The Kingdom II

1998 4h 40m DA

🙌

7.6

BANGER

★7.6TMDB · 66

MysteryFantasyHorrorComedyDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

The mutant fetus is born. Dr. Helmer comes under heavy scrutiny for a botched operation that left a patient braindead, and begins to dabble in the dark arts in order to ward off those seeking an end to his career. Hypochondriac Mrs. Drusse finally does have something bad happen to her medically when an ambulance hits her.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Ernst-Hugo Järegård
Stig Helmer
Kirsten Rolffes
Sigrid Drusse
Holger Juul Hansen
Einer Moesgaard
Søren Pilmark
Jørgen Krogshøj
Ghita Nørby
Rigmor Mortensen
Jens Okking
Bulder Harly Drusse
Birthe Neumann
Fru Svendsen
Otto Brandenburg
Hansen

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Lars von Trier
Writers: Niels Vørsel, Lars von Trier
Languages: Danish, Swedish
Countries: Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

At 280 minutes, this is a three-hour-plus commitment — longer than 95% of films ever made.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

28 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Danish, Swedish.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 8 countries: Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Part of the "The Kingdom" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Lars von Trier, shot by Eric Kress. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Joachim Holbek. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Pernille Bech Christensen shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Lars von Trier directs. Eric Kress behind the camera. Joachim Holbek scores. Pernille Bech Christensen cuts. A long sit — settle in. Produced in Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden. Dialogue in Danish, Swedish.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1At 280 minutes, this is a three-hour-plus commitment — longer than 95% of films ever made.
228 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Danish, Swedish.
4International production across 8 countries: Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden.
5Part of the "The Kingdom" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
6Directed by Lars von Trier, shot by Eric Kress. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
7Original score by Joachim Holbek. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
8Editor Pernille Bech Christensen shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
9Ernst-Hugo Järegård and Kirsten Rolffes and Holger Juul Hansen carry the top of the cast.
10IMDB entry: tt0108906 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
11Only 66 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

The technical file

Cinematography: Eric Kress
Original score: Joachim Holbek
Editing: Pernille Bech Christensen
Production design: Hans Christian Lindholm
Makeup / hair: Jeanet Keil
Stunt coordinator: Hans-Peter Ludvigsen
Runtime: 280 min · 4h 40m
Status: Released
Original language: DA
IMDB: The Kingdom II (1998)

Part of

The Kingdom

"Riget" is a thirteen episode Danish television miniseries created by Lars von Trier from 1994 to 2022, split into three series, with four, four and five installments apiece. The first two have been edited into two theatrically released films with a combined running time of approximately 9½ hours for distribution in the United Kingdom and United States. Set in the neurosurgical ward of Copenhagen's Rigshospitalet, the city and country's main hospital, nicknamed "Riget", which means "the kingdom", the plot follows a number of characters, staff and patients alike, as they encounter bizarre phenomena, both human and supernatural. The show is notable for its wry humor, muted sepia colour scheme, and the appearance of a chorus of Down Syndrome dishwashers who discuss in intimate detail the strange occurrences in the hospital.