Held for Ransom (2019) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language

2019 · 138 mins · Danish

Echo score 83

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Directed by

Niels Arden Oplev

Starring

Ardalan Esmaili, Toby Kebbell, Rasmus Bjerg, Fady Elsayed, Sofie Torp, Anders W. Berthelsen

Budget

$41M

Based on a true story, this film portrays the ordeal of Danish photojournalist Daniel Rye, held hostage by ISIS in Syria for nearly 398 days. Alongside other foreign nationals, including American journalist James Foley, Daniel fights to survive captivity while forging a friendship. The story also explores the emotional turmoil experienced by Daniel’s family in Denmark as they desperately try to secure his release, with the involvement of a hostage negotiator.