Yggr (2023 film)
| Yggr | |
|---|---|
 The movie poster for Yggr | |
| Directed by | Ulf Sundin |
| Written by | Aron Bloch |
| Screenplay by | Aron Bloch |
| Story by | Ivar Brodd & Aron Bloch |
| Based on | life story of King Albert of Blostland |
| Produced by | Albin Axelsson |
| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Mattias Olsson |
| Edited by | Ella Gylling |
| Music by | Íon Mac Ailin |
Production company | Studio 12 |
Release dates | 24 October 2022 (Montecara Film Fest); 23rd October 2023 (International Release) |
| Language | Blostlandic Ghaillish Tsabari Rahelian |
| Budget | €90 million |
Yggr is a 2023 Biographical film which began filming in late 2021 and ended in mid 2022. Directed by Ulf Sundin, produced by Albin Axelsson, and written by Aron Bloch; the film is a biographical historical account of the life of Albert Guðmundsson, the King of Blostland during the Empires fall from grace. The film tackles Albert’s childhood, rise to the throne, and eventual death in 1787, much of the film is centered around Albert’s relationships and how certain events can be attributed to his poor handling of those around him. The film handles a range of historical events such as the Independence Wars of both Eldmark and Keppland, the age of Enlightenment, and the collapse of the colonial Blostlandic trade, Albert’s life still remains the center of the story but all these events are depicted from his perspective in that time. The film stars Jonas Bergmann as King Albert, Linus Åberg as Prince Erik, Moa Ohlin as Queen Tyra, and Frank Rehn as heir apparent Prince Otto.
Plot Summary
In 1740, 20-year-old Prince Albert prepares for his coronation shortly after the death of his father, King Gustav. Albert struggles with his appearance, alone in his dressing room he contemplates the absence of his parents, both of whom are dead and unable to help him.
Albert, after making a prayer to fulfill his fathers wishes of honoring the position and keeping the peace would make his way to the coronation ceremony where he’d be crowned and give a speech before the lords and important subjects of his realm. Albert would deliver his famed “fire of the spirit” speech which would express much of his early anti-enlightenment beliefs and his conviction that despotism is the way to rule a Kingdom.
After his speech the movie would cut to Albert meeting with his future wife, Tyra Sofia Crusenstolpe, Albert would get a little emotional with her talking about his promise to his father and the burden he feels, Tyra would attempt to sway Albert away from feeling like he has to be like his father, Albert would brush off her advice before leaving to think on his own.
The movie then transitions to the opening credits having a musical like sequence of Albert growing up a little more having his wedding with Trya and having his two children, the opening ends with Albert overseeing the piano practice of Otto, his first son, Trya asks why Albert always refuses to intervene and help Otto during times when he is playing in correctly.
Albert opens up to Trya, telling her he is deathly afraid of harming Otto the way his father did to him, he goes into a story about how his father didn’t feed him on numerous occasions until he finished any task that his father wanted done, Trya consuls him but he stares off towards Otto before the scene switches.
Albert is before the royal court getting a report on the rise of liberalism in the Empire, Albert’s Uncle, Wilmer, would attempt to get Albert to step back from his very anti liberal stance recommending an approach of pragmatism. Albert would impassionately declare himself an enemy of the enlightenment after cutting his uncle off, he’d urge his courtiers to take a hard stance against liberalism across the Empire and make it well known that it will not be accepted in Blostland.
The scene switches again but this time to Albert’s second son, Erik. Erik would be painting alone when Albert would enter the room, looking over his shoulder he’d look over Albert’s work. The painting would be horrible, Albert would scold Erik for his sloppy work telling him to do something more productive like reading. Erik would slam his brush before storming off, refusing to look at Albert’s face.
Albert would scream at Erik telling him that his dad would’ve given him a horrible punishment for that and that he should be praying thanks that Albert was his dad instead of him.
After the fight with Erik Trya would meet with Albert alone, similar to there last very personal meeting Trya would attempt to get Albert to abandon what his father had taught and embrace the parts of himself that truly his own, Albert would break out in a rage at the prospect of his wife trying to change his mind. After yelling at Trya to leave him and never speak to him that way again she’d sleekin out of the room, defeated.
