Army of Valhalla (2003)

In the 9th century, a tyrant oppresses pre-Christian Slavic tribes living on the Polish lands. They must unite for the common future.

Director:

Jerzy Hoffman

Writers:

Józef Hen, Jerzy Hoffman

Stars:

Michal Zebrowski, Marina Aleksandrova, Malgorzata Foremniak

1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michal Zebrowski	...	Ziemek
Marina Aleksandrova	...	Dziwa
Malgorzata Foremniak	...	Ksiezna
Daniel Olbrychski	...	Piastun
Bogdan Stupka	...	Popiel
Anna Dymna	...	Jaga
Ewa Wisniewska	...	Jarucha
Maciej Kozlowski	...	Smerda
Jerzy Trela	...	Wizun
Andrzej Pieczynski	...	Znosek
Katarzyna Bujakiewicz	...	Mila
Ryszard Filipski	...	Wisz
Jan Prochyra	...	Mirsz
Dariusz Juzyszyn	...	Jarl Sigvald
Marcin Mroczek	...	Zdobek

Storyline

Polish historical action fantasy based on a novel by Jozef Ignacy Kraszewski. In 9th-century pre-Christian Poland, the rustic natives have lived peacefully for centuries, tending their land and worshipping the sun god. But when the power-hungry Prince Popiel brings in the Viking army to establish a barbarous and bloodthirsty regime of terror, it is up to one lone warrior, the famed archer Ziemowit (Michal Zebrowski), to lead a peasant uprising and put an end to the bloodshed.

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Plot Keywords:

9th century | viking | based on novel | 

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | History

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Details

Official Sites:

official site [Poland]

Country:

Poland

Language:

Polish

Release Date:

19 September 2003 (Poland)

Also Known As:

The Old Fairy Tale: When the Sun Was God

Filming Locations:

Biskupin, Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Poland

Box Office

Budget:

PLN 11,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Zodiak Jerzy Hoffman Film Production Sp. z o.o., Telewizja Polska (TVP), Syrena Entertainment Group

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min 135 min (3 parts) (TV)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital EX

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

User Reviews

No life in it.

Whle watching this film I've grown to respect Hollywood much more. The thing is American films are usually professionally made (well, at least those which reach me here in Ukraine). Even if the idea is the simplest one possible, the films are still watchable and entertaining (well most of them). They know their stuff and at least don't make the simplest mistakes. This film done by the guru of polish cinema looked amateurish. The acting was rather poor. The lead roles often overplayed their emotions. I was constantly under the impression that most scenes took just one take and the director just didn't bother and was like "meh, it will do". The secondary role actors were even worse. Most of them looked like they are relatives of the production crew or were just random people from the street. The story never got me involved, it's just tedious. But there wasn't much to it anyway. Maybe the actors were so bad because of it, they just didn't understand what they are supposed to act. The characters have no depth and relations between them never get going. And the CGIs... 2003, two years after Shrek we get this kind of stuff?.. So the conclusion: there is no life in this film, it feels cheesy and uninspiring.