Wartime drama based on a true story, starring Jesper Christensen. When the Nazis invaded Norway in 1940, King Haakon VII - ruler since the country separated from Sweden in 1905 - headed north with his family and the government before the arrival of the enemy. However, the 67-year-old monarch remains the focal point of the country's response. Should the nation give up without a fight?
This is the story of Norway's King Haakon VII (Jesper Christensen) and how he stepped beyond his ceremonial duties to steer his country's future in the face of advancing Nazi forces. The corridors and palaces of power are brought to visually sumptuous life by director Erik Poppe. But while his film may be a feast for the eyes, it does nothing for the pulse, as the events of 1940 unfold in long, talky scenes that fail to convey the gravity of the situation. Christensen is wonderful to watch as the king, a man used to merely being there for show but now forced to make a stand, and his scenes with his impetuous son (Anders Baasmo Christiansen) have more of an impact than the rare, and poorly executed, moments of combat. The King's Choice is an informative history lesson with some emotional high points, but it lacks the tension to do justice to the real-life events.
| role | name |
|---|---|
| King Haakon VII | Jesper Christensen |
| Crown Prince Olav | Anders Baasmo Christiansen |
| Curt Bräuer | Karl Markovics |
| Crown Princess Martha | Tuva Novotny |
| Anna Elisabeth Bräuer | Katharina Schüttler |
| Diana Müller | Juliane Köhler |
| Colonel Birger Eriksen | Erik Hivju |
| role | name |
|---|---|
| Director | Erik Poppe |
