Rent The King's Choice (2016)

Fascinating but wordy + overlong film about Norway at the start of WWII. History fans will love it. - The King's Choice review by PV

This film has a couple of down sides - it is overlong and is very wordy.

However, the good things in this Norwegian film outweigh that. It's a fascinating account of Norway entering the war in 1940 - and I learnt a lot about it, and how Norway came to have a king in the first place in 1905.

The historical fact is known - Norway's king and government were in London during the way, and the traitor Quisling (now a word meaning a traitor!) was hanged at the end of it for his betrayal of Norway, and collaborating with the Nazis from Germany.

I found the dramatic tension of the desperate efforts of the German envoy to prevent war fascinating and I learnt a lot.

As an end point, the Christmas Tree in Trafalgar Square every year is donated to the UK from Norway as a thank you for our help during the war. If Britain had not stood alone against Nazi Germany from 1939 to 1941 (when the US entered WWII after Japan attacked it! And the USSR decided to stop being Hitler's ally and turned against him), then the world would look very different indeed. Britain should be rightly proud of that for evermore, and no countries or the EU should forget it.

And I cannot help realising why the proud and independent Norwegians refused to allow Nazi Germany to rule them willingly - it is the same instinct which made Norway leave the EU a few years ago. Britain now follows and more will follow us, for sure.

4 stars

A true patriot - The King's Choice review by Maureen

This is a really gripping and moving story. Norway has been invaded and King Haakon is given a choice, either stay as King, with Quisling (a name those of who lived through WW2 associate with treachery) or abdicate). The King rejects both options and flees the country, staying in London for the duration of the war, with his son, the future King, staying in Norway to help organise the resistance.

George Roby.

All or nothing - The King's Choice review by PW

Norway was inevitably conquered and conquered easily; Quisling could have brought shame on the nation. All such countries seek to find evidence of defiance and in this little story Norway has found one from the actions of an elderly titular King who wasn't even Norwegian. The actions of the King are told in a gripping film where time is counted in minutes as he hurtles around the country and faces an inevitable choice which on the face of it will change nothing. In fact a choice which could make things worse. But in his choice I can imagine his compatriots find something to have pride in.

Things you never knew about Norway. - The King's Choice review by BY

This was a really enjoyable and informative movie about a period in Norway's history that the UK has seemed to forget.

It was good drama, beautifully filmed and produced,

How Norway remained a sovereign nation. - The King's Choice review by JG

This tells the story which those born well after the second World War will probably not know of, and even those of us around at the time do not know the full details. We know that their King sheltered here and in gratitude the Norwegians give us a Christmas tree every year. As an historical comment it can not entertain with thrills and spills for dramatic effect, it has to stick to what happened. It is well made and acted though and well worth watching if you do not know the story. One point that the film makes clear was that the King made his decision based on principles and how he saw his duty to the Nowegian people.

Enjoyed learning about this story. - The King's Choice review by NP

As a history buff I thoroughly enjoyed learning something about events I have little prior knowledge of. There were probably some inaccuracies in the film as in most historic films, but I sure want to learn more about the events depicted in this film for having watched this film.

Fact based drama that sticks too closely to the facts - The King's Choice review by Sandy

This is a biopic that follows the Norwegian Royal Family as the Nazis invade Norway in 1940. The problem is, is that the events are quite undramatic and the film allows the facts to get in the way of a good story. The result is a rather dry story presented over two hours that could probably be reduced down to a 60 minute documentary. Yes, Norway was invaded, but apart from brilliant special effect in the beginning, the whole story is presented in a matter of fact way. In addition, the acting is pretty wooden through-out. Actors straining to be authentic, rather than organic.

It doesn't help that the title has been mistranslated which does not suit the structure of the movie. A Norwegian audience would know exactly what the king decided, so the film is really about the how, why and the consequences. The mistranslation of the title conceals a vital piece of information from the foreign audience which alters the structure of the movie and understanding of events. There should be no climax when the King makes his choice - the audience should know that already. It isn't a matter of suspense, but rather an examination of why the king took his decision and ramifications for Norway, both then & now.