Time would pass a number of years, an older Albert would be looking over plans to build up imperial forces in the colonies, now resembling his father much more his apparent accession to what he believed his father wanted was complete. After approving the plans he would leave for a meeting with his children, passing by a room Trya would be secluded to reading alone.
Arriving in the main hall of his palace Erik and Otto would be waiting for Albert, after greeting them both Albert would give them the news that’d be drafted for military service just as he had been when he was growing up. While apprehensive the two would not show any disrespect, Albert would explain that Otto would be going into the army while Erik would be going into the navy.
Shifting to Erik’s perspective a few days later, he’d be preparing for his trip to the academy, while looking in the mirror at his new uniform he’d be seized by officers of the royal palace and blindfolded. Dragged to the old prison under the palace, he’d have his blindfolds removed revealing his father, Albert would explain to him that he knew Erik had joined a liberal reading circle for a number of months.
Erik would be stunned quickly admitting to his liberal beliefs, Albert would be furious expressing his extreme disappointment in Erik. Albert would explain that he must not leave his idiocy unpunished and that only through example would Erik learn what power can do, Albert would wave in the guards who’d bring in three blind folded men.
Instantly Erik would recognize them as his closest reading friends, he’d plead for his fathers mercy but Albert would refuse to even acknowledge him. He’d simply order his guards to take position and execute the men, as their bodies hit the floor Erik would breakdown, screaming and crying he’d tell his father he was dead to him.
Albert would not respond but would tell Erik that he’d no longer be in Blostland and that he’d experience his naval training in Eldmark as an embarrassment. Leaving the prison Albert would cry.
Albert would look at Trya from the doorway before leaving as the film would transition into another time skip.
It is 1765, Albert is rushing down a hallway while being flanked by Otto who is now a full grown man, entering a room the two would be saluted by military and royal officials. Albert would sit while Otto would stand, Marshal Rune Tegnér would give Albert a rundown on the status of the invasion of the United Colonies in Eldmark.
Nervously he’d explain that imperial forces in the north of Eldmark had turned traitor and were now fighting against loyalist forces in a race to the capital. Without looking the king in the eyes he’d add that the main instigator of the rebellion was Albert’s own son Erik, who was leading troops as temporary commander.
Albert would be speechless, while his dad was lost in thought Otto would order the Marshal to create a war plan for the complete destruction of the rebellion by the month's end. Albert would nod, approving the order before standing and leaving the room.
In his office Albert would stare off to his painting of Erik as a boy. The film would transition to Erik’s perspective as he attempts to write a letter to his father on the frontlines, he’d make a number of attempts before throwing the paper aside and beginning the first few lines of what would become the Iron Charter.
Another time skip would follow, Albert is now an old man; the war in Eldmark was a failure the revolution had overtaken not only that colony but all colonies under Blostlandic control, he’d look over a map of the former Empire before rolling it up and making his way to Trya’s room.
Trya had passed not long after the war's end in 1771, without her Albert’s presence would diminish greatly, the former despot would now be a recluse king despised by everyone including his own family. Making his way to another room where he’d find all his fathers belongings, Albert had made this room a bit of a shine to his father.
Going to his knees he’d ask why his father had led him astray, he’d cry out that thought fathers were supposed to protect and teach their sons not stricken them with a curse. His cries would turn to insults into screams he’d fly into a rage destroying all of his fathers possessions, ending it all Albert would save his beard and throw his fathers painting into a fireplace.
Feeling more free than ever Albert would sit on the floor staring into the fire. Suddenly Otto would turn with a group of soldiers and ministers, Otto would order them to seize Albert; refusing to fight back Albert would be dragged into a royal courtroom.
Otto would declare Albert unfit to rule, the minister of state would add that the king has a chance to object and bring this matter into an official trial. Albert would once again refuse to do anything, instead abdicating to his son, Otto in a mix of disgust and sadness over his father’s situation would hug him.
