Listen, we know that talking about Oscar this early in the game is pretty foolish. That said, other bloggers/film sites either already have tentative lists going or wil be very soon — in fact, this writer remembers being in Cannes last year with early word swarmed around France’s “Of Gods And Men” as being an Oscar favorite. Well, that buzz never amounted to much but still, when the “O” word is uttered, you can’t help but pay attention.
THR, in the midst of the story about Film Movement picking up the Norwegian drama “King of Devil’s Island,” also said that the film has “buzz as a potential foreign language Oscar candidate.” Directed by Marius Holst and starring Stellan Skarsgard, the film “is based on real events at a Norwegian boy’s school in 1915. The pupils at the Bastoy reform school rebelled against their sadistic teachers and took over the school, leading to a stand off that only ended when the government sent in 150 soliders to restore order.” The trailer, with some dodgy English subtitles, has been knocking around for a while — you can check it out below — but it certainly looks compelling, a tough tale set against a frigid backdrop. Skarsgard himself looks terrifying.
While there is no theatrical date yet, subscribers to Film Movement will release the movie in October and it will be available on VOD later in the year as well. We’re definitely curious about this one and we’ll see if that Oscar buzz builds any further (though it will need a much better campaign than a short theatrical and VOD rollout if it’s going to gain any traction). In other random Skarsgard news, Vulture noticed he’s in Lykke Li’s video for “Sadness Is A Blessing.” Weirdest most dramatic dinner ever. Check it out below.
