Plot: What’s it about?
The most advanced, reliable hospital in Copenhagen is known as The Kingdom, home to skilled doctors, a venerable staff of nurses, and the finest equipment available. In other words, this is the place to frequent when you need medical assistance, as The Kingdom has the best surgeons, doctors, and tools in the field. But it has some problems areas like any hospital, mainly in terms of relationships between the staff and patients. Some of those on call are compassionate, caring people, but some view their jobs as just that and wish to do little else, aside from taking care of the basic medical needs. This causes some conflict between staff members, as some are more concerned with budget issues, as opposed to the welfare of the patients, but this is just one of the current problems of The Kingdom. The hospital also harbors some dark secrets within its walls and as time has passed, some spirits have remained behind and haunt the halls of The Kingdom, though not everyone has witnessed them. As a rash of unexplained, mysterious events unfolds, what will become of The Kingdom and all those within its confines?
This hospital based mini-series was directed by Lars von Trier (Element of Crime, Dancer in the Dark) and plays out like an odd blend of E.R. and Twin Peaks, but with a more supernatural, chaotic overall presence. As dark and eerie as The Kingdom is, it also has scenes of bizarre humor and sheer outlandish moments, so you can’t take the whole series seriously, nor can you expect any kind of consistent tones. The series has elements of humor, drama, horror, romance, and even some traits seen only in soap operas, so you’ll never be certain of what to expect, aside from some of the most unique & inventive material out there. In addition, the visuals are rough and often even abrasive, thanks to the color scheme, dark black levels, and imaginative cinematography, all of which are used to effective ends here. I was also pleased with the unusual, but realistic performances, from the major leads to the smaller roles. Seville’s two disc set contains the complete mini-series of The Kingdom, so you can view all the episodes, but bear in mind, you’ll need to track down a Canadian e-tailer, since Seville’s release is exclusive to our Northern neighbors. I think The Kingdom is a unique, very well crafted series and Seville’s edition is very worthwhile, so let’s hope they’re also able to release The Kingdom II at some point.
Video: How does it look?
The Kingdom is presented in a full frame transfer, as intended. As per usual for von Trier, the visuals here are dark and rough around the edges, comparable to his Dogme efforts, but perhaps a little more refined. As such, you can’t expect a pristine, ultra-sharp treatment, but Seville has come through with a solid, more than effective visual presentation. The print has less grain than the versions I’ve seen, as well as a cleaner print and that enhances the image a lot, giving us a much cleaner, more defined picture. The colors are natural and maybe even a little muted, but that is how it should be, as per the visual intent. The image is a little dark at times, but not to an extreme level and on the whole, contrast is well balanced. The image is a little rough I admit, but as far as the material is concerned, this is a solid overall effort from Seville.
Audio: How does it sound?
A basic, but more than acceptable audio track is used here and given the nature of the series, not much else is needed. A few scenes do show some potential in terms of surround sound, but most of the material is dialogue based, so no real complaints there. The original Danish soundtrack is preserved in a 2.0 surround option that sounds good, but lacks the depth in those noted scenes that I would have liked. But given the roots of the series, I couldn’t demand much more and as such, I see no reason to be overly critical. The dialogue is clean & clear and sound effects are on the mark, a more than acceptable audio treatment. This disc also includes English subtitles, but they’re forced, not optional, which is a slight let down.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes additional information on von Trier, as well as a transcript of an interview with the director himself.
