The Last King

Original title: Birkebeinerne

2016
R
1h 39m

IMDb RATING

6.1/10

7.9K

YOUR RATING

Jakob Oftebro and Kristofer Hivju in The Last King (2016)

In civil war-ravaged Norway, the King, aided by rebel group the Birch Legs, fights for survival against the Church's Bishopsmen, who seek to supplant the throne. On his deathbed after falling ill, the King soon welcomes a son, born in secrecy, as half the Kingdom wants him dead. Tasked with guarding the only remaining heir to the throne, two Birch Legs warriors, Skjervald (Oftebro) and Torstein (Hivju), escape with the infant and must traverse treacherous landscapes to protect their future King.

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Costume Drama Mountain Adventure Period Drama Sword & Sandal Action Drama History War

In the year 1206 Norway is raged by civil war. The King's illegitimate infant son, Håkon Håkonsson, which half the kingdom wants killed off, is guarded in secrecy by two men. A story which c... Read allIn the year 1206 Norway is raged by civil war. The King's illegitimate infant son, Håkon Håkonsson, which half the kingdom wants killed off, is guarded in secrecy by two men. A story which changed the course of the country's history.In the year 1206 Norway is raged by civil war. The King's illegitimate infant son, Håkon Håkonsson, which half the kingdom wants killed off, is guarded in secrecy by two men. A story which changed the course of the country's history.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.1/10

7.9K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 win & 1 nomination total

Videos3

'The Last King': They're Here

Photos84

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9:57

Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Three languages are spoken in the film. The Birkebeiner speak Norwegian, the Baglers speak Danish, and Queen Margrete speaks Swedish. This is actually an anachronism as the Nordic languages had not split into completely different languages at the time and the characters would have spoken more or less the same language, albeit with heavy accents.

Goofs
The Norwegian coat of arms (a golden lion wearing a crown and holding an axe) appears throughout the movie, which takes place in and around 1204. However, the coat of arms did not exist in this form until approximately 1280.

Quotes
Orm: There is a boy... of royal blood. Where is he hidden?
Skjervald: I don't know what you're talking about.
Orm: Do you care so little for your family, that you would sacrifice their lives... for a dead king?

Crazy credits
Quote at end of credits: "The difference between a novelist and a historian is this: that the former tells lies deliberately and for the fun of it; the historian tells lies and imagines he is telling the truth"

Soundtracks
Bifröst
Vocals by Helene Bøksle
Written by Gaute Storaas, Cecilie Larsen and Helene Bøksle
Composed by Gaute Storaas and performed by Bratislava Symphony Orchestra
©(p) 2016 Lydmuren

User reviews35

Featured review

6/10

Birkebeinerne: an instructive Norwegian Tale.

I watched it out of curiosity because I never heard the term 'Birkerbeiner' before (the beautiful tale of Håkon Håkonsson hasn't reached the bulk of ignorant Mediterranean men yet) and I am more than happy to have done it.

It wasn't really a memorable film, however: many scenes lacked realism and the plot was oversimplified, on my humble opinion. Which was something I didn't expect given the huge talent of Scandinavian screenwriters (e.g. Anders Thomas Jensen or Kim Fupz Aakeson, just to quote two of my favorites...).

In any case it was instructive and I'm sure that many people from all around the world will enjoy the story and recognize many actors such as Kristofer Hivju (from 'Game of Thrones'), Nikolaj Lie Kaas (from 'Child 44'), Thorbjørn Harr (from 'Vikings') or Pål Sverre Hagen, (from 'Kon Tiki') who I'm sure are by now familiar faces to international audiences.