between the two men de Schinkel are worth watching in their own right. de Schinkel quickly establishes himself as one of the most despicable villains in film all year. His life revolves around his sense of entitlement. When he is not relishing his authority or wealth, humiliating or abusing his servants, he is indulging in debauchery.
The Promised Land is a beautifully filmed movie. The rugged environmental elements are perfectly contrasted with the quiet times Ludvig spends indoors with his hired hands, now turned friends. Mikkelsen portrays his lead character as a man with much pride, determination, and a sense of moral behavior. He’s not one to offer much emotion, but he also isn’t going to allow himself to get pushed around. He cares more about others than he’s willing to display. Bennebjerg is equally convincing as the tyrant who wears his emotions on his sleeve. He’s as unlikable as anyone in cinema this year. The disgust others around him feel is only surpassed by that of those in the seats watching him on the big screen.
Plot 9/10
Character Development 8/10
Character Chemistry 9.25/10
Acting 9.25/10
Screenplay 9.25/10
Directing 9.25/10
Cinematography 10/10
Sound 9/10
Hook and Reel 8/10
Universal Relevance 9/10
90%
A-
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- Killers of the Flower Moon
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