Kongekabale (2004)

Director:

Nikolaj Arcel

Writers:

Nikolaj Arcel (writer)
Rasmus Heisterberg (writer)
(more)

Release Date:

1 October 2004 (Denmark)

Genre:

Thriller

Tagline:

Truth Or Spin?

Plot Keywords:

Copenhagen Denmark | Politician | Local Blockbuster | Parliament | Politics

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
Robert Hansen	...	Simon Bruun
Laura Christensen	...	Pernille Riis
Hans Henrik Voetmann	...	Ole Finsen
Søren Poppel	...	Kasper Hald
Frank Thiel	...	Martin Hald
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Per Arnesen	...	Paparazzi photographer
Susanne Breuning	...	Inger Marie Torp
Kenneth Carmohn	...	Overvågningsvagt
Dennis Dean	...	TV medarbejder
Jes Dorph-Petersen	...	Himself
Marianne Høgsbro	...	Gitte Bruun
Mikael Kamber	...	Himself
Nicolaj Kopernikus	...	Søren Agergaard
Christiane Bjørg Nielsen	...	Lise Christiane
Henrik Noél Olesen	...	Søren Krogh
Gunilla Roijer	...	Herself
Kaare R. Skou	...	Himself
Anders Bramsen	...	Office Worker (uncredited)
Jesper Aagaard Placing	...	Politiker (uncredited)

Directed by
Nikolaj Arcel

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Nikolaj Arcel		writer
Rasmus Heisterberg		writer
Niels Krause-Kjær		novel

Produced by
Bo Ehrhardt	....	executive producer
Meta Louise Foldager	....	producer
Birgitte Hald	....	executive producer
Lene Nielsen	....	line producer

Original Music by
Henrik Munch		(as Henrik Munck)
Flemming Nordkrog

Cinematography by
Rasmus Videbæk

Film Editing by
Mikkel E.G. Nielsen

Production Design by
Niels Sejer

Set Decoration by
Jacob Wirth Carlsen		(chief set decorator)

Costume Design by
Helle Nielsen

Makeup Department
Kamilla Bjerglind	....	makeup artist
Sofie de Mylius	....	makeup artist: second unit

Production Management
Sara Namer	....	production manager: second unit
Lene Nielsen	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Niels Nørløv Hansen	....	first assistant director
Mikkel Nørgaard	....	second unit director

Art Department
Anders Folke Andersen	....	construction foreman
Jean Roch Bechameil	....	painter (as Jean Bechameil)
Jacob Wirth Carlsen	....	property master
Anders Engelbrecht	....	construction coordinator
Li Garpenfeldt	....	set dresser
Thomas Greve	....	assistant property master
Anders Huulgaard	....	storyboard artist
Trine Jensen	....	assistant props
Ursula Riismøller Nielsen	....	painter
M. Wan Sputnick	....	props
Mads Unneberg	....	carpenter

Sound Department
Sille Boel	....	sound editor
Mikkel Friberg	....	sound editor
Morten Green	....	sound: second unit
Hans Christian Kock	....	sound re-recording mixer
Hans Christian Kock	....	sound recordist
Claus Lynge	....	sound re-recording mixer
Julien Naudin	....	foley artist

Visual Effects by
Peter Hjorth	....	visual effects supervisor
Søren Tomas	....	visual effects producer
Gitte Wahl	....	visual effects coordinator

Stunts
Stig Günther	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Per Arnesen	....	still photographer
Michael Bjelke	....	camera operator: second unit
Jakob Bonfils	....	Steadicam operator
Franz Borde	....	second assistant camera: second unit (as Franz A. Borde)
Kenneth Sorento Dichmann	....	best boy electric (as Kenneth Sorento)
Jordan Gross	....	best boy electric
Silla Herbst	....	clapper loader
Peter Hingebjerg	....	best boy
Kim Høgh	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Adam Jandrup	....	focus puller: second unit
Henrik Lyngbo	....	camera operator
Magnus Ohmsen	....	grip
Jens Fraek Poulsen	....	gaffer
Daniel Seidelin	....	best boy electric
Søren Sielemann	....	electrician: second unit
Peter Topsøe-Jensen	....	second assistant camera: second unit
Kasper Tuxen	....	video operator: second unit (as Kasper Tuxen Andersen)
Malte Udsen	....	second assistant camera: second unit
Jesper With	....	electrician

Casting Department
Lene Seested	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sara Mau Jensen	....	costume assistant
Disa Persson	....	costumer: second unit

Editorial Department
Dorthe Brandt Bankwell	....	color timer
Peter Diemar	....	colorist
Tove Jystrup	....	post-production coordinator
Søren Ottosen	....	assistant editor
Thomas Therchilsen	....	color grader

Other crew
Henrik Berthelsen	....	location manager
Rikke Guldstad	....	script supervisor (as Rikke Gulstad)
Denise Michelle Hansen	....	extras coordinator: second unit
Maj Britt Landin	....	production assistant
Sara Namer	....	assistant to producer
Lena Paaske	....	extras coordinator

Production Companies

• Nimbus Film Productions
• Nordisk Film
• TV2 Danmark
• Filmgear
• Zentropa Entertainments
• Film i Väst
• Sveriges Television (SVT)
• Nordisk Film- & TV-Fond
• Det Danske Filminstitut

Distributors

• Nordisk Film Biografdistribution (2004) (Denmark) (theatrical)
• Nordisk Film (2005) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Dogwoof Pictures (2004) (UK) (all media)
• Nordisk Film Video (2004) (Denmark) (DVD)
• e-m-s the DVD-Company (2006) (Germany) (DVD)

Other Companies

• EF Rental  equipment
• Filmgear  grip equipment
• Klippegangen ApS  editing facilities
• Mainstream ApS  sound studio

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:

During a talk at a Danish high school, movie director Nikolaj Arcel said that he ask Søren Pilmark not to talk or be nice to Anders W. Bertelsen during production, because it would improve the acting (the two characters are supposed to dislike each other, the one being superior to the other). This resulted in Anders W. Bertelsen being somewhat nervous and cautious around Søren Pilmark. When shooting was done Arcel told Anders W. Bertelsen all about the secret and the two actors became friends.

Quotes:

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

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Kongekabale - Sandheden om filmen (2004) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Lost You Forever

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!