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Stories throughout history have shown that some people will sacrifice anything to become rich and powerful. And the Danish drama The Promised Land (Bastarden) tells the story of a poor 18th-century soldier who battled nature, the odds, and a powerful enemy to get what he wanted.
The Promised Land follows retired soldier Ludvig Kahlen (Mads Mikkelsen) as he sets out to build the first settlement in the Jutland heath in exchange for wealth and a noble title. Everyone else who has attempted to cultivate the land has failed, but Ludvig has a plan. Unfortunately for Ludvig, his arrival on the heath enrages wealthy landowner Frederik De Schinkel (Simon Bennebjerg), who believes that the land is rightfully his—not the king’s. And when Ludvig refuses to bow to his authority, De Schinkel fights to do everything in his power to ensure that Ludvig will not succeed.
Before Ludvig even arrives on the heath, though, it’s clear that the odds are stacked against him. The king’s men think he’s a fool for using his meager pension to fund a doomed mission—and they send him off to the heath, confident that he’ll fail miserably. And De Schinkel sees him as little more than a nuisance—a clueless peasant who can be manipulated into giving up control. But everyone is soon surprised by Ludvig’s determination. He arrives on the heath believing that he is destined to be a wealthy nobleman—and he acts as such, even while living on stew in a roughly-built home that he calls “King’s House.”
Mikkelsen’s Ludvig seems to be a mix of laughably naïve and doggedly resilient. He knows what he wants, and he will stop at nothing to get it. But, of course, things don’t always go according to plan, and he’s forced to endure one hardship after another along the way. At times, these constant hardships can be exhausting, but it’s often done with just a hint of darkly tongue-in-cheek humor—and the slightest bit of hope that things will turn around for Ludvig and the people who care about him. And despite his gruff obstinacy, viewers will root for him to find happiness and success in the end.
Though its long runtime filled with setbacks and adversity can sometimes drag, The Promised Land still has its share of moving and even unexpectedly entertaining moments. And this stubborn soldier may just win you over in the end.
Stake your claim with Ludvig when The Promised Land arrives in select theaters on February 2, 2024.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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