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King of Devil's Island, The (12A)

King of Devil's Island, The (12A)

Drama, Action

Norwegian winter, early 20th century. On the boys home Bastoy, a new inmate leads the boys to a violent uprising against a brutal regime. How far is he willing to go to attain freedom?


The critical consensus

After so much Stieg Larsson and The Killing though, it’s pleasing to see something from the Nordic countries that doesn’t involve police procedure and chunky jumpers.

***(*)(*)Neil Smith, Total Film, 20/06/2012

A bleakly beautiful, austere film that doesn't patronise its audience.

***(*)(*)David Hughes, Empire Online, 26/06/2012

Robust acting and crisp direction eases the old-rope material through to the inevitable conflagration.

***(*)(*)Xan Brooks, The Guardian, 28/06/2012

A slow-burning film with echoes of Papillon in its celebration of an indomitable human spirit.

***(*)(*)Allan Hunter, Daily Express, 29/06/2012

The cast, especially Helstad, give performances as good as you’ll find anywhere else and the freezing, bleak setting reinforces the sense of the boys’ helplessness.

****(*)David Edwards, Daily Record, 29/06/2012

An affecting drama about Norway's coming of age, even if its dourness occasionally veers into blandness.

Anton Bitel, Little White Lies, 28/06/2012

There's an impressive force to the performances and, amid the ice and snow, the film burns with a sense of injustice that deservedly made it a hit in Norway.

Jason Solomons, The Observer, 01/07/2012

Solid acting and chilly, oppressive visuals save this rather rote borstal drama from being just another grim, unenlightening exploration of incarceration.

***(*)(*)Alistair Harkness, The Scotsman, 26/07/2012

Holst's King of Devil's Island may conform to a lot of prison-movie conventions but it still manages to grip by virtue of its powerful performances and foundation in truth.

****(*)Rob Carnevale, The Herald, 26/07/2012

Where and when?

Edinburgh Filmhouse, Edinburgh from Friday July 27, 2012, until Thursday August 2, 2012. More info: www.filmhousecinema.com

Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow from Friday July 27, 2012, until Thursday August 2, 2012. More info: http://www.glasgowfilm.org/theatre/

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