Espen “Ash Lad”, a poor farmer’s son, embarks on a dangerous quest with his brothers to save the princess from a vile troll known as the Mountain King – in order to collect a reward and save his family’s farm from ruin.
Production
Troll Kingdom set design feels like a lavish stage production come alive.
Practical Effects
Mountain King makeup and prosthetics—refreshingly tangible monster work.
Acting
Vebjørn Enger's earnest underdog energy carries the whole adventure.
Director
Mikkel Brænne Sandemose
Vebjørn Enger
Espen Ash Lad
Mads Sjøgård Pettersen
Per
Elias Holmen Sørensen
Pål
Eili Harboe
Princess Kristin
Allan Hyde
Prince Fredrik
Thorbjørn Harr
Father
Gard B. Eidsvold
The King
Synnøve Macody Lund
The Queen
Gisken Armand
Old Log Lady
Ida Ursin-Holm
Forest Nymph
Robert Skjærstad
Christian
Arthur Berning
Gunnar
Antonio de la Cruz
Little-Jan
Øystein Røger
Little-Jan (voice)
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Based on the classic Norwegian fairy tale 'Askeladden,' whose name literally means 'ash boy'—a Cinderella-adjacent archetype of underestimated youngest sons who succeed through wit, not birthright.
Director Mikkel Brænne Sandemose is actually descended from the legendary Sandemose family of Norwegian writers, including Aksel Sandemose who coined 'Janteloven'—the cultural law of modesty that Ash Lad's humility ironically embodies.
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