The Northman

A closer look at the story

In the tenth century, in the world of Scandinavian legend, young Prince Amleth is close to manhood when his life is shattered overnight: his father, King Aurvandil, is cruelly killed by Amleth's uncle Fjölnir, and his mother, Queen Gudrún, is taken. The boy manages to escape, carrying a single vow in his heart: to avenge his father, save his mother and kill his uncle. Twenty years later, Amleth, now a ruthless Viking warrior, sets out to fulfil that vow. Along the way his path crosses with the mysterious Olga. Directed by Robert Eggers, written by Eggers and Sjón and based on the legend recorded by Saxo Grammaticus, the 137-minute 2022 film stars Alexander Skarsgård, Nicole Kidman, Claes Bang and Anya Taylor-Joy in a brutal epic.