The Promised Land is a historical drama set in Denmark in the early 18th century. A retired army captain (Mads Mikkelson) plans to turn a barren heath into successful farmland but makes a powerful enemy in the local magistrate.
The Promised Land is a historical drama set in Denmark in the early 18th century. A retired army captain (Mads Mikkelson) plans to turn a barren heath into successful farmland but makes a powerful enemy in the local magistrate.
Running time in a movie is an unpredictable thing. Sometimes three hours can go in the blink of an eye. Sometimes a far shorter time, on paper, seems to go on forever.
A Danish film called The Promised Land was one of the former. It was slow, but it was engrossing. Of course, it didn't hurt that it starred the always-intriguing Mads Mikkelson.
Another reliable name is veteran screenwriter Anders Thomas Jensen, once a stalwart of Denmark's famous Dogme movement.
But most of all, I'm a sucker these days for a historical movie - particularly when it's a place and a period I know next to nothing about.
In the 18th century, the barren Jutland heath to the north of Denmark was virtually uninhabited, but technically owned by the King.
Demobbed soldier Ludvig has plans to make the desert bloom, so to speak, in exchange for his own estate and a title. The King gives his permission - if he can pull it off.
But Ludvig has an implacable enemy - the wealthy magistrate De Schinkel, who owns the neighbouring lands, and assumes the whole territory is his too.
To ensure this he does everything he can to run Ludvig off. And the film The Promised Land is what happens next.
It should be pointed out that Ludvig - Mads Mikkelsen - is decent and hardworking rather than particularly heroic. He certainly has no interest in a war with De Schinkel - 20 years fighting pointless wars all over Europe were enough for him.
But he's not going to give up either. What he needs is people to help him clear the land.
His first two workers prove to be mixed blessings. Johannes and his wife Ann Barbara were indentured serfs for De Schinkel - essentially slaves. If Ludvig wants them he'll have to hide them from his neighbour.
But he clearly needs more than them.
And the only people available are currently the bane of his life. These are the Tatere - Romany outlaws who keep raiding his henhouse.
In the spirit of "better in the tent than out", Ludvig offers the Tatere work and to everyone's surprise, they agree. He also gets support from another unexpected quarter…