MARGRETE: QUEEN OF THE NORTH

This Danish historical drama is based on real events from Scandinavian history, 1402 to be precise.  So some understanding of the historical background might be helpful, so here goes.

In 1397, Queen Margaret I of Denmark created a Union of the three Scandinavian countries and became its effective ruler.   

Ten years earlier, in 1387, Margaret's only son Olaf had died in somewhat mysterious circumstances, which led her in 1389 to adopt her great-nephew as her son, King Erik, in order that he might eventually succeed her as ruler of the Union.

In 1402, when the film starts, Margaret is negotiating with a delegation from Henry IV of England, her aim being to form a defensive alliance with England so as to protect the Union from enemies to the south such as the Germans. Part of the deal is that Erik will marry one of Henry's daughters, Philippa.

And then, sensationally, a man appears at the court who claims to be King Olaf.  This is a development which really sets the cat among the pigeons.

If he really is King Olaf then that's bad news for Erik certainly, but it would also destabilise the Union since not all the nation states of Denmark, Sweden and Norway might want Olaf as their ruler.  It also threatens to throw the negotiations with England into disarray.

What follows is a load of court intrigue (which I'm always up for) but also a terrible personal dilemma for Margaret.  

Is this really her son, in which case all of her life's work creating and maintaining the Union might be for nothing, or is he an impostor who should be put to death?

It's a tough decision for her to make, especially since she seems genuinely uncertain as to his identity.  Her confidant and close friend, the Bishop of Roskilde, is clear what she should do, in order to preserve the Union, but is it possible he himself has a hidden agenda?

Whilst she is agonising over her decision there are forces afoot to turn Eric against her, and there is the distinct possibility that the appearance of 'False Olaf' is part of a cunning plan by the Germans.

It's gripping stuff, which ends in a powerful and horrific scene which is going to stay with me for quite a while.

The film would have us believe that the true identity of 'False Olaf' is a puzzle that will never be solved, and that the events in the film are as good an explanation as any.  Whether this is true or not doesn't really matter (and Wikipedia seems to be certain that he was an impostor)  when the film we get is as good as this.

Everything about it is first-class, and after just watching 'Dune' it was a relief to be in the hands of a director who knows how to construct a scene for maximum dramatic effect.

RATING: ✓✓ Good Times