MC
Marco Castellini
•In a Danish hospital, the stories of patients, doctors, and nurses intertwine in a succession of events that lead to the discovery of the existence of certain supernatural forces and a murky past linked to events that occurred years before in the same hospital. A four-part television film directed by Lars Von Trier, who became famous, especially among critics, for "The Waves of Destiny" and his irreverent "Idiots". Those who already know the other works of the Danish director know that his films are never "easy films", on the contrary, they are often hermetic, confusing, and leave the viewer disoriented. This "Kingdom" is no exception: it is dispersive due to the many protagonists of the story and, in the long run, a bit "heavy" due to the excessive length (almost five hours of film!) and the presence of several dead times. The best and most engaging sequences of the work unfold in the final hour, when the secret hidden by the hospital begins to be revealed and the most "horrific" sequences of the film are concentrated. If you love long, complex, and character-filled films, this movie might appeal to you, if instead you prefer more "light" films it is better to look elsewhere. In Italy, the complete series, with all four episodes, is occasionally broadcast on television but is also available for rent in a box set consisting of two VHS tapes, with two episodes on each cassette; "The Kingdom" is also available in DVD version, for sale only.