Kongekabale (2004)

Director:

Nikolaj Arcel

Writers:

Nikolaj Arcel (writer)
Rasmus Heisterberg (writer)

Release Date:

1 October 2004 (Denmark)

Genre:

Thriller

Tagline:

Truth Or Spin?

Plot Keywords:

Death | Parliament | Political | Local Blockbuster | Politician

Awards:

12 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Anders W. Berthelsen	...	Ulrik Torp
Søren Pilmark	...	Erik Dreier Jensen
Nastja Arcel	...	Lone Kjeldsen
Nicolas Bro	...	Henrik Moll
Lars Mikkelsen	...	Peter Schou
Ulf Pilgaard	...	Gunnar Torp
Charlotte Munck	...	Mette Torp
Lars Brygmann	...	Mads Kjeldsen
Helle Fagralid	...	Signe Jonsen
Jesper Langberg	...	Aksel Bruun
Jens Jørn Spottag	...	Per Vestgaard
Kurt Ravn	...	John Erhardsen
Bjarne Henriksen	...	Bo Andersen
Clara Maria Bahamondes	...	Julie Torp
Anders Nyborg	...	Hans Erik Kolt

Also Known As:

Den tredje makten (Sweden)
King's Game (International: English title)

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

Sweden | Denmark

Language:

Danish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Ireland:15A | Germany:6 | Norway:11 | Sweden:Btl | UK:12A

Filming Locations:

Restaurant Slotskælderen hos Gitte Kik, Fortunstræde, Copenhagen, Denmark

Company:

Nimbus Film Productions

Trivia:

The interior shots of Christiansborg (The parliament) are not shot at Christiansborg, but at Copenhagen city hall.

Quotes:

Erik Dreier Jensen: This will be forgotten in two weeks, I hope you realize that.
Ulrik Torp: Two weeks is enough.

Movie Connections:

Featured in DR2 tema: Året der kommer (2008) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Black Clouds

The best danish movie of this decade

I always knew, that this movie was one to watch, and one which would be of interest of me, so when I got the chance to see it, I didn't let the opportunity miss. But never did I know, of how great I would find this movie. Mainly, you see movies, which you find good, bad or indifferent, but rarely you see movies that are truly captivating as "Kongekabale" was for me. I guess it depends on what kind of movie you like. I like movies, where I can't predict it all, with complicated plots, that you sit and try and figure out, while watching. And all this I got with "Kongekabale".

It's about a reporter getting a leak about the husband to the woman who might get in power after the next election. But that's just a layer, the top of the iceberg. It suddenly evolves to a huge amount of layers of lies, cheats and people that literary would kill for power. And the spiderweb just evolves and evolves.

The movie is based (although in exaggerated form) on real events, and even though the plot is exaggerated, it surely sends a message about current politics all over the world, and how people behave with power.

The actors play well, and the directing and script is top notch. The movie is perfectly balanced, and also some remarks makes you laugh on occasion, without it sounding odd or out of place. And the ending itself is so amazing, that I couldn't believe it.

A masterpiece. Watch it!