The King's Choice

With fine screen writing and heartfelt direction, Norwegian war drama "The King's Choice" (2016) is truly engaging and very well made.

The fifth feature film by director Erik Poppe and the fourth on which he co-operates with screenwriter Harald Rosenløw-Eeg (here assisted by screenwriter Jan Trygve Røyneland), "The King's Choice" boasts a grand performance by Danish actor Jesper Christensen and a beautiful score by Swedish Johan Söderqvist (one of the most important film composers in Scandinavia today).

My main feeling after seeing this movie, which covers the first few days of the second world war in Norway, is that I would like to see the movie continue all the way through the war.

While the performances are all great, and the locations used, the costumes, the recreations of Oslo and the soundtrack all contributed into making this an excellent movie - the highlight was how this story was told and the movie cut together. If you don't like inter titles, you won't like this movie. Every scene is introduced with location, date and time. And it works. I didn't always pay much attention to it, but the moments it chooses all feel like real moments in the story, the important highlights of actions performed by the people involved.

I do appreciate that they also spread their focus a bit wider than just the royal family. The German diplomat was an interesting character, trying his best to get a handle on a terrible situation, and doing a good (though futile) job. The young men on the front line are portrayed in a way that really shows the horrors of war on an ultimately inexperienced crowd. But the main story here is that of the royal family, who is made to seem more human than any other depiction I have seen of them, including most documentaries. They are not people born into a stoic calm, but rather people born into a job that at its worst can be really difficult and pressing.

The critique of this movie is mostly about what it is not: a new perspective. Again, you follow the heroes of the war, the people we shouldn't forget (and haven't forgotten). While I completely agree with the people wanting something new, this has little to do with this movie.

Erik Poppe's history depiction "The King's Choice" (original title "Kongens nei") is about the Norwegian royal King and governments reaction to being invaded by Hitler-Germany on the 9th of April 1940.

Erik Poppe has made the brilliant "Trouled water", "Hawaii Oslo", "Schpaaa" and "A thousand times good night", but has outdone himself here, maybe only equaled by "Troubled water". The script is based upon the history telling book by Roy Jacobsen, and is written by Norwegian novelist and re-known script writer Harald Rosenløw-Eeg.

The film depicts what happened in the of the most defining days of the Norwegian democracy, where the Danish born king, after 35 years after being chosen as the King of Norway after his arrival in 1905, when Norway decided to become a kingdom. We also follow the Norwegian government, and how the military reacted to the shock of being invaded by the Third Reich power.

I must say that this film simply could not be depicted more correctly. Except for the King and the Crown prince actually was driven in a newer DeSoto, which only war nerds and aficionados would know, this is painstakingly accurate.

The film is no action movie, but a historic drama, and as such it fulfills my expectations as the best Norwefian war movie to date. Though the film has some action filled sequences, the main thing is the choices that has to be made which defines this drama. And not only the King's choice, but also the when fie was to be called against the war ships and the German troops in their chase of the king. The troubled government which not at all were able to show the same determination as the king, and so on. Many difficult choices.

The film isn't at all afraid of dwelling at these choices, and this makes my day. The film making is really heartfelt, and the instruction of the actors are superb. Danish actor Jesper Christensen is simply jaw-dropping in his role as King Haakon the 7th, and Anders Baasmo Christensen isn't far behind in his role as Crown Prince Olav. However, Austian actor Karl Markovics is simply stunning as Kurt Bräuer. And I could go on. Many great roles! Poppe is a criminally great instructor and director.

And it would have been a catastrophe of epic proportions if this film had taken short cuts. Thank God they didn't. The film is not only accurate and defining history telling, it's also a mile stone in Norwegian cinema and film history.

I really liked it. I say it's a "niche" movie because I'm American. Were used to seeing films about the US and UK battles of WWII. This is a mostly quiet film, with modest action sequences. Most of it revolves around the intense pressure on King Haakon and his family. You can feel his anguish. The loving but strained relationship with the Crown Prince is depicted well. I recommend this film to anyone with interest in the first year of WWII.

An emotionally engrossing factual account that's brought to life with assured confidence & terrific restraint, The King's Choice (also known as Kongens nei) is an end product of extensive research, competent craftsmanship & skillful narration that brings yet another fascinating World War II event to cinematic life that many aren't aware of.

The story of The King's Choice takes place in Norway during the Second World War and follows the Norwegian King who's forced to make a difficult choice after his nation is invaded by Nazi Germany despite his country's neutral position in the war and has to decide whether to continue fighting the Germans or surrender, a decision that will shape Norway's future.

Directed by Eric Poppe, the film opens with a montage that provides a brief overview of Norway's elected monarch and his role in governing the nation, following which it jumps to 1940 and moves ahead from there. Poppe's direction is brilliant for the most part, as he is able to keep the interest alive and delivers some thrilling moments of chaos & destruction that war brings with itself.

There are only a couple or more battle sequences but all of it is thoroughly riveting & expertly shot. The drama is compelling, the tension is palpable, and its characters are interesting to some extent but there are still a few moments when it indulges in trivial matters which take the focus away from what's relevant. Its 133 minutes narrative is steadily paced but it begins to lose steam after a while.

My favourite aspect, however, is the background score, for it is able to elevate & enrich the impact of many segments with its ingeniously composed & emotionally evocative tracks that are always in sync with the unfolding events. Camera-work is equally well-balanced, and the cast delivers strong performances throughout by playing their given roles with aptness & leave nothing to complain about.

On an overall scale, The King's Choice has its shares of positives & negatives but it manages to be a gripping experience for the most part. It doesn't hold back anything when it comes to capturing the visceral nature of war and is fabulously supported by a rousing score in those moments but it also lacks the same level of intensity in the dramatic portions at times and fails to hit as hard as it was capable of. Still, definitely worth a shot.