The King's Choice (2016)

September 29, 2016 (DK) • War, Action, Drama • 136m

Overview

On 9 April 1940, German soldiers arrive in the city of Oslo. The King of Norway faces a choice that will change his country forever. The King's Choice is a story about the three most dramatic days in Norway's history, the royal family's escape and King Haakon's difficult choice after Nazi Germany's invasion of Norway.

Director

Erik Poppe

Writers

Harald Rosenløw-Eeg, Jan Trygve Røyneland

Top Billed

Jesper Christensen

Keywords

evacuation royal family wehrmacht german occupation king democracy air raid nazi invasion oslo, norway family in danger strategic retreat enemy advance wartime chaos occupation threat diplomatic conflict cold climate norwegian landscape

Where to watch

Free / Included

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Top Billed Cast

Jesper Christensen

King Haakon VII of Norway

Anders Baasmo Christiansen

Crown Prince Olav of Norway

Karl Markovics

Curt Bräuer

Tuva Novotny

Crown Princess Märtha of Norway

Arthur Hakalahti

Fredrik Seeberg

Svein Tindberg

Peder Wedel Jarlsberg

Andreas Lust

Hartvig Pohlman

Katharina Schüttler

Anneliese Bräuer

Ketil Høegh

Halvdan Koht

Gerald Pettersen

Johan Nygaardsvold

Jan Frostad

C J Hambro

Erik Hivju

Birger Eriksen

Espen Sandvik

Magnus P. Sødem

Sofie Falkgård

Princess Ragnhild

Ingrid Ross Raftemo

Princess Astrid

Magnus Ketilsson Dobbe

Prince Harald (3 years)

Rolf Kristian Larsen

Sgt. Brynjar Hammer

Juliane Köhler

Diana Müller

Herbert Nordrum

Frode Vestli

Nikolay Lange-Nielsen

Nicolai Ramm Østgaard

Ragnhild Udbye Lefstad

Ragni Østgaard

Randolf Walderhaug

Bjart Ording

Tom Styve

Ole Dahl

Benjamin Lønne Røsler

Helge Løken

Torfinn Nag

Kristian Welhaven

Krister Kern

Waldemar Johannessen

Andree-Östen Solvik

Erich Walter

Tone Danielsen

Kristiane Sælid

Erland Bakker

Ivar Iversen

Eric Vorenholt

Arne Hammer

Hans Jacob Sand

Birger Ljungberg

Linus Widner

Christian Reusch

Aslak Maurstad

Orderly

Karl Flymann

Johan Klüwer

Johan Ivarson

Grötshcke

Alexander Von Bremen

Ola

Jan Petter Dickman

Ivar Lykke

Lage Kongsrud

Prince Harald (8 years)

Leiv Ose

German Office Manager

Udo Schenk

Hitler (voice)

