The King's Choice

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Erik Poppe directs. John Christian Rosenlund behind the camera. Johan Söderqvist scores. Einar Egeland cuts. Profitable at the box office. Produced in Denmark, Ireland, Norway, Sweden. Dialogue in Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, German.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

• 1Released 10 years ago.
• 2Dialogue crosses 4 languages: Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, German.
• 3International production across 4 countries: Denmark, Ireland, Norway, Sweden.
• 4Directed by Erik Poppe, shot by John Christian Rosenlund. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
• 5Original score by Johan Söderqvist. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
• 6Editor Einar Egeland shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
• 7Jesper Christensen and Anders Baasmo Christiansen and Karl Markovics carry the top of the cast.
• 8Marketing tagline: "Three Days in April".
• 9IMDB entry: tt4353996 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
• 10Classified under 17 themes, including "evacuation", "royal family", "wehrmacht", "german occupation".

The technical file

Cinematography

John Christian Rosenlund

Original score

Johan Söderqvist

Editing

Einar Egeland

Production design

Peter Bävman

Costume design

Karen Fabritius Gram

Makeup / hair

Elisabeth Bukkehave

VFX supervisor

Ditch Doy

Sound

Christian Schaanning

Runtime

136 min · 2h 16m

Aspect ratio (typical)

1.37:1 (Academy)

Status

Released

Budget

$7,500,000

Box office

$9,100,000

Return

121% of budget

Original language

NO

IMDB

The King's Choice (2016) ↗

Also by

Erik Poppe

• 
  Utøya: July 22

  2018 · ★ 7.1
• 
  Troubled Water

  2008 · ★ 7.1
• 
  Hawaii, Oslo

  2004 · ★ 6.8
• 
  A Thousand Times Good Night

  2013 · ★ 6.8
• 
  Per Fugelli: Siste resept

  2018 · ★ 6.5
• 
  Bunch of Five

  1998 · ★ 5.8

Stills · wallpapers

Selected frames

Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.

Wallpaper

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

• 

  ▶
  THE KING'S CHOICE (2017) - Official HD Trailer

  Trailer · Official

Community reviews

What people are saying

• Reno2017-04-14
  ★ 7/10

  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

  Read full review ↓

Production companies

Who made it

• 

  Newgrange Pictures

  IE

• 

  Film i Väst

  SE

• 

  Zentropa International Sweden

  SE

• 

  Paradox Produksjon

  NO

• 

  Nordisk Film Norway

  NO

• 

  Copenhagen Film Fund

  DK

Key crew

• EditorEinar Egeland
• CastingØystein Kjennerud
• CastingUlrike Müller
• Production DesignPeter Bävman
• Art DirectionÅsa Nilsson
• Set DecorationMonika Wahlin
• Costume DesignKaren Fabritius Gram
• Executive ProducerJesper Christensen
• Executive ProducerPeter Garde
• ProducerFinn Gjerdrum
• ProducerStein B. Kvae
• Co-ProducerJackie Larkin
• Co-ProducerLesley McKimm
• Line ProducerKaare Storemyr
• Executive ProducerHenrik Zein
• Script ConsultantJim Frazee
• Set CostumerNinna Hensel
• GafferCalin Catalin
• First Assistant CameraJens J. Patterson
• Lighting TechnicianEgill Antonsson
• CG SupervisorTim Chauncey
• Special Effects SupervisorJohan Harnesk
• Visual Effects CoordinatorMichelle Anderson
• Visual Effects ProducerLisa Kelly

Themes & keywords

What it's about, really

• 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

Release history · US

When it landed

• Premiere2017-01-10· Palm Springs International Film Festival

Also known as

International titles

• UltimatumFR