“Bastarden”, interview with director Nikolaj Arcel and actor Simon Bennebjerg

September 8, 2023

Nikolaj Arcel, director of Bastarden: "The film shows you that you can never know which direction life is gonna take you"

"Bastarden", interview with director Nikolaj Arcel and actor Simon Bennebjerg Chiara Nicoletti

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With Bastarden – The Promised Land, screening in competition at the 80th Venice International film festival, Danish director Nikolaj Arcel is back at directing a period film with Mads Mikkelsen playing a captain, in 1755, with a seemingly impossible goal: to build a colony in the name of the King.

Inspired by Ida Jessen’s novel, Nikolaj Arcel’s intention was to tell an epic tale, with the structure of a classical film: “The way we tell the story is old school cinema“. As Arcel then points out, the film aims at showing us how you can never know which direction life is gonna take you.

As the villain of the story, Arcel chose Simon Bennebjerg, who describes how he approached the role, trying not to judge his character’s evil behavior and getting at the core of the reasons why he is who he is.

Plot

In 1755, the impoverished captain Ludvig Kahlen sets out to conquer the harsh, uninhabitable Danish heath with a seemingly impossible goal: to build a colony in the name of the King. In exchange, he’ll receive a desperately desired Royal name for himself. But the sole ruler of the area, the merciless Frederik de Schinkel, arrogantly believes this land belongs to him. When De Schinkel learns that the maid Ann Barbara and her servant husband have escaped for refuge with Kahlen, the privileged and spiteful ruler swears revenge, doing everything in his power to drive the captain away. Kahlen will not be intimidated and engages in an unequal battle—risking not only his life, but also that of the family of outsiders that has formed around him.

Written by: Chiara Nicoletti

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