Øyvind Mørk

The King's Driver

Mikkel Gram Bakker

Einar Østgaard

Joakim Dan Jørgensen

Eberhardt Spiller

Zoe Witt

Clara Bräuer

Crew

Erik Poppe

Director

Einar Egeland

Editor

John Christian Rosenlund

Director of Photography

Lesley McKimm

Co-Producer

Stein B. Kvae

Producer

Peter Bävman

Production Design

Monika Wahlin

Set Decoration

Peter Garde

Executive Producer

Øystein Kjennerud

Casting

Finn Gjerdrum

Producer

Åsa Nilsson

Art Direction

Jesper Christensen

Executive Producer

Henrik Zein

Executive Producer

Johan Söderqvist

Original Music Composer

Karen Fabritius Gram

Costume Design

Ulrike Müller

Casting

Kaare Storemyr

Line Producer

Jackie Larkin

Co-Producer

Egill Antonsson

Lighting Technician

Michelle Anderson

Visual Effects Coordinator

Lisa Kelly

Visual Effects Producer

Ditch Doy

Visual Effects Supervisor

Erlend Hogstad

Sound Effects Editor

Jim Frazee

Script Consultant

Jens J. Patterson

First Assistant Camera

Svein-Ketil Bjøntegård

Sound Effects Editor

Tim Chauncey

CG Supervisor

Johan Harnesk

Special Effects Supervisor

Ivar Rystad

Visual Effects Supervisor

Karoline Fjugstad Wendelborg

Sound Effects Editor

Ninna Hensel

Set Costumer

Calin Catalin

Gaffer

Per Nyström

Dialogue Editor

Espen Rønning

Dialogue Editor

Kai Kolstad Rødseth

Armorer

Fredrik Dalenfjäll

Sound Effects Editor

Monika Wahlin

Property Master

Christian Schaanning

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Elisabeth Bukkehave

Makeup Department Head

Jeanet Keil

Makeup Artist

Jon Truelsen

Property Master

Jens Johansson

Sound Effects Editor

Arne Kaupang

Visual Effects Supervisor

Ingela Jönsson

Foley

Endre Eldøy

Production Manager

Christian Schaanning

Sound Designer

Malene R. Ehlers

Executive Producer

Jan Petter Dickman

Executive Producer

Erik Poppe

Executive Producer

Stein B. Kvae

Executive Producer

Tomas Eskilsson

Executive Producer

Lone Korslund

Executive Producer

Thomas Gammeltoft

Executive Producer

Madeleine Ekman

Co-Producer

Harald Rosenløw-Eeg

Screenplay

Finn Gjerdrum

Executive Producer

Alf R. Jacobsen

Book

Katarina Krave

Co-Producer

Jan Trygve Røyneland

Screenplay

Reviews

Reno

⭐ 7/10

April 14, 2017

**All for Norway.**

It is from the director of 'A Thousand Times Good Night'. This movie is like the Norwegian version of the Academy Awards winner 'The King's Speech'. Likewise, it was based on the real, that happened around the same timeline of the history, id est, the World War II. Except matching title, it was totally a different narrative. When the Germany was expecting a response to their demand, the Norway cabinet made most of the decisions and turned it down to remain independent country. But from all, a decision that made by the king is what this film was based on and how it changed the Norway's fate was depicted.

This film was sent to the 2017 Oscars, unfortunately it did not advance to the main event. They might have expected recognition similar to the British film. But I think both the films were good in their own way with the kind of story they told us that took place in the backdrop of the most terrible time of the recent human history. So having a similar title name justifies. It is a biopic, but the story was covered from different angles to reveal us what happened on the other side, including one of the young soldiers who fought in that war.

The story begins with the April 1940, while the Nazi army sailing towards Norway and after losing most of the cities to them, the people fled to safer places. That did not spare the Norwegian cabinet members, as well as the king Haakon VII and his family. In those hard times, he kept the nation united by respecting to how the government decided to deal with the situation.

But on one occasion, through a German diplomat with a one-time offer directly from Adolf Hitler leave the king to make the crucial decision for his nation and its people. That's the part of the film to define its title. So everything leads to that moment, how he reacts and what follows decides the Norway's fate to stand on what side of the ongoing war.

> "If I am the last card in the deck, so be it."

It's a well made film. Neither too violent nor avoided the war depictions to turn it more drama type. Everything had its share, including those war atmosphere for such budget was impressive. More like it was a running and chasing theme. But in the initial parts, there were too many timelines mentioned about what happened on when. Details like that are really good, though I felt it was too much to take on, especially for a foreign film.

Once the tale enters the mid section, looked all were in order and also got very interesting than before. In a cold country like Norway, in those situations you are like in a multifold trouble. I mean from the common man's perspective. An army is chasing you and harsh winter, surviving that is very challenging.

All the actors were great, but the king steals the show. If this was an American film that had taken place in America, then he would have won the Oscars. The fresh undertaking films on the World War II themes would never go fade away. So this is one of the best in that kind in the recent time. Except the opening, I did not have any trouble following it. Even the 130 minutes looked shortened. But I won't think everybody would feel the same way as I did. Like any WWII films, it is a must see, particularly to learn from the Norway's perspective of the war.

But this was depicted from the early stage of the war. And since it was majorly focused from the king's perspective, being a first king elected by his people, how he had faced it, following his crucial decision leads the way to the film's conclusion. If you are as war film fan, particularly the WWII, the actual best part begins henceforth which I'm hoping for a sequel to focus on. If you are not anticipating like the top WWII films you have seen, it can be picked for a watch. But anyway, I would recommend it.

_7/10_

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Status

Released

Original Language

Budget

$7,500,000

Revenue

$9,100,000

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The King's Choice (2016)

Harald Rosenløw-Eeg, Jan Trygve Røyneland

Where to watch

Top Billed Cast

Crew

Reviews

Reno

Recommended Movies

The King of Communism: The Pomp & Pageantry of Nicolae Ceausescu

Leningrad Symphony

Titanic

Ratatouille

Status

Original Language

Budget

Revenue

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