Buy The King of Devil's Island on DVD

The King of Devil's Island

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$22.49 (10% off)
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Synopsis

This true story of the infamous Bastøy Boys Home correctional facility in Norway, begins with the arrival of seventeen-year-old Erling (Benjamin Helstad), a rumored murderer. He immediately clashes with the island facility’s governor (Stellan Skarsgård), who believes manual labor, rigid discipline, and harsh punishment are the only methods that can turn the boys into honorable members of society. Refusing to accept the constant abuse, Erling slowly rouses the rest of the boys out of their resigned existence, and encourages them to fight to lift up their spirits. When tragedy finally falls at the hand of the sadistic dorm master, Erling leads his comrades in a courageous and vicious rebellion that will bring them head to head with no less than the Norwegian Army.

3 Reasons To buy this film

"This classically lensed tale about the misuse of power offers sweeping panoramas and stunning snowy landscapes." - Alyssa Simon, Variety
"There is no mistaking the fact that King of Devil’s Island is a strong and effective piece of work. It earns all of its emotions and then doesn’t take them for granted." - PopCultureNinja.com
"An old-fashioned drama about the will of good young men triumphing over the weakness of evil old ones. We've seen it before, but when it's done this well that doesn't seem to matter." - Brian Tallerico, The Deadbolt

Product Format Information

DVD : $22.49

Availability: In stock and ready to ship
Close Caption: Yes
Region Code: 1
UPC: 616892166467
Catalog #: DV3317372

Studio : Film Movement

Languages: Norwegian (Primary) , English Subtitles
Aspect Ratio: Widescreen

Keywords

Abuse, Adolescence, Biographical/Autobiographical, Crime/Criminal, Drama, International, Pedophile/Pedophilia, Prison/Jail

Genres

Drama, International

Customer Reviews

A Modern Tragedy

Amos Lassen wrote on 11/25/2011:

“King of Devil’s Island” is a Norwegian film that is based on the true story about a group of delinquent boys (ages 11-18). They live on the island of Bastoy in the Oslo fjord and their daily routine is sadistic and run by guards and the principal who torture the boys physically and mentally. The boys are not receiving the education that they were supposed to get and are being used as cheap manual labor. The boys struggle to survive in the inhuman situation that they live. When 17 year old Erling arrives, he does so with his agenda of escaping. When a terrible accident happens, Erling is forced into the lives and destinies of the boys and je leads them in a violent uprising. The boys are able to take over the island and government soldiers are sent in to restore order.

This is a powerful film with excellent acting. Erling takes command as soon as he arrives. The end is tragic and there is no happy ending. The film is based upon an actual happening at Bastoy in 1915. Director Marius Holst gives us an excellent coming of age story of boys whose childhoods have been displaced. The uprising is a dark chapter of Norwegian history yet it is related to us beautifully.

Bostoy is the Norwegian Alcatraz but for young offenders. Most of the boys there spend their entire teenage years on the island and once there it is likely that a sentence will be extended. They are submitted to labor under freezing conditions and are ruled by a very stern militaristic regime. While the head of the island is quite strict, he has the boys’ interests but his staff prefers to abuse the boys. Erling refused to bend and was soon amid the politics of the place and he cannot look away as his friends are abused. He decides that the only hope is a rebellion but in participating one is facing possible death.

Benjamin Helstad as Erling is brilliant and gives a performance that is not easily forgotten. We sense his character’s determination to escape and he is respected by the other boys. What is amazing to watch is how grow to trust each other. The fact that we know a rebellion is coming sets the tone and I could not be anything but tense as I watched. Some people might feel that there is too much tragedy and it makes the film difficult to watch. The ending is quite a shocker.