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KING OF DEVIL'S ISLAND

Directed by Marius Holst
  • YEAR 9 - FILM 12 / 
  • Norway / 
  • 2010 / 
  • Norwegian with English subtitles / 
  • 115 min
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"Haunting! Skarsgård is excellent as always and moody atmospherics enhance the conventional structure."
– Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News
"Excellent! Marius Holst gives the proceedings a fresh look, thanks to his sturdy acting, direction and cinematography."
– V.A. Musetto, New York Post
"Conceptually ambitious...[KING OF DEVIL'S ISLAND] evokes a blood-chilling climate of eternal winter."
– Stephen Holden, The New York Times

Synopsis

Starring Stellan Skarsgård (star of David Fincher's upcoming The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo). This true story of the infamous Bastøy Boys Home correctional facility in Norway, begins with the arrival of seventeen-year-old Erling, a rumored murderer. He immediately clashes with the island facility's governor (Stellan Skarsgård), who believes manual labor, rigid discipline, and harsh punishment are the only methods that can turn the boys into honorable members of society. Refusing to accept the constant abuse, Erling slowly rouses the rest of the boys out of their resigned existence, and encourages them to fight to lift up their spirits. When tragedy finally falls at the hand of the sadistic dorm master, Erling leads his comrades in a courageous and vicious rebellion that will bring them head to head with no less than the Norwegian Army.

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Customer Reviews


Angel - Customer Review
This movie is compelling and completely absorbing. It is definitely a top contender for best of 2011, if not the best of 2011.


Moses Alexander - Customer Review
Incredible film. One of my favorites I've ever seen via Film Movement (and that's saying something.) Stellan Skarsgård delivers a riveting performance as the cruel Bastoy warden/headmaster and Benjamin Helstad impresses as well as the leader of the rebellion. I watched with a few friends and were wincing and cringing at times based on the brutality at Bastoy. Powerful stuff.


Jeff in Seattle - Customer Review
This is a great island prison (posing as a reformatory) film! I am sorry that I have missed this film at the Seattle International Film Festival. I thought I have seen all the prison film available, but "King of Devil's Island" proves that there are more stories yet to be told. I am pleased to see more of Stellan Skarsgard films too!


CSS - Customer Review
Excellent movie! Stellan Skarsgard gives a wonderful understated performance as the director of a boys' correctional facility in Norway. Is he really harsh and uncaring, or he is self-deluded and just lets events get beyond his control? Benjamin Helstad is very strong as the boy who rattles the bars of his new cage, but Trond Nilssen really shines as the leader of the C block who finds new resolve within himself to not just go with the system and earn his release. Kristoffer Joner is Brathen, a nicely played villain.

Photos

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Marius Holst
Erling (Benjamin Helstad)
Erling (Benjamin Helstad) and Bestyreren (Stellan Skarsgård)
Bråthen (Kristoffer Joner)
Striving for Freedom
KING OF DEVIL'S ISLAND Poster

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