Redbad (film)

{{castlist|

• Gijs Naber as Redbad, King of the Frisians
• Jonathan Banks as Pepin of Herstal
• Huub Stapel as Aldgisl
• Søren Malling as Wihtlæg
• Renée Soutendijk as Idwina
• Lisa Smit as Fenne
• Loes Haverkort as Frea
• Egber-Jan Weeber as Saint Boniface
• Tibo Vandenborre as Charles Martel
• Britte Lagcher as Thiadsvind
• Jack Wouterse as Willibrord
• Daphne Wellens as Plectrude
• Teun Kuilboer as Jurre
• Derek de Lint as Eibert
• Mark van Eeuwen as Wulf
• Birgit Schuurman as Healer
• Gene Bervoets as Thierry
• Martijn Fischer as Gebbe

}}

In August 2017, Gijs Naber was announced as the lead actor, and Huub Stapel would play Redbad's father Frysian king Aldgisl Soon afterward it was confirmed that Derek de Lint, Egbert-Jan Weber, Loes Haverkort, Lisa Smit, Martijn Fischer, Tuin Keulboer, Aus Greidanus sr., Jack Wouterse, Renée Soutendijk and Birgit Schuurman were all cast {{cite web|url=https://www.nu.nl/film/4907276/egbert-jan-weeber-loes-haverkort-en-derek-lint-in-nieuwe-film-redbad.html|title=Egbert-Jan Weeber, Loes Haverkort en Derek de Lint in nieuwe film Redbad - NU - Het laatste nieuws het eerst op NU.nl|website=www.nu.nl|date=4 September 2017 |accessdate=29 July 2018}} and in October 2017 actor, Jonathan Banks was also cast for the film.{{cite web|url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/breaking-bad-star-jonathan-banks-boards-dutch-epic-754-ad-redbad-exclusive/5123206.article|title='Breaking Bad' star Jonathan Banks boards Dutch epic '754 A.D. Redbad' (exclusive)|publisher=|accessdate=29 July 2018}}

The film was shot in the prehistoric village-museum in Eindhoven,{{cite web|url=https://www.ed.nl/eindhoven/filmset-redbad-in-eindhoven-overspoeld-door-mannen-met-baarden~a948b26f/|title=Cookies op ed.nl - ed.nl|website=www.ed.nl|accessdate=29 July 2018}} De Alde Feanen National Park,{{cite web|url=https://www.omropfryslan.nl/nieuws/759433-vechtscenes-opgenomen-earnewald-voor-film-redbad|title=Vechtscenes opgenomen in Earnewâld voor film Redbad - Omrop Fryslân|date=1 October 2017|publisher=|accessdate=29 July 2018}} Ameland, Moddergat,{{cite web|url=https://www.persbureau-ameland.nl/ameland-en-de-noordzee-decor-van-film-redbad|title=Ameland en de Noordzee decor van film Redbad - Persbureau Ameland|first=Tsjil internet solutions -|last=www.tsjil.nl|website=www.persbureau-ameland.nl|accessdate=29 July 2018}} the Wadden Sea, Denmark, the German city of Wallsbüll and the Bouillon Castle in Belgium.{{cite web|url=https://www.nu.nl/entertainment/4899971/gijs-naber-krijgt-hoofdrol-in-nieuwe-film-roel-reine.html|title=Gijs Naber krijgt hoofdrol in nieuwe film Roel Reiné - NU - Het laatste nieuws het eerst op NU.nl|website=www.nu.nl|date=29 August 2017 |accessdate=29 July 2018}} The film was shot in 42 days and used more than 10,000 extras, which is a record amount for a Dutch production. The final shooting day was on 19 November 2017.{{cite web|url=https://www.rtlboulevard.nl/entertainment/artikel/3735506/laatste-draaidag-voor-historisch-epos-redbad|title=Laatste draaidag voor historisch epos Redbad|website=RTL Boulevard|date=19 November 2017 |accessdate=29 July 2018}} The sound for film movie was produced by Dolby Atmos.{{cite web|url=https://www.metronieuws.nl/nieuws/showbizz/2018/06/redbad-eerste-nederlandse-film-in-4dx|title=Redbad eerste Nederlandse film in 4DX|website=Metronieuws.nl|date=7 June 2018 |accessdate=29 July 2018}}

