
Watch Sons of Denmark
- NR
- 2019
- 2 hr
-
6.4 (1,929)
Sons of Denmark is a Danish drama movie, directed and written by Ulaa Salim. The movie was first released at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2019, and it had its Danish premiere in January 2020. The movie delivers a thought-provoking story that explores the sensitive themes of racism, radicalization, and political propaganda.
The movie's plot takes place in Denmark in the near future, where a far-right political party called "The Movement" has come to power. The story starts with the murder of an outspoken anti-immigrant politician, which causes a series of violent retaliations from a group of young radical Muslims who want to take revenge on the political party. Amidst this turmoil, a young man named Zakaria (played by Zaki Youssef) becomes radicalized after the death of his older brother.
Zakaria joins a terrorist group led by Hassan (played by Mohammed Ismail Mohammed), whose goal is to create chaos and terror in the city. Zakaria's mother tries to convince him to leave the group, but he is determined to take part in their mission. The story then shows Zakaria's journey as he becomes more and more indoctrinated into the terrorist group, and how his actions affect his family and the society around him.
On the other side of the story, we see a police detective named Stine (played by Sofie Torp) investigating the murder of the politician. She becomes involved in the hunt for the terrorists, but she also tries to decipher the main source behind their radicalization. Stine's character is a window into the potential consequences of political propaganda and the heavy-handed approach towards immigration policies.
The tension between the radicalized Muslim youths and the white-supremacist political party is palpable throughout the movie. The movie explores the nihilistic approach of the terrorists towards their "cause," as well as the fear and xenophobia that the political party instigates within the society. The story is not a black and white one, and it invites the audience to explore the complex motivations behind these groups' actions.
The Cinematography by Eddie Klint is stunning, the shots of the city of Copenhagen are both beautiful and eerie in their depiction of a city on the verge of social and political collapse. The soundtrack by Flemming Nordkrog is predominantly electronic and adds depth to the mood of the film.
The performances by the lead actors are top-notch. Zaki Youssef delivers a captivating performance as the young radicalized Muslim, and his portrayal of Zakaria's struggles with identity and belonging is heartfelt. Mohammed Ismail Mohammed's portrayal of the enigmatic terrorist leader is equally impressive, and Rasmus Bjerg's character as a conflicted father dealing with his son's radicalization adds drama and complexity to the story.
In conclusion, Sons of Denmark is a gripping and thought-provoking movie that explores the consequences of political extremism and propaganda. It is a cautionary tale of how fear and hatred can lead to tragedy and loss, and how individual choices can have a profound impact on the ones around us. The movie does not provide easy answers or solutions, but it invites the audience to reflect on the themes presented and the state of the world we live in.
Sons of Denmark is a 2019 drama with a runtime of 2 hours. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.4.