In this Viking film, Mads Mikkelsen plays a one-eyed yet undefeatable barbarian who is dragged along by a group of Vikings and Christian converts who want to free the Holy Land. One-eye brings along in his wake a little boy who gives him food and water every day. After a bloodthirsty and harsh journey through desolate landscapes, they end up on an unknown and deserted coast. And then things get even more mystical. Nicolas Winding Refn, famous and notorious because of his very hard Pusher trilogy, blows new life into the Viking film all on his own with Valhalla Rising. The film poses sensible questions about going to war and the difference between heathens and Christians, who can be just as bloody as their heathen opposite numbers. With poetry of the most violent kind as the result. A hypnotic trip.
Film details
Countries of production
Denmark, United Kingdom
Year
2009
Festival edition
IFFR 2010
Length
90'
Medium/Format
35mm
Language
English
Director
Nicolas Winding Refn
Producer
Johnny Andersen, Bo Ehrhardt, Henrik Danstrup
Screenplay
Nicolas Winding Refn, Roy Jacobson
Principal cast
Mads Mikkelsen, Gary McCormack
Production company
One Eye Production, La Belle Allee Productions Ltd
