Prior to the film’s market premiere at the European Film Market in Berlin, Betacinema co-screened “Operation Napoleon” with France (Mediavan), Spain (Tulio Oaks), Poland (Hagi Film), the former Yugoslavia (Megacom), Japan (Tohokushinsha). has announced the first deals for ) and Taiwan (AV-Jet).
The English-language thriller is based on the best-selling novel by Icelandic crime writer Arnaldor Andersson and stars Icelandic newcomers Vivian Ólafsdóttir (“It Hatched”) and Iain Glenn, who ” Best known for his role as Dr. Alexander Isaacs in Resident. As Ser Jorah Mormont in the Evil film series and “Game of Thrones.”
The vivid story takes us from modern Iceland at the end of World War II to America and Nazi Germany. It centers on a young Icelandic lawyer, Kristen, who becomes caught up in the maelstrom of an international conspiracy when she finds grainy footage of the wreckage of an old plane, recently discovered on one of Iceland’s largest glaciers. It has emerged from the melting of one.
The old German World War II plane not only brings out the ruthless criminals, but also CIA Deputy Director William Carr, who has already been secretly trying to remove the wreckage for a long time. Kristen puts herself in great danger, refusing to rest until the key to solving the puzzle of “Operation Napoleon” is discovered.
“Operation Napoleon” is directed by Óskar Þór Axelsson, whose feature films “Black’s Game” and “I Remember You” were both box office hits in Iceland. Axelsson directs from a script by Martin Þórisson (“Silent Witness,” “Jack Taylor”), based on the international best-selling novel by Arnold Andresson. Indriðason’s “Reykjavík Murder Mystery” series has sold over 15 million copies worldwide and has been translated into 41 languages. For “The Silence of the Grave” Andreessen was awarded the prestigious Gold Digger, awarded annually by the British Crime Writers’ Assn. For best crime novel of the year. He has also been awarded the Nordic Crime Novel Prize for two years.
Iain Glenn stars in “Operation Napoleon” (Courtesy of Saga Film/Juliet Rowland)
The cast includes Ólafur Darri Ólafsson (“Trapped,” “The Minister,” “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty,” “True Detective” and “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald”), Jack Fox (Sky Atlantic’s Breakout). Prepared with series “Riviera,” “Sanditon,” “Cheaters”), Wotan Wilke Möhring (“Valkyrie,” “Sløborn”), Atli Óskar Fjalarsson, Adesuwa Oni, Anette Badland, Birna Rún Eiríksdóttir, Höskuldur Þótórna Jösturn, Höskuldur Þórsonna Thórnótúr. Leo Gunnarsson and Hajjter Johan Johnson.
“Operation Napoleon” is produced by Tina Proppi and Hilmar Sigurdsson of Saga Films in Iceland, with Dirk Schweitzer and Anita Elsani for Great Entertainment in Germany. Kjartan Thor Thordarsson, Ralph Christians and Adalsteinn Jóhannsson serve as executive producers.
“Operation Napoleon” starts from within the Beta family, one of the first theatrical films since Beta Nordic Studios acquired a 25% stake in Reykjavík-based Sagafilm in 2020.
Support came from the Icelandic Film Fund, Nordisk Film and TV Fund, Film- und Medienstiftung NRW and Deutscher Filmförderungsfonds. German public broadcaster ZDF is co-producing and has acquired the free TV rights.
Sam will be released theatrically in Iceland on February 3rd, and Marvel/24 Builder will be released in Germany on March 9th.
Beta Cinema will host two market screenings at the European Film Market.
Read full article here