This Danish conspiracy thriller based on real political events playing out in that country, is directed by Nikolaj Arcel and penned by screenwriter Rasmus Heisterberg. Who also adapted The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo bestseller into a movie.
Originally titled Kongekabale, which translates as the card game Solitaire, the film is based on the popular novel of the same title by Niels Krause-Kjaer, and was written shortly after the author quit his job as spin doctor for the Conservative Party in Denmark. During which time the party went through a scandal-ridden power struggle between two warring wings.
And it’s believed that conflict is the inspiration for the novel. While the character of the villain, played by Soren Pilmark in the film, is reportedly based on Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen.
Anders W. Berthelsen, the hero of this heated political thriller laced with sinister intrigue both on and off screen, phones in from Copenhagen to Arts Express for this conversation.
And weighs in on political, consumerist and card game metaphors in movies; the deleted FCC forbidden word during this exchange – a state of affairs not exisiting in Denmark; and the director’s secret that both angered and amused Berthelsen.
Listen to the Interview Here:
King’s Game is currently featured as part of the Eurocinema Scandinavian Film Festival currently airing on US and Canadian television. More information about the schedule is online at: Eurocinema.com. And, in celebration of its first ever American television film festival, Eurocinema has launched a contest for a trip for two to Copenhagen.
The contest is open until October 20th. Participants living in the 50 states, 21 and older, are invited to enter online HERE.
The winner, to be announced on October 22nd, will receive a prize that includes roundtrip airfare for two from New York to Copenhagen, Denmark with airport transfers; a four day/three night stay at Radisson Blu Hotel, and a VIP tour of the oldest film studio in the world, Nordisk Studios in Copenhagen.
Stay tuned for continuing features of Arts Express: Expression In The Arts. And if you’d like to Express yourself too, you can write to: ArtsExpressradio@gmail.com.
