Mads Mikkelsen Lands in Venice for the Premiere of “The Last Viking”
At the Lido, there is always room for films that defy labels, and Anders Thomas Jensen is a master at delivering works that resist being boxed in. This time, the Danish director presents “The Last Viking”, a title that at first glance might suggest epic grandeur, but in reality offers an intimate, domestic story, tinged with both comedy and pain. After all, Jensen has a knack for dismantling genres: his films make us laugh when we least expect it, and we are often moved by eccentric characters.
This story revolves around two brothers: Anker, who has just been released from prison after fifteen years, and Manfred, who in the meantime has lost himself in a personality disorder that makes him believe he is John Lennon. The treasure buried years earlier in the forest thus becomes a pretext for a journey into memory, through repressed recollections, traumas, and affections that withstand even the harshest storms. In this fragile balance, Jensen unveils his special ability to weave tenderness and humanity into the grimmest contexts. A seasoned duo that has been by Jensen’s side for decades, Nikolaj Lie Kaas and Mads Mikkelsen are bringing the two brothers to life. In his sixth collaboration with the director, Mikkelsen surprises everyone by letting go of the dark allure that made him an international icon to embody the fragile character of Manfred.
Led by the director, the cast walked the red carpet in front of the Palazzo del Cinema. The most anticipated of all, of course, was Mikkelsen, who so perfectly embodies a man who never ceases to be loved, even when he ceases to be himself.
“The Last Viking” reminds us that comedy and tragedy often walk hand in hand, and that the real treasure is never buried underground, but hidden in the complexities of human relationships.
Text: Germano D’Acquisto
Photo: Ludovica Arcero