Before the film's release it was already sold to multiple countries and territories, among them Germany, France, China, Spain, Turkey, South Korea, Poland, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, the Middle East and the Commonwealth of Independent States.{{cite web|url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/first-full-trailer-for-dutch-epic-redbad-more-sales-announced-exclusive/5127965.article|title=First full trailer for Dutch epic 'Redbad', more sales announced (exclusive)|publisher=|accessdate=29 July 2018}} In February Epic Pictures Group bought the North American distribution rights.{{cite web|url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/dutch-epic-redbad-starring-jonathan-banks-scores-us-deal-exclusive-/5126461.article|title=Dutch epic 'Redbad' starring Jonathan Banks scores US deal (exclusive)|publisher=|accessdate=29 July 2018}} Early test footage of the film was shown on 31 March and 1 April at Dutch Comic Con in the Jaarbeurs in Utrecht.{{cite web|url=https://www.rtlnieuws.nl/rtlboulevard/reine-toont-beelden-redbad-op-comic-con|title=Reiné toont beelden Redbad op Comic Con|website=RTL Nieuws|date=30 March 2018 |accessdate=29 July 2018}}

In May 2018, the producers of the film announced that YouTube and Facebook had sent an email to them that they would not show the trailer of the film on their platforms because it was considered offensive to large groups of people. Producer Klaas de Jong also mentioned he got hundreds of angry mails from Christians who did not agree with their depiction of historical events.{{cite web|url=https://www.metronieuws.nl/nieuws/showbizz/2018/05/youtube-wil-trailer-redbad-weg-hij-is-beledigend|title=YouTube wil trailer Redbad weg: 'hij is beledigend'|website=Metronieuws.nl|date=26 May 2018 |accessdate=4 September 2018}}

The film premiered on 23 June 2018, in an open air screening on the Wilhelminasquare in Leeuwarden, as part of the celebrations around the European Capital of Culture,{{cite web|url=https://www.lc.nl/friesland/Vol-plein-voor-Redbad-23305222.html|title=Vol plein voor 'Redbad'|website=www.lc.nl|accessdate=3 February 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.friesland.nl/nl/culturele-hoofdstad/over/nieuws/archief/openluchtpremiere-redbad-in-leeuwarden|title=Openluchtpremière Redbad in Leeuwarden - Friesland.nl|website=Friesland.nl|accessdate=29 July 2018}} a week later, on 28 June, it was released in cinemas nationwide. After its first month it only earned €332,785 back from its 8 million euro budget, making it the biggest box office bomb in the country's history. The producers of the film claimed this was because the warm weather and World Cup kept the public outside of cinemas.{{cite web|url=https://www.ad.nl/show/redbad-grootste-flop-br-ooit-in-nederland~afd0fa7c/|title=Cookies op AD.nl - AD.nl|website=www.ad.nl|accessdate=24 July 2018}}{{cite news|url=http://www.lc.nl/friesland/Film-Redbad-over-Friese-koning-grootste-flop-ooit-in-Nederland-23397377.html|title=Film 'Redbad' (over Friese koning) grootste flop ooit in Nederland|work=Leeuwarder Courant|language=Dutch|accessdate=24 July 2018}} The film was released in 4DX in two Pathé-cinemas in Amsterdam and Rotterdam, making it the first Dutch film released in 4DX. Seven weeks after its release it was already moved to video on demand-platform Pathé Thuis. This was at the time the shortest window between a theatre release and home release for a big Dutch production, which normally takes a period of three months.{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraaf.nl/entertainment/2433066/wereldprimeur-voor-bioscoopflop-redbad|title=Wereldprimeur voor bioscoopflop Redbad|date=14 August 2018|website=Telegraaf|accessdate=3 February 2019}} The film was also later edited into a four-part television miniseries, where they showed unused footage of the film.{{cite web|url=https://www.ad.nl/show/npo-komt-met-historische-serie-over-vliegtuigbouwer-fokker~a6efe03c/|title=Cookies op AD.nl - AD.nl|website=www.ad.nl|accessdate=3 February 2019}}

