Viking (2016 film)

Plot

While hunting an aurochs, Yaropolk's retainer Lyut is killed by Oleg after a dispute. Yaropolk pursues Oleg, who is denied entry to Polotsk by lord Rogvolod and falls to his death. Yaropolk orders Sveneld to answer for Lyut's death, but Sveneld escapes. Later, Sveneld returns to Polotsk with Vladimir and Viking mercenaries.

Vladimir seeks to marry Rogvolod's daughter Rogneda, but she insults him as the son of a slave. Enraged, Vladimir besieges Polotsk. At the Vikings' urging, he drinks a berserker potion, joins the attack, and rapes Rogneda. Afterward, he finds his men have killed Rogvolod and his wife, but spares Rogneda, showing regret.

Production

Konstantin Ernst and Anatoly Maksimov, known for Night Watch and Day Watch, produced the film. A few scenes were shot in 2013 to secure funding, with most production occurring from March to July 2015. The budget matched that of the Russian WWII epic Stalingrad at 1,250 million rubles (about $20 million). The costume designer sourced fabric and studied frescoes and museums in China, India, Helsinki, Riga, Novgorod, Stockholm, and Minsk.

The extinct Pecheneg language was reinvented for the film. The cast includes Swedish actor Joakim Nätterqvist, Canada's John DeSantis, and Belarusian actress Aleksandra Bortich. Nätterqvist worked with a translator and spoke a mix of Swedish and Norwegian to simulate Old Norse.

Kazakhstan's Nomad Stunts handled battle scenes and pyrotechnics. Principal photography began in March 2015, shot in Crimea: Bakhchysarai, Bilohirsk, Sudak's Genoese fortress, Shkolnoe, Cape Fiolent, and Glavkino studio. Later, the scenery was used for the Viking Cinema Park in Perevalne, Crimea, which opened in May 2016. Some scenes were filmed in Ravenna, Italy, at the Basilica of San Vitale and the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia.

Music

Russian composer Igor Matvienko wrote the film's music over two years, studying 9th–10th century music and the era of Prince Vladimir. Specialists from the Gnessin State Musical College recorded tracks using copies of ancient instruments like the hurdy-gurdy, gudok, tambourines, and gusli, then mixed them with a synthesizer.

A dedicated studio was set up for recording. Producer Igor Polonsky, arrangers Artyom Vasiliev, Alexander Kamensky, Rafael Safin, and singer Aya of Gorod 312 contributed. Irish composer Dean Valentine scored the trailers and part of the film, recording with the Orchestra of Ireland; his previous work includes trailers for Captain America: Civil War, Interstellar, and American Sniper.

Release

UK-based Red Arrow International handled international sales, screening at the 2016 American Film Market and receiving 200 inquiries from 45 territories. By January 2017, the film had sold to over 60 countries, including Germany, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, China, South Korea, the UK, Italy, and most of Latin America, despite being partially filmed in Russian-annexed Crimea. The UK release was 18 September 2017, and France's at the Absurde Seance festival on 10 October 2017.

The film sold to over 80 territories total. The US release was via Amazon Prime Video in October 2018. The first teaser trailer was shown at a closed event with the Russian Ministry of Culture and Cinema Foundation.

The release date was announced as 22 December 2016, later moved to 29 December. The film was presented at Comic-Con Russia 2016 with a stunt show. The set was used for Russia's first movie-based theme park, opened in May 2016 in Perevalnoye, Crimea.

Did You Know?

• The film was planned for eventual release as a TV series with additional footage.
• The film grossed 1.48 billion rubles in Russia, becoming the tenth highest-grossing film in the country in 2016.