Cutting to a manor on the coast of Skooglän, Albert would be seen finishing at the end of the manor's dock. Otto would approach him from behind giving him a basket of various gifts, Albert would thank him before Otto would leave he’d ask Albert why he chose to fish in exile. Albert would say it was the only thing he remembered doing as a boy on his own accord, something he truly loved all on his own.
The movie would end with a credits sequence over Albert’s funeral.
Casting
While casting actors for the film Sundin would pull from many of his previous films, most notably Jonas Bergmann who had a co-star role in the film “The Innocent Man”
- Jonas Bergmann as King Albert
- Linus Åberg as Prince Erik
- Moa Ohlin as Queen Tyra
- Frank Rehn as Prince Otto
Production
Pre-Production
Based on the book of the same name, Director, Ulf Sundin, was first approached by the author of Yggr, Ivar Brodd in the summer of 2019 to produce a short film. Sundin would express interest in directing the project but would not agree to at the time because of his schedule, the project would stay in Sundins mind till 2021 when after finishing his recent film, “Skyrunner” he would approach Ivar Brodd at the 83rd Montecara Film Festival.
The two would agree to pitch the idea of their short film as a full movie and potential runner for the film to be used in the next Montecara Film Festival, while the two would not get any concrete backing from the Blostlandic Film League they would continue anyway. Writing would begin late that year and production early the very next year in 2022.
Writing
Ivar Brodd would bring in Aron Bloch to help him develop the book into a movie, Bloch’s main focus while writing was to use the story of Albert’s real life as a metaphor for how relationships are significant and can affect a person in a number of ways.
“I didn’t want to make some fictional story, because this is real and that is what I think makes so good of a story, this is not some thought experiment it is a real life example of the message we are trying to put out.”
Brodd would act in more of an advisory role with Bloch, while not greatly affecting the story he’d keep the film accurate to certain he felt needed to stay as close to as they were described in his book. Writing would end around mid 2022 with filming starting a few months before the script was entirely completed.
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Production
The film would have a quick production with the writing and filming all being completed within mid 2022, the rest of the year would be used to edit and master the film. The score would also be finished around this time with the editing taking up till 2023 when Sundin would find it acceptable to be brought before the Blostlandic Film League in their vote for the movie that would be used in that year’s Montecara Film Festival.
Filming
Filming would begin in 2022 with the movie only taking 158 days to film with two of those days being solely for reshoots. A majority of the film takes place in the Royal Palace in Raudrena, the Blostland History Society would give Sundin the opportunity to use the museum as a filming location. To use the time appropriately all palace scenes were filmed before everything else to let the museum return to its normal schedule as quickly as possible.
The film is shot almost entirely in black and white however by the end of the film, after Albert abdicates the film switches to color; Sundin would comment that the switch was supposed to reflect Albert’s character arch and how he felt free after his abdication. Scenes which had moments of extreme emotional distress or violence were made to be near blinding as to accompany deafening music which would convey the emotions of Albert during the scene.
Music
| Yggr Soundtrack | |
|---|---|
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| Soundtrack album by | |
| Released | October 25th, 2023 |
| Recorded | 2022–2023 |
| Studio | Midnight Records, Raudrena |
| Genre | Soundtrack |
| Length | tbd |
| Label | Studio 12 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The End" | 1:52 |
| 2. | "Two Boys" | 2:17 |
| 3. | "Follow his Tongues" | 4:11 |
| 4. | "Coming Troubles" | 4:24 |
| 5. | "Killing Hope" | 3:26 |
| 6. | "The Last Great King" | 2:38 |
| 7. | "Confronted by Reality" | 5:46 |
| 8. | "Barely a Man" | 4:54 |
| 9. | "The Only Beginning" | 3:36 |
Release
Yggr is set to release on October 23rd during the 84th Montecara Film Festival.
Accuracy and Omissions
While the film is not entirely accurate to real life there are a number of real life events which take place, Brodd made sure events such as the execution of Eric’s reading circle and the abdication of Albert were kept nearly identical to what happened in real life.
The falling out with Queen Trya is highly dramatized as documented accounts of their discussions are rare, though it was widely believed when she was alive that they had a falling out.
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