The Promised Land

The film is based on a novel by Ida Jessen and is inspired by real individuals and events, including Mads Mikkelsen's as the disgraced Captain Ludvig Kahlen. The excessively stubborn and steadfast Kahlen has one mission: to cultivate the challenging Jutland heath on behalf of the king. However, he soon faces brutal conflicts with estate manager Frederik de Schinkel, a power-hungry tyrant.

Director Nikolaj Arcel builds on elements from his own films, such as A Royal Affair, adding more intensity and excitement. The Promised Land not only explores the struggle against nature but also raises questions about the value of what nature provides in a time of widespread poverty. It depicts ruthless conditions, where significant class differences, poverty, racism, wretched working conditions, and discrimination against travelers are just some of the ingredients. The film also contains a considerable amount of brutality and violence, along with doses of western and revenge drama.

This film was selected by film critic Ida Madsen Hestman.