These days it is quite fashionable for filmmakers to set Shakespeare adaptations into present day or eras closer to the average viewer. Hamlet, Shakespeare's best known play, wasn't exception. Last two major film adaptations of Hamlet - Branagh's and Almereyda's - were set in 19th Century and present day respectively. However, there was a filmmaker willing to approach the material from completely different perspective and set his version of Hamlet in the past which is more distant than the one recreated in the Globe Theatre. On the other hand, it could be argued that Prince of Jutland a.k.a. Royal Deceit, 1994 historical drama directed by Danish director Gabriel Axel, is hardly Shakespeare adaptation at all.
Arguments might stem from the fact that Axel and his co-writer Kjersgaard chose Shakespeare's source material instead of the play itself. The script is based on the story recorded in chronicles written by 13th Century Danish historian Saxo Grammaticus. The plot is set in 6th Century AD, when the contemporary Denmark used to be known as Kingdom of Jutland. The land is ruled by popular king Hardvenael (played by Tom Wilkinson). Some of Hardvenael's subjects don't like his reign, namely his younger jealous brother Fenge (played by Gabriel Byrne). Fenge sets up conspiracy and murders Hardvanael in front of his son Amled (played by Christian Bale). Despite witnessing the crime, Amled is spared because he fakes insanity, thus allowing Fenge to claim the throne and late king's widow Geruth (played by Helen Mirren). As time goes by, Fenge begins doubting prince's insanity and decides to find some quiet way to eliminate him. Amled must use all of his wits and will in order to survive and punish the evil usurper.
To those familiar to Hamlet this film might look as surreal as those adaptations that put Danish prince in the world of laptops or mobile phones. What is supposed to be Elsinore actually looks like a glorified country farm, princes and kings are dressed as common peasants, while all the subjects of ancient kingdom seem barely enough to fill the ranks of a soccer team. Because of this, Royal Deceit looks incredibly cheap despite the budget being provided by European Union bureaucrats. However, this vision is historically more accurate and is very faithful in depicting early medieval world of North-western Europe when the kings were nothing more than glorified tribal chiefs and states in many ways resembled extended families. Because of that, the film looks bare, and sometimes even cold, but, on the other hand, this allows viewers to be focused on rather simple but effective story.
Axel's and Kjersgaard's script shares many plot elements and situations from Shakespeare's play, but it is also very different. Dialogue is simple and laconic, characters well-drawn and the action is usually quick and decisive. The British cast is in most cases very good (with sole exception of Gabriel Byrne who is not very convincing as evil monarch). However, Royal Deceit is nevertheless far from being perfect. In the second part of the film there is too much time spent on Amled's adventures in England, including very unattractive and utterly confusing battle that could have been truly awesome with slightly better editing. However, despite those flaws, Royal Deceit is a very good historical drama that should be recommended even to Shakespeare purists.
RATING: 7/10 (+++)
(Note: The text in its original form was posted in Usenet newsgroup rec.arts.movies.reviews on October 14th 2002)
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Movie URL: https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/48791-prince-of-jutland?language=en-US
Critic: AA
