The King's Choice

The King's Choice is set in April 1940, when German forces arrive in Oslo and Norway faces an ultimatum. As the government collapses under the pressure of the invasion, the responsibility for the country's response falls to King Haakon VII, a monarch who has kept himself apart from day-to-day politics. With the royal family forced to flee the capital, the king must decide whether to accept German demands or refuse them, a choice that will shape Norway's future. Crown Prince Olav pushes his father toward action, while the German diplomat Curt Bräuer works to secure a surrender.

Erik Poppe directed the film, his third feature after Troubled Water and A Thousand Times Good Night, and it was released in 2016. Harald Rosenløw-Eeg and Jan Trygve Røyneland wrote the screenplay. Jesper Christensen plays Haakon, with Anders Baasmo Christiansen as Olav, Karl Markovics as Bräuer and Tuva Novotny as Crown Princess Märtha. The production, mounted across Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Ireland for a budget of about 8 million dollars, returned roughly 9 million at the box office. On IMDb it holds 7.1/10 from around 11,000 votes, while on TMDB it stands at 6.8/10 from far fewer votes. The critics' rating of 6.4/10 from 23 reviews sits below the audience scores.