The King's Choice

Name: The King's Choice
Genre: Biography, Drama, History, War
Released: September 22, 2017
Duration: 133 min
Rating: 64
Cast: Anders Baasmo Christiansen, Arthur Hakalahti, Erik Hivju, Jesper Christensen, Juliane Köhler

2017

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Generally favorable reviews based on 8 Critic Reviews

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Generally favorable reviews based on 8 Ratings

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7.1	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 8 Ratings

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The King's Choice

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Movie Details & Credits

Samuel Goldwyn Films | Release Date: September 22, 2017 | Not Rated

Starring: Anders Baasmo Christiansen, Arthur Hakalahti, Erik Hivju, Jesper Christensen, Juliane Köhler, Karl Markovics, Katharina Schüttler, Ketil Høegh, Svein Tindberg, Tuva Novotny

Summary: The King's Choice is based on the true the story about three dramatic days in April 1940, where the King of Norway is presented with an unimaginable ultimatum from the German armed forces: surrender or die. With Nazi soldiers hunting after them, the Royal Family is forced to flee the capital. In the best interest of the family, the CrownThe King's Choice is based on the true the story about three dramatic days in April 1940, where the King of Norway is presented with an unimaginable ultimatum from the German armed forces: surrender or die. With Nazi soldiers hunting after them, the Royal Family is forced to flee the capital. In the best interest of the family, the Crown Princess Märtha leaves Norway with the children to seek refuge in Sweden, whilst King Haakon and the Crown Prince Olav flee to a small farming area just outside Elverum and meet the Germans head on. After three days of desperately trying to evade the Germans, King Haakon makes his final decision. He refuses to capitulate, even if it may cost him, his family and many Norwegians their lives.… Expand

Director: Erik Poppe

Genre(s): Biography, Drama, History, War

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 133 min

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Critic Reviews

Kenneth Turan

Oct 5, 2017

Its intent is to show us how difficult it is to see clearly during times of crisis, how what seems as simple as black and white today was the source of uncertainty and soul-searching when it happened. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Godfrey Cheshire

Sep 23, 2017

What is unusual about the film is that it is a frankly admiring portrait of a monarch. The king here is the tale’s hero, and the choice he makes regarding the Nazi invasion undergird a drama that is proudly and unequivocally patriotic. Read full review

Walter Addiego

Sep 27, 2017

Haakon VII is a hero in Norway, and The King’s Choice tells us why. Read full review

Stephen Farber

Jan 21, 2017

Handsomely mounted and well acted, the film breaks no new ground but remains engrossing. Read full review

Owen Gleiberman

Jan 21, 2017

It has a few traumatic and bedazzling scenes of combat, but mostly it’s about the backroom bureaucratic gamesmanship of war. Read full review

Ben Kenigsberg

Sep 21, 2017

The King’s Choice maintains a sense of intrigue when it sticks to the king’s dealings with the government, but the movie drags when it moves outside of back rooms and deviates from setting up the Bräuer-Haakon showdown. Read full review

Michael O'Sullivan

Oct 5, 2017

The performances are fine and nuanced, but the stakes seem, for some reason, more theoretical than actual. Read full review

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KenR

May 27, 2021

The King’s Choice (with few options available) This Norwegian/Irish co-production offers a somewhat different approach to recounting the dark horrors of Nazi takeover tactics, and while it probably played better in the country of origin it makes for an engrossing history lesson. With minimalThe King’s Choice (with few options available) This Norwegian/Irish co-production offers a somewhat different approach to recounting the dark horrors of Nazi takeover tactics, and while it probably played better in the country of origin it makes for an engrossing history lesson. With minimal special effects, it effectively illustrates the tension and anxiety forced onto the lives of all those in the German war machine's sights. Under the guise of: ‘we are coming into your territory to protect you from an attack by the nasty British!’ - then, sneaking into Drobak Sound in the dead of night, without light, and Guns poised, the Germans telegraphed a telltale warning of what’s to come. This tense tale is based on fact - even though director Erik Poppe, tells us in an admirably honest but curious end credit: This telling is a work of fiction – based on actual history but not a documentary - It is informed by one truth, others may exist. An interesting touch that suggests you may have to do some homework for other elements of the story.

It’s all perfectly performed from top to minor supporting roles and hardly misses a beat within its desperate cat and mouse premise. It charts several interesting insights to some little-known facts within Norway’s political makeup of the times, and how this ‘King’ was being forced into a desperate decision by a crafty enemy. An enemy that had already determined to ‘take’ this valuable geographical advantage and its mineral resources... ‘ready or not’. Direction is on target and a descriptive music score moves along with the action. For some reason, this polished production is saddled with a hand-held photographic approach and while this works for the newsgathering type of ‘on-the-run elements, it makes for some, at times, clumsy moments elsewhere. Anyone wanting to understand more about this neutral countries dangerously vulnerable situation - should be richly rewarded. There are titles at the finish to update us on what happened to those involved BUT... it’s so difficult to understand why moviemakers who spend thousands of dollars on titling - opt for the smallest font sizes available - then squash all this vital information into the middle section of a WIDE screen ratio - leaving most unreadable! - I ask?… Expand

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LeZee

Oct 9, 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. ExceptAll 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… Expand

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