Held for Ransom

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1:43

Held for Ransom

2021

2h 15m

Drama

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Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

100%

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11 Reviews

72%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

HELD FOR RANSOM tells the true story of Danish photojournalist Daniel Rye who was held hostage for 398 days in Syria by the terror organization ISIS along with several other foreign nationals including the American journalist, James Foley. The film follows Daniel's struggle to survive in captivity, his friendship with James, and the nightmare of the Rye family back home in Denmark as they try to do everything in their power to save their son. At the center of this crisis, we find hostage negotiator, Arthur, who plays a pivotal role in securing Daniel's release.

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Beatrice Loayza

New York Times

10/14/2021

Should you be willing to overlook certain intrinsic difficulties, "Held for Ransom" is a surprisingly thoughtful hostage drama given the blunt meatheadedness of its title.

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Leslie Felperin

Guardian

01/12/2021

3/5

This is another film about a white European mixed up in a Middle Eastern war they barely seem to understand, but on its own terms it's a story well told.

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Jessica Kiang

Variety

07/09/2020

A polished, moving, muscular thriller that never exploits or simplistically reduces its real-life horrors for entertainment value.

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Nathaniel Muir

AIPT

12/20/2021

The methodical pace almost seems to go against a tense hostage drama. It works since the film does not rely on melodrama while still delivering the full impact of the story.

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Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

10/22/2021

Held for Ransom is brutally straightforward, with no editorializing about the surrounding political complexities. It's hardly a pleasant watch, yet one whose nearly 2.5 hours pass quickly.

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

10/22/2021

4/5

...an exhaustive, harrowing but very worthwhile film...

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Roger P

@RT51744219 04/30/2023

Very moving movie for sure. However, don't they understand that every ransom paid for a hostage produces two more hostages, etc. The Danish non-negotiation policy is the right one. I do not fault the family one bit. But In the long run, martyrdom is better.

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Niels Arden Oplev

Director

Anders W. Berthelsen

Director

Esben Smed

Daniel

Anders W. Berthelsen

Arthur

Toby Kebbell

James Foley

Ardalan Esmaili

Jeremy

Held for Ransom: Trailer 1

1:43

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Synopsis

HELD FOR RANSOM tells the true story of Danish photojournalist Daniel Rye who was held hostage for 398 days in Syria by the terror organization ISIS along with several other foreign nationals including the American journalist, James Foley. The film follows Daniel's struggle to survive in captivity, his friendship with James, and the nightmare of the Rye family back home in Denmark as they try to do everything in their power to save their son. At the center of this crisis, we find hostage negotiator, Arthur, who plays a pivotal role in securing Daniel's release.

Director: Niels Arden Oplev, Anders W. Berthelsen
Producer: Morten Kaufmann, Signe Leick Jensen
Screenwriter: Anders Thomas Jensen
Distributor: Samuel Goldwyn Films
Production Co: Danish Film Institute, Norsk Filminstitutt, Film i Väst, Nordisk Film- & TV-Fond, Swedish Film Institute, Cinenic Film, Yleisradio, Imaginarium Films, Den Vestdanske Filmpulje, Toolbox Film, Eurimages, Danmarks Radio, Hummelfilm, Deluca Film A/S, Sveriges Television
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Danish
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 15, 2021, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 15, 2021
Runtime: 2h 15m
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)