King of Devil's Island (2010)

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?

Director:

Marius Holst

Writers:

Mette M. Bølstad (story), Lars Saabye Christensen (story)

Stars:

Benjamin Helstad, Trond Nilssen, Stellan Skarsgård

8 wins & 11 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Benjamin Helstad	...	Erling / C-19
Trond Nilssen	...	Olav / C-1
Stellan Skarsgård	...	Bestyrer Håkon
Kristoffer Joner	...	Husfar Bråthen
Magnus Langlete	...	Ivar / C-5
Morten Løvstad	...	Øystein (as Morten Strøm)
Daniel Berg	...	Johan
Odin Gineson Brøderud	...	Axel
Magnar Botten	...	Lillegutt
Markus Brustad	...	Jan
Agnar Jeger Holst	...	Arne
Tommy Jakob Håland	...	Terje
Richard Safin	...	Eirik
Frank-Thomas Andersen	...	Gårdsgutt Bjarne (as Frank-Thomas H. Andersen)
Arne Brønstad	...	Husfar Kjell

Storyline

Based on a true story: Norwegian winter, early 20th century. On the island Bastoy, located in the Oslo fjord live a group of delinquent, young boys aged 11 to 18. The boys daily, sadistic regime is run by the guards and the principal who bestow both mental and physical abuse on them. Instead of the boys being straightened out with education they end up being used as cheap, manual labor. The boys attempt to survive by adapting to their inhumane conditions. One day a new boy, Erling (17), arrives with his own agenda; how to escape from the island. How far is he willing to go in order to get his freedom?

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Plot Keywords:

island | scandinavia | sexual abuse | norway | physical abuse | 

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Taglines:

Based on an extraordinary true story.

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Genres:

Action | Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

At the time, this was the most expensive Norwegian film ever made.

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Goofs

The movie grossly exaggerates the size of the lead ship of the Norwegian Navy at the time.

As the boys are trying to escape the island, at about 1 hour 34 minutes, the Battleship "Norge" appears in the fog. The "Norge" was a small 300 ft pre-dreadnought - significantly smaller than modern day Frigate. If one assumes that the men seen on deck, are about 1.7 meters tall, the ship in the movie is more than 3 times as large as the actual "Norge" - comparable to a modern day Aircraft Carrier.

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Quotes

Erling: You do not belong here, either. Goodbye, manager!

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Soundtracks

Sigur 1 (Untitled)
Performed by Sigur Rós
Music & Lyrics by Kjartan Sveinsson, Jon Thor Birgisson, Georg Holm, Orri P. Dyrason
Universal Music Publishing Scandinavia AB
(P) 2002 FatCat Records

User Reviews

When religious chastity and austerity were considered as a correctional measure...

Based on true events, this one of the most expensive Norwegian (+Swedish, Estonian) film was shot primarily in my home country - thus, apart from a good film experience, I had a joy of recognition vis-a-vis places and actors (although Estonian ones had mute or 1-2 word roles only). Anyway, the Norwegian background and spirit with gloom and misery in a closed penal institution were well captured, and all the leading characters were skillfully elaborated and performed (especially Stellan Skarsgård as Håkon, Benjamin Helstad as Erling "C19", Trond Nilssen as Olav "C1"). Most of the screenplay is focused, however, on the "normal" routine in the establishment, boys versus staff, the rebellion itself and its consequences are shown in a limited time and space (I would have liked to know what happened to the revolting boys, and how the usual living was restored).

Nevertheless, Kongen av Bastøy is a strong drama, giving food for thought long after the credits disappear.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

Norway France Sweden Poland

Language:

Norwegian Swedish

Release Date:

17 December 2010 (Norway)

Also Known As:

King of Devil's Island

Filming Locations:

Kalvi manor, Ida-Viru County, Estonia

Box Office

Budget:

NOK54,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$1,039, 20 November 2011

Gross USA:

$7,615

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$4,360,391

Company Credits

Production Co:

4 1/2 Film, MACT Productions, St Paul Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

116 min 122 min (Extended Edition)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1