Redbad

It is AD 700. Northern Europe is divided into two worlds: north of the rivers live the Frisii (also known as ‘the free people’), the Saxons and the Danes. South of the rivers, the Franks rule. The Franks want to do what even the Romans failed to do: conquer all of Europe. To subjugate the pagans they deploy a new weapon: Christianity. They have their sights set on Europe's most important trading centre, Dorestad, where the Frisian king Aldigisl reigns.

Redbad (Gijs Naber), son of King Aldigisl (Huub Stapel), has doubts about the pagan rituals of his people. He comes into conflict with his father when his girlfriend Fenne (Lisa Smit) is chosen to be sacrificed to the gods.

During the sacrificial ritual the Franks invade Dorestad. The Frisians lose Dorestad and flee to Wijnaldum. Redbad's uncle Eibert (Derek de Lint) seizes power and blames Redbad for the defeat and for the death of his brother. Tied to a raft, Redbad is pushed out to sea to die. But Redbad survives the journey and washes up in Denmark.

He is gradually accepted by the Vikings and comes to know the strength of his own culture. After fighting alongside them against their rivals, the Svear, he marries Frea (Loes Haverkort), daughter of King Wiglek (Søren Malling).

When he returns to Dorestad with his wife, he discovers that his sister Sinde (Britte Lagcher) has been married off to Charles Martel (Tibo Vandenborre), son of the Frankish king Pepin of Herstal (Jonathan Banks). At a fair, Redbad watches the priest Willibrord (Jack Wouterse) forcibly convert and humiliate his sister. Redbad swears to free her.

He cannot do this alone, but the army of his uncle Eibert and cousin Jurre (Teun Kuilboer), who are now in power, does not seem strong enough to defeat the Franks…

The film is a historical epic about Christianisation and the sagas and ancient legends of REDBAD.

The film was released in Dutch cinemas on 28 June 2018.

Type

Feature film

Status

Released (2018)

Genre

Historical saga / action film

Producer

Farmhouse Film & TV

Co-producer (Belgium)

Katleen Goossens (Bulletproof Cupid bvba)

Director

Roel Reiné

Screenplay

Alex van Galen

Distributor

Splendid Film

Theatrical release

28 June 2018

DVD release

18 October 2018