Samuel Goldwyn Films has acquired North American rights to WWII drama Into the Darkness, from veteran Danish filmmaker Anders Refn and depicting the disintegration of a family unit amid Denmark’s slow side into fascism under the shadow of the Third Reich.
Starring Jesper Christensen (Casino Royale, Spectre), Bodil Jørgensen (Collision), Mads Reuther (Ride Upon the Storm), Gustav Dyekjær Giese (Riders of Justice), Sara Viktoria Bjerregaard (Badehotellet), Lue Dittmann Støvelbæk (Ride Upon the Storm), and Sylvester Byder (Deliver Us), the film — which has already topped the Danish box office — is set for release in May.
Into the Darkness examines the dilemmas of the Danish population during WWII by looking at a family and the relationship between the father and son. Like the government, the farmers and the industry, the father, a successful owner of a big electronics factory, tries to make the best of the situation to keep the wheels rolling. However, this leads him into a problematic collaboration with the Germans. His son, on the contrary, reacts against the increasing oppression and persecution of Jews and communists by joining the rising resistance movement.
Related Stories
Winner of the jury prize at the Goa International Film Festival, Into the Darkness was directed by Refn (Nicolas Winding Refn’s father), who co-wrote alongside Flemming Quist Møller. The film was produced and executive produced by Lene Børglum (Only God Forgives, Neon Demon). The filmmakers are currently in pre-production for the second installment in this trilogy.
“Anders and myself are thrilled that Samuel Goldwyn will be making this special film available to North American audiences,” said Børglum.
The deal was negotiated by Miles Fineburg on behalf of Samuel Goldwyn Films and Michael Favelle of Odin’s Eye Entertainment, which is repping the film at the European Film Market, on behalf of the filmmakers.
