The Last King
The Last King (Norwegian: Birkebeinerne) is a 2016 Norwegian historical drama, directed by Nils Gaup. The story, inspired by true events, centers on the efforts of the Birkebeiner loyalists to protect the infant, Haakon Haakonsson, the heir to the Norwegian throne after the death of his father, King Haakon Sverresson. The film is set during the civil war era in Norway during the 13th-century.[1] [2][3]
| The Last King | |
|---|---|
| Birkebeinerne | |
| Directed by | Nils Gaup |
| Produced by | Per Henry Borch Mary Callery Malene Ehlers Peter Garde Finn Gjerdrum Eszter Gyárfás Lone Korslund Stein B. Kvae Jackie Larkin Lesley McKimm Viktória Petrányi Erik Poppe Julius Solheim Kaare Storemyr Judit Sós Henrik Zein |
| Screenplay by | Ravn Lanesskog |
| Starring | Jakob Oftebro Kristofer Hivju Thorbjørn Harr Pål Sverre Valheim Hagen Ane Ulmoen Øverli |
| Music by | Gaute Storaas |
| Cinematography | Peter Mokrosinski |
| Edited by | Christoffer Heie Tomas Täng |
Production companies | Newgrange Pictures Nordisk Film Production Paradox Film 3 Proton Cinema (co-production) |
| Distributed by | Magnolia Pictures Nordisk Filmdistribusjon StudioCanal At Entertainment Koch Media |
Release date |
|
Running time | 93 minutes |
| Country | Norway Denmark Sweden Ireland Hungary |
| Language | Norwegian |
Synopsis
Norway 1204, Birkebeiners and king Haakon Sverresson possess the throne in Nidaros. They are threatened by Baglers, who has taken power in Eastern Norway, with the help from Denmark.
In 1206, the king is killed by Baglers, and his illegitimate infant son, Håkon Håkonsson, whom half the kingdom wants killed off, is guarded in secrecy by two men and fostered by Inga of Varteig. They flee from the Baglers, raise an improvised army and fight for the child's life, in an event which changed the course of the country's history.
Cast
- Jakob Oftebro as Skjervald
- Kristofer Hivju as Torstein
- Pål Sverre Valheim Hagen as Gisle
- Thorbjørn Harr as Inge Bårdsson
- Benjamin Helstad
- Stig Henrik Hoff
- Nikolaj Lie Kaas
- Ane Ulmoen Øverli as Inga of Varteig
- Thea Sofie Loch Næss as Kristin
- Anders Dahlberg as Aslak
- Elg Elgesem as Frikk
- Torkel Dommersnes Soldal
- Adam Nemet as Gisles vakt
- Søren Pilmark as Bishop
- Lia Boysen as Margaret
Reception
On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 89% based on 9 reviews.[4]
See also
References
- "The Last King". Magnolia Pictures. Archived from the original on April 23, 2016. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
- Knut Helle. "Håkon Håkonsson". Norsk biografisk leksikon. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
- Narve Bjørgo. "Håkon Sverresson". Norsk biografisk leksikon. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
- "The Last King (2016)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved July 20, 2019.