The Promised Land: Film Review
Mads Mikkelsen reunites with his A Royal Affair director Nikolaj Arcel for the Nordic western The Promised Land, a film that is genuinely more thrilling than it sounds.
Set in Denmark in the late 1700s, Mikkelsen plays former captain Ludvig Kahlen, who asks the Royal Treasury if he can cultivate the Jutland heath and turn it into a settlement. They agree, assuming that he will fail like everyone else who has tried. Trying to tame the heath is a difficult job in itself but it’s made even harder by Frederik de Schinkel (Simon Bennebjerg). He insists the land is his, not the King’s, and he will stop at nothing until Kahlen abandons his venture, sparking a violent war between the pair.
Who knew a story about a heath and land ownership could be so interesting and compelling? I certainly didn’t! The premise sounds quite boring but it’s really not. The situation just keeps on escalating until the thrilling finale. Kahlen pisses off De Schinkel by building on “his” land but makes matters worse but hiring two of De Schinkel’s runaway slaves and having a thing with his cousin (and intended wife) Edel (Kristine Kujath Thorp). De Schinkel tries to sabotage him at every turn. He starts small by scaring his workers away and then his tactics become more unhinged and deadly.
Kahlen, who puts all his money into his venture in the hopes of gaining nobility, won’t be put off. He has more at stake than the land and his hopes for a title – he has created a newfound family with his housekeeper Ann Barbara (Amanda Collin) and their “daughter” Anmai Mus (Melina Hagberg) and needs to defend them. Despite its period setting, all three of the key women have agency and are not just props for the men. In particular, Ann gets a spectacular moment towards the end.
De Schinkel is one of the best villains I’ve seen in a while. He is despicable, vile and ruthless, doling out barbaric punishments for those who cross him. He is truly detestable and you will be actively championing his downfall.
I avoided The Promised Land – then known as Bastarden – when it premiered in Venice because the synopsis didn’t take my fancy but I was totally wrong and this film was actually very good.
In cinemas now