The Promised Land

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2:02

The Promised Land

R

Released Feb 2, 2024

2h 7m

History

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

97%

Tomatometer

130 Reviews

95%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

In 18th century Denmark, Captain Ludvig Kahlen (Mads Mikkelsen) -- a proud, ambitious, but impoverished war hero -- sets out to tame a vast, uninhabitable land on which seemingly nothing can grow. He seeks to start farming crops, build a colony in the name of the King, and gain a noble title for himself. This beautiful but forbidding area also happens to be under the rule of the merciless Frederik De Schinkel, a preening nobleman who realizes the threat Kahlen represents to his power. Struggling against the elements and local brigands, Kahlen is joined by a couple who have fled the clutches of the rapacious De Schinkel. As this group of misfits begins to build a small community in this inhospitable place, De Schinkel swears vengeance, and the confrontation between him and Kahlen promises to be as violent and intense as these two men.

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Critics Consensus

Mads Mikkelson leads us through the savage terrain of The Promised Land with a glimmer of hope in this epic Nordic tale with Western bones.

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Stephen Romei

The Australian

There are times in the impressive Danish historical drama The Promised Land where Dr Lecter peeks from the eyes of the main character...

Rated: 3.5/5

Jun 27, 2024

Full Review

Tara Brady

Irish Times

The anti-immigrant and Romani sentiment expressed by Danes in 1755, although tinged with superstition, sounds eerily familiar. Mostly, though, The Promised Land, in common with its hero, ploughs a furrow as a rough-hewn costumed adventure.

Rated: 4/5

Feb 24, 2024

Full Review

Sergio Burstein

Los Angeles Times

The only problem here is that the whole ends up feeling a bit didactic and leaning towards the narrative style of Hollywood simplicity, yet does not take away from the power of a film that definitely deserves to be seen. [Full review in Spanish]

Feb 20, 2024

Full Review

Maxance Vincent

Film Speak

Arcel gives The Promised Land enough time to develop its characters inside a richly-developed and striking world, filled with evocative images from cinematographer Rasmus Videbæk, that immediately recall Sergio Leone’s tableaux of the West.

Rated: A

Jul 14, 2025

Full Review

Leonardo Garcia Tsao

La Jornada

The story is conventional, but at no time does it give off the stench of the old-fashioned. [Full review in Spanish]

Feb 10, 2025

Full Review

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat

Spirituality & Practice

A costume drama based on the true story of a captain cultivating Danish moors despite many obstacles.

Rated: 3.5/5

Jan 9, 2025

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Gray S

Fantastic, evocative, timely story, beautifully told.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/07/24

Full Review

Janis

Great story and actors. Very sad story but realistic about life in the 1700s . Written well.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/03/24

Full Review

Mara D

This is one of the best movies I've seen in ages, an epic tale with historic significance. It is beautifully filmed, meticulously acted and directed, and a true beauty of filmmaking. The characters and the plot are constantly moving at a good pace. I wish more movies of this type were being filmed these days.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/29/25

Full Review

Justin S

Brutal to watch at times, but utterly superb.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/29/25

Full Review

Logan D

Captain Ludvig Kahlen (Mads Mikkelsen) attempts to conquor the Jutland moorland of Denmark while a self-absorbed landowner (Simon Bennebjerg) hinders him. Mikkelson is a master of subtlety in his expressions, conveying rich emotion with little emphasis in his inflections. This is a Western set in Denmark, portraying morality as mostly black and white but not without missteps between the characters. The clear standout is the adorable Melina Hagberg as Anmai Mus, an orphan Romani girl whose smile brings you joy and whose tears rip your heart. Highly recommended Based on a real person. However, the film isn't very accurate.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/29/25

Full Review

Esteban R

Promised Land is a dark and absolutely compelling period drama/Western. In this remarkable work of Danish cinema, the nature of barbarism and hostility is exposed, with the land as its protagonist, and the terrible price that must be paid by those who dare to proclaim themselves masters and lords of it is revealed. An absorbing and intelligent film, although it presents a somewhat weak romance. Promised Land is a relentless and raw story, with a theme that is disturbingly familiar, maintaining a constant rhythm that seems to anticipate an imminent explosion, in addition to having impressive performances, where the always exceptional Mads Mikkelsen stands out. I highlight its superb cinematography, as one of the most dazzling aspects of the film, the savagery and visceral nature of its scenes, but above all, the convincingness of the plot. Another Danish lecture on the art of film-making.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/22/25

Full Review

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Nikolaj Arcel

Director

Mads Mikkelsen

Ludvig Kahlen

Amanda Collin

Ann Barbara

Gustav Lindh

Anton Eklund

Melina Hagberg

Actor

Kristine Kujath Thorp

Edel Helene

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The Promised Land: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

In 18th century Denmark, Captain Ludvig Kahlen (Mads Mikkelsen) -- a proud, ambitious, but impoverished war hero -- sets out to tame a vast, uninhabitable land on which seemingly nothing can grow. He seeks to start farming crops, build a colony in the name of the King, and gain a noble title for himself. This beautiful but forbidding area also happens to be under the rule of the merciless Frederik De Schinkel, a preening nobleman who realizes the threat Kahlen represents to his power. Struggling against the elements and local brigands, Kahlen is joined by a couple who have fled the clutches of the rapacious De Schinkel. As this group of misfits begins to build a small community in this inhospitable place, De Schinkel swears vengeance, and the confrontation between him and Kahlen promises to be as violent and intense as these two men.

Director: Nikolaj Arcel
Producer: Louise Vesth
Screenwriter: Anders Thomas Jensen, Nikolaj Arcel
Distributor: Magnolia Pictures
Production Co: Zentropa Entertainment
Rating: R (Brief Nudity|Bloody Violence|Language|Some Sexuality)
Genre: History, Drama
Original Language: Danish
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 2, 2024, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 23, 2024
Box Office (Gross USA): $256.3K
Runtime: 2h 7m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital

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