Ulaa Salim pulls no punches in his feature debut, depicting radicalisation and the impact of polarising politics on communities. Sons of Denmark is hard-hitting, provocative and timely, offering audiences a difficult yet rewarding experience.
One of the more topical films of the year, Sons of Denmark explores radicalisation in Europe and the rise of right-wing politicians, an issue which most of us are painfully aware of nowadays. Offering a new and refreshing perspective, Salim invites us to follow the stories of two young men, who respond to rising ethnic tensions in their country in very different ways.
The first is Zakaria (Mohammed Ismail Mohammed), a nineteen-year-old of Iraqi descent who becomes disillusioned by the radical, hate-filled rhetoric which overtakes Denmark following a terrorist attack. Aware of the fear spreading among his community and hoping to assuage his mother’s concerns, he seeks help from a community elder. Yet the very man he turns to for guidance starts to radicalise him, setting Zakaria on a path from which he cannot return.
While preparing for an event which he believes will help him avenge and protect his community, he meets Ali (Zaki Youssef), a quiet, seemingly unimportant character who will later take center stage. Together they train for an attack against Martin Nordahl (Rasmus Bjerg), a right-wing politician tipped to win the general election with his anti-immigration policies.
Things do not go quite to plan, however, and a surprising twist will see the story heading in an intriguing direction. Such a move not only grabs the audience’s attention and ensures a captive audience, but allows for a new perspective on the ever-increasing polarising nature of politics.
Overall the film succeeds in delivering a powerful message about humanity and society, while providing a uniquely human and sympathetic depiction of radicalisation. Without suggesting terror is acceptable, it reminds audiences of the human behind the monstrous act.
Zaki Youssef and Mohammed Ismail Mohammed shine, offering powerful performances that will resonate with audiences long after the credits roll. Both deserve praise for their roles in this film, which are sure to bring worldwide attention. That said, I feel the need to direct special attention to Mohammed, who makes his acting debut in this film. Rasmus Bjerg did an admirable job, creating a frighteningly realistic character during the few times he was on screen. It is just a shame that due to lack of screen time and character development, there was only so much he could do with his role. I suspect that Martin Nordahl could have been a far more frightening and interesting character had he been given more scenes.
While the performances in Sons of Denmark were undeniably strong, there are undoubtedly flaws with the film. The most notable is the writing, which plods along at times in an awkward, heavy-handed way. This can be seen from early in the film, such as the opening scene with Martin Nordahl, who describes those responsible for a recent bombing as “savage terrorists”, as though the latter did not already imply the former. You are left cringing at the clear parallels Salim wants to make with current politicians and the clumsy way he goes about doing so.
Another flaw is the development of character, as only Ali’s character is fully realised. Zakaria is the next most developed, however, there are still gaps in the story, such as his relationship with Hassan (Imad Abul-Foul) and with Denmark prior to radicalisation. Moreover, there is no exploration of his community and their reaction to the events unfolding, other than of radicalised members. In contrast, Martin Nordahl and Hassan, two of the greatest aggravators in the film, are barely explored, providing audience members with little or no insight into their characters. While frustrating, especially considering the potential of this film, such mistakes can be forgiven in light of Salim’s inexperience. Hopefully, he will learn and improve for future projects.
Sons of Denmark explores the big issues affecting Europe right now, imparting an important message of the need for humanity and love. We witness the chaos and suffering that hatred brings and how normal young men can be driven to such evil deeds. While not the easiest watch, it is undoubtedly an important one, which is likely to do well among international audiences.
Sons of Denmark is in cinemas now.