Danish filmmakers attending the Venice Film Festival dismissed a question about the apparent lack of diversity in their upcoming film “The Promised Land,” set in Denmark in the 1750s.
“This is a cast and Danish production that is entirely Nordic, therefore has some lack of diversity, you would say, there’s also new rules implied in Hollywood,” the reporter stated.
“The Promised Land” star Mads Mikkelsen, taken aback, responded, “What? From the get-go.”
The reporter continued, highlighting the “rules of diversity across the Atlantic,” referencing the Academy Awards’ representation and inclusion standards for Oscars eligibility in the Best Picture category.
“Are you worried about that?” the reporter asked.
Mikkelsen retorted assertively, “Are you?”
The reporter then mentioned “Parasite,” the South Korean film that clinched the Best Picture award for 2019, suggesting that while “Parasite” would be eligible under the new rules, an “all-Nordic cast” might not be — despite the fact that “Parasite” featured an overwhelmingly Korean cast.
Director Nikolaj Arcel intervened, stating, “First of all, the film takes place in Denmark in the 1750s.”
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He further explained the historical context of the film.
“We do have a big plot line about a girl of color who is being subjected to racism, which was very rare, any people of color in Denmark … almost, nobody. She was probably at the time the only one in the entire country of Denmark,” Arcel elaborated.
He emphasized the historical accuracy of the film, stating, “It wasn’t a thought in our mind. I think it would be a little weird, it’s just historical, it’s just how it was in the 1750s.”
The film features Mikkelsen as Ludvig von Khalen, a soldier arriving in 1755 on Jutland heath, honoring the Danish king’s call to cultivate the land and attain honor and glory. Both Mikkelsen and Arcel had previously collaborated on the 2012 film “A Royal Affair.”
The Academy Awards’ new diversity and inclusion guidelines, set for 2024, have stirred controversy. These guidelines mandate equitable representation both on and off the screen. By 2024, film producers and directors must submit detailed information about the race, gender, sexual orientation and disability status of their film’s cast and crew members in order to be considered for the coveted Academy Awards. The acclaimed Jewish actor Richard Dreyfus expressed strong disapproval of these new standards.
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