The Last King (original title: Kongen av Bastøy)

So, this movie takes us to the chilling, remote Norwegian island of Bastøy in the early 1900s, where a reformatory for boys is run with an iron fist. What I liked immediately was the bleak, atmospheric cinematography—you can practically feel the cold, damp air and sense the isolation. The setting itself becomes a kind of character, adding weight to an already grim story about rebellion and survival.

The film centers around Erling, a tough new arrival who refuses to accept the brutal discipline and cruelty of the staff. The way the story develops, you're drawn into this power struggle between boys and adults, with Mads Mikkelsen (as the stern governor) delivering a performance that's both chilling and weirdly sympathetic. The young cast also holds their own impressively, especially given the heavy subject matter.

While it’s definitely intense, what stands out most is how it balances moments of camaraderie and hope amidst all the hardship. There are scenes where the boys bond, and those glimmers of humanity genuinely keep you rooting for them. The movie doesn’t shy away from showing how grim and unjust things were for these kids, but it stops just short of turning into pure misery porn.

That said, it can feel a little heavy-handed at times—I found the pacing dragged in the middle, and some of the dramatic beats are predictable if you’ve seen other “reform school revolt” stories. It’s not here to reinvent the genre, but it’s a solid, emotionally charged entry with a distinctly Scandinavian flavor and attention to historical detail.

You’d enjoy this if you’re into true-story-based dramas that don’t sugarcoat the past, or if you’re looking for a historical film outside the usual big-budget English fare. If you liked movies like Sleepers, but wanted something a bit grittier and with stunning wintry visuals, this one’s worth your time.