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The Promised Land
I’m using the more familiar English title, The Promised Land, but the Dutch title, The Bastard, is both a better title and better reflection of the film. The film testosterone fueled head butting with the sprawling direction of a John Ford film. The films rivalry between Mads Mikkelsen’s war vet farmer and a foppishly evil magistrate, is stubborn, intense, and brutal, as these two push each other to their breaking point. Every obstacle is met with so much force and passion that you start to feel your body ache as if you’re working on this farm. The Promised Land is an emotional triathalon that frankly deserves another theatrical run, because this is meant to be watched on the largest screen possible.
