King of Devil’s Island is a relevant film about systematic abuse and revolt against authority, bringing a nations darks past into the light.

The last several years has seen many examples of abuse within state and church run institutions that although occurred decades ago, only recently have come to light. The British and Australian government’s apologised for the plight of the “home children” who were forcibly removed from the UK and sent to Australia where they faced unspeakable horrors (as depicted in Oranges and Sunshine). In Ireland, many are still reeling from an investigation which exposed abhorrent abuse within the Christian Brothers school system.

Norwegians were forced to face its own past of institutional abuse after the release of King of Devil’s Island, an historical drama which chronicled events that took place at Bastoy Prison located on Bastoy Island, which housed juvenile delinquents in 1915 (today it claims to be the world’s first ecological prison).

Directed by Marius Holst, the film begins with the arrival of new boy Erling (Benjamin Helstad), whose defiant attitude rubs the stern governor (Stellan Skarsgard) the wrong way, and makes an immediate impression on his fellow inmates especially model prisoner Olav (Trond Nilssen).

Every revolution needs a spark, and it is the sexual abuse of one of the weaker boys by sadistic supervisor Brathen (Kristoffer Joner) followed by the governor’s refusal to acknowledge this crime that turns a controlled environment into a warzone.

Holst’s stark depiction of these events is the appropriate way to tackle this material. He does not shy away from the abuses occurred, often dispensed through hard labour which although aimed to build character, instead destroyed spirits.

The majority of the films running time are spent with these boys. We feel their hunger, their humiliation and the chill of the ice-bound landscape they call home. As a result King of Devil’s Island is a film set to make viewers sad and angry, especially towards the governor whose stance as a man of Christian compassion and fatherly tough love is revealed to be hypocritical.

Skarsgard – one of the best character actors for a decade now – plays the role with unflinching authority and a surprisingly well established conflicted moral compass. The governor is definitely a bad man, but one who is shown struggling with the information given. That he freely chose the wrong course of action makes him not only culpable, but corrupt on power.

Perhaps that is something to take not only from Kings of Devil’s Island, but other films based on such deplorable events. Power is often achieved through isolation and fear. All of history’s despots and dictators relished in such tactics. Now that we’ve seen what horrors can come from such environments, let’s pray it never occurs again under our watch.