The film received overwhelmingly negative reviews from the major Dutch newspapers.{{cite web|url=https://www.nu.nl/film/5331914/recensieoverzicht-redbad-overschreeuwt-met-tenenkrommende-teksten.html|title=Recensieoverzicht: 'Redbad overschreeuwt met tenenkrommende teksten' - NU - Het laatste nieuws het eerst op NU.nl|website=www.nu.nl|date=28 June 2018 |accessdate=24 July 2018}} The Algemeen Dagblad said that everything in this movie takes too long, “the fight scenes, the introductions of the characters and the explanatory dialogue slow down the movie”.{{cite web|url=https://www.ad.nl/show/bombastisch-filmspektakel-redbad-slaat-de-kijker-lam~a95b8ba2/|title=Cookies op AD.nl - AD.nl|website=www.ad.nl|accessdate=29 July 2018}} De Volkskrant gave it two stars, praising the fight scenes but finding the screenplay clearly lacking in logic and tension. NRC Handelsblad said the movie was weighed down by a very top-heavy screenplay and an over reliance on drama.{{cite web|url=https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2018/06/26/redbad-is-een-wrotfilm-a1607988|title=Redbad is een wrotfilm|publisher=|accessdate=29 July 2018}} Trouw praised actor Gijs Naber but complained about the awful dialogue which was clearly written from a 21st-century perspective.{{cite web|url=https://blendle.com/getpremium/item/bnl-trn-20180628-9791387?sharer=eyJ2ZXJzaW9uIjoiMSIsInVpZCI6ImVsbHlvb21zIiwiaXRlbV9pZCI6ImJubC10cm4tMjAxODA2MjgtOTc5MTM4NyJ9|title=Blendle – Historisch spektakel met tenenkrommende teksten|website=blendle.com|accessdate=3 February 2019}} De Telegraaf while praising the ambition of the movies said that it takes too long and is overly reliant on close-ups and slow motion-scenes. They also praised Jonathan Banks in his role and remarked that it looked as if actor Jack Wouterse was in a completely different movie.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eu8Gt0LpciQ|title='Razendknappe Redbad overschreeuwt zichzelf' - DE RECENSIE|last=De Telegraaf|date=27 June 2018|publisher=|accessdate=29 July 2018|via=YouTube}} Het Parool praised the fact that director Roel Reine put his own signature on the film and that the troubled production was barely noticeable. However they do mention that it is sometimes noticeable that they did not have enough extras in some of the fight scenes.{{cite web|url=https://www.parool.nl/kunst-en-media/actie-bombast-en-een-afgetrainde-redbad-als-atheist~a4600541/|title=Actie, bombast en een afgetrainde Redbad als atheïst - Kunst & Media - PAROOL|website=Het Parool|date=27 June 2018|accessdate=29 July 2018}}

In an article by Asing Walthaus of the Leeuwarder Courant, historian Han Nijdam noted several historical inaccuracies. He pointed out that the castle in the film and the knights with chainmail armour are from the Late Middle Ages and not from the Early Middle Ages that the film depicts. He also complained that the film portrays the Frysians as barbarians in animal hides living in leaking huts even though it is proven that they lived in wooden houses with woven tapestries on their walls. It was his conclusion that the film puts spectacle over any form of historical accuracy.{{cite web|url=https://www.lc.nl/friesland/Redbadkenner-Historisch-zit-de-film-er-meestal-naast-23305938.html|title=Redbadkenner: 'Historisch zit de film er meestal naast'|website=www.lc.nl|accessdate=3 February 2019}}

The film was selected for the international Look-competition of the Ostend Film Festival.{{cite web|url=https://panorama.nl/entertainment/redbad-gaat-naar-filmfestival-oostende|title=Redbad gaat naar filmfestival Oostende|date=9 July 2018|publisher=|accessdate=29 July 2018}} In July 2018, it was one of nine films shortlisted by the EYE film institute to be the Dutch entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 91st Academy Awards, but it was not selected.{{cite web |url=https://international.eyefilm.nl/feature-film.html |title=Feature Film Academy Entry |work=EYE Film Institute Netherlands |date=20 July 2018 |accessdate=21 July 2018}} The film played at the Netherlands Film Festival{{cite web|url=https://www.filmfestival.nl/en/|title=Redbad|website=Nederlands Film Festival|accessdate=3 February 2019}} but was, to the surprise of some major newspapers, not nominated for any Golden Calves.{{cite web|url=https://www.volkskrant.nl/cultuur-media/-bankier-van-het-verzet-sleept-elf-kalfnominaties-in-de-wacht~bebc46dd/|title='Bankier van het verzet' sleept elf Kalfnominaties in de wacht|date=4 September 2018|publisher=|accessdate=4 September 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ad.nl/show/recordaantal-nominaties-voor-bankier-van-het-verzet~a6d41c59/|title=Cookies op AD.nl - AD.nl|website=www.ad.nl|accessdate=4 September 2018}}

In November 2018, the producers of the film announced that they would be suing YouTube for 200,000 euros because illegal copies of the film were viewed half a million times on the website.{{cite web|url=https://www.ad.nl/economie/producent-nederlandse-film-redbad-eist-twee-ton-van-videosite-youtube~a176bdad/|title=Cookies op AD.nl - AD.nl|website=www.ad.nl|accessdate=3 February 2019}}

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.redbadthemovie.com Official website]
• {{IMDb title|6155374|Redbad}}
• {{rotten-tomatoes|redbad}}

{{Roel Reiné}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Redbad}}

Category:2018 films

Category:2018 drama films

Category:2018 biographical drama films

Category:2010s historical drama films

Category:Dutch biographical drama films

Category:Dutch historical drama films

Category:2010s Dutch-language films

Category:Films directed by Roel Reiné

Category:Films scored by Trevor Morris (musician)

Category:4DX films

Category:Historical epic films