Army Of Valhalla

Title: Army Of Valhalla (15)

Year: 2003

Running Time: 103 minutes

Director: Jerzy Hoffman

Cast: Michal Zebrowski (Ziemek), Marina Aleksandrova (Dziwa), Malgorzata Foremniak (Ksiezna)

Notes: Won one award. In Polish.

Rating: 7

Thoughts:   Peaceful Polish pagans have their lives thrown into turmoil when the despotic Prince Popiel seeks support from Vikings. One man can lead the peasants in an uprising.

This is a story based on some real people, albeit the truth is shrouded in the fogginess of time. The whole thing looks great and the actors all have a presence.

I don't really understand the sleeve, or the English title though. The story is about the rise and fall of Popiel, the Vikings being a tool he uses, and that picture doesn't come close to the film's content.

Yes, the fighting scenes are fairly brutal, but for me, this is about a lot more than a band of mercenaries. The film is well-made and offers a view of a slice of history not widely known beyond Poland.

The direction is strong and there is a nice pace to the story, a sense of threat here and there, and a great playing out of a prophecy.