‘No Rest for the Wicked’ Review: Supernatural Gay Love Story Set in 19th-Century Faroe Islands
8 reported
Variety reports that “No Rest for the Wicked,” a Danish film directed by Kaspar Kalle, is an adaptation of an 1884 story by German author Karl Heinrich Ulrichs, an early proponent for gay rights. The film is described as a love story with horror elements set in the remote Faroe Islands of the mid-19th century. The story follows Baldur, a young man living with his widowed mother, who is rescued by a sailor named Helge after a fishing accident. Their friendship develops into a passionate relationship, but after Helge dies in a shipwreck, Baldur makes a blood wish for his lover to return, leading to supernatural events. The review notes that the film’s sinister aspects are deliberate misdirection, and the ending is described as haunting and poignant, with love triumphing through a literal haunting.
What’s reported
The film is a Danish debut feature directed by Kaspar Kalle, based on an 1884 story by Karl Heinrich Ulrichs.
The story is set in the mid-19th century in the Faroe Islands.
Main characters: Baldur (played by Egor Venned), Helge (played by Pilou Asbaek), and Asla (played by Sofia Nolsoe).
Baldur is a taciturn young man living with his widowed mother Asla; Helge is a 40-ish sailor.
After Helge dies in a shipwreck, Baldur makes a blood wish for his return, leading to supernatural events.
The screenplay was written by Rasmus Birch and Kalle.
Cinematography by Jacob Moller, original score by Hettarher.
The review compares the film’s poignancy to “Brokeback Mountain” and “All of Us Strangers.”
Key figures
Kaspar Kalle (director)
Karl Heinrich Ulrichs (author of original story)
Egor Venned (actor, plays Baldur)
Pilou Asbaek (actor, plays Helge)
Sofia Nolsoe (actor, plays Asla)
Rasmus Birch (screenwriter)
Jacob Moller (cinematographer)
Hettarher (composer)
Sources: Variety
