🇩🇰 🇳🇴 🇮🇸 🇸🇪 VALHALLA: LEGEND OF THOR 🇸🇪 🇮🇸 🇳🇴 🇩🇰
Valhalla: Legend of Thor aka Valhalla (2019) is a Danish/Norwegian/Swedish/Icelandic adventure, fantasy, thriller family film. Amazon Prime Video U.K., Peacock & Tubi US. 1 hr 45 min. Cert 12 U.K. In Danish with some Old Norse and English subtitles.
Premise:
“The Viking children Røskva and Tjalfe embark on an adventurous journey from Midgard to Valhalla with the gods Thor and Loki. Life in Valhalla, however, turns out to be threatened by the dreaded Fenrir wolf and the god’s barbaric archenemies, the Jotnar. Side by side with the gods the two children must fight to save Valhalla from the end of the world – Ragnarok.” IMDb
Cast:
Asbjørn Krogh Nissen as Odin
Roland Møller as Thor
Salóme Gunnarsdóttir as Freja
Patricia Schumann as Mor
Jacob Lohmann as Tyr
Andreas Jessen as Balder
Lára Jóhanna Jónsdóttir as Sif
Dulfe Al-Jabouri as Loke
Stine Fischer Christensen as Frigg
Cecilia Loffredo as Røskva
Ali Sivandi as Skrymer
Saxo Moltke-Leth as Tjalfe
Crew:
Director: Fenar Ahmad
Writers: Fenar Ahmad, Adam August, Peter Madsen (comics)
Composer: Jens Ole Wowk McCoy
Cinematographer: Kasper Tuxen
Editor: Kasper Leick
Costume: Margrét Einarsdóttir
Make-Up Designers: Harpa Finnsdóttir, Kristín Kristjánsdóttir
Special Effects Supervisor: Christian Kitter
Visual Effects Supervisors: Jonas Drehn, Jan Tvilling
Notes:
The cast includes: Roland Møller (Riders of Justice, The North Water, Blood Red Sky, Atomic Blonde); Patricia Schumann (The Investigation, The Sommerdahl Murders, The Bridge, Ride Upon the Storm, Follow the Money); Jacob Lohmann (Riders of Justice, Shorta aka Enforcement, When the Dust Settles, The Rain, Follow the Money, Beneath the Surface); Lára Jóhanna Jónsdóttir (Trapped, The Flatey Enigma, Sense8); Dulfi Al-Jabouri (The Investigation, Shorta, Follow the Money, Dicte, A War, The Bridge)
Adam August co-wrote this and his CV also includes Cry Wolf, Follow the Money and Darkland. His father is the director, screenwriter and cinematographer Bille August.
Kasper Tuxen is the cinematographer for this film and his other projects include the Oscar-nominated The Worst Person in the World, Riders of Justice, Darkland and Boss.
The costume designer Margrét Einarsdóttir has also worked on the newly released Against the Ice, Lamb, Max Anger – With One Eye Open, Welcome to Utmark, 22 July, The Last King, Rams, Noah and Game of Thrones!
Review:
When you are hunting around for a film to watch that is NOT in English but IS related to the Vikings and you stumble upon one that happens to have a few of your favourite Danish actors, it seems like a gift from the gods. Valhalla: Legend of Thor is that film.
I must confess that as soon as I realised that Roland Møller (and his arms) was playing Thor in this I was sold. To then add Jacob Lohmann who was so impressive in Shorta and When the Dust Settles, I felt a little as if I was in Valhalla myself, feasting with the gods.
This film is based upon a comic, but that is really where similarities to any Marvel movie with Norse gods cease. The central character is not Thor (and his arms) but rather a young girl called Røskva. This is a children’s movie with a very young female protagonist who is surrounded by danger and threat. I have not read the comics so I have no idea how this film differs but as a kids’ movie it did not fail to work for me (an adult who adults… most of the time).
I thoroughly enjoyed the performances in this film, especially from young Cecilia Loffredo. There was good chemistry between her character and Thor especially. Roland Møller has the real physical presence to play Thor.
Loke has that element of “what is he up to or does he just like stirring up trouble and chaos?” about him, with a brooding presence and a snarky attitude, especially towards Balder. After all, this is a half-ice giant god who at one time or another in the Eddas is a mare (yes, a female horse), a salmon and a fly… so anyone feeling a bit miffed about his skin tone in this film should really just get out of their mother’s basement more.
As a starting point for a child, or anyone else without much or any knowledge of Norse mythology (beliefs), this is not bad at all. You get enough explanation as to the basics of who is who, where they are and how the gods were perceived as connecting to the human world. Any desire to know more would ideally lead to Neil Gaiman’s book, Norse Mythology.
The costuming is great in this and the special effects, especially such things as Fenrir, the giant wolf, are very impressive indeed. The make-up and prosthetics are excellent!
What can I say about the scenery and landscapes in this film? Stunning! Beautiful! And the cinematography makes the very best use of these. If for no other reason, I would say this film is worth watching for the visuals generally but definitely the natural, real landscapes.
As a children’s film this works well I think and I certainly did not resent the time I spent watching it. Solid cast, great costumes, good performances and genuine heart at the centre. If you have a child who is happy to read subtitles then I think it would be a fun romp for them. As an adult I would say leave the adulting behind for a couple of hours, watch and enjoy.
Awards:
3 Wins & 6 Nominations
Wins:
Danish Film Awards (Robert, 2020) Best Visual Effects ~ Jan Tvilling, Jonas Drehn
Edda Awards, Iceland (2020) Best Costume Design ~ Margrét Einarsdóttir; Best Children’s Programme
Trailer:
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