The Salvation

The Salvation (2014)

Overview:
The Salvation is a Danish Western directed by Kristian Levring, starring Mads Mikkelsen, Eva Green, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and Eric Cantona. The film pays homage to classic American Westerns while adding a dark, European perspective on violence, morality, and survival in the frontier.

Plot Summary:

In 1870s America, Danish immigrant Jon Jensen (Mads Mikkelsen), a former soldier, has spent years building a new life for himself on the frontier. After seven years apart, he is finally reunited with his wife and young son, who arrive by train. Their joy is short-lived, however—on the stagecoach ride home, two drunken ex-convicts assault them. Jon fights back, but his wife and child are murdered. Enraged and heartbroken, he kills the attackers.

One of the men Jon killed turns out to be the brother of the notorious gang leader Delarue (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), who rules a nearby town through fear, corruption, and violence. Seeking revenge, Delarue demands the townspeople hand over Jon, threatening them with destruction if they refuse.

Jon, now hunted, becomes a symbol of both hope and danger to the frightened townsfolk, who betray him out of fear. He finds an unlikely ally in Madeleine (Eva Green), Delarue’s mute sister-in-law, who has endured years of abuse and cruelty at his hands.

As Delarue’s reign of terror escalates, Jon prepares for a bloody showdown. He uses his military skills and sheer determination to confront the gang, reclaim his honor, and avenge his family. In a brutal final battle, Jon kills Delarue, liberating both the town and Madeleine from the outlaw’s grip.

Themes:

• Revenge vs. Justice: The story examines how vengeance can consume a man but also serve as the only path to survival in lawless times.

• Corruption & Fear: The cowardice of the townspeople highlights how fear allows tyranny to flourish.

• Immigrant Struggles: Jon’s story reflects the harsh reality of immigrants seeking a better life in America.

• Silent Suffering: Madeleine’s muteness symbolizes voiceless victims of violence who nevertheless endure and resist.

Style & Tone:

• Gritty, violent, and atmospheric, with wide desert landscapes reminiscent of Sergio Leone’s spaghetti westerns.

• A bleak yet powerful meditation on frontier justice and human resilience.