Very impressive film from Norway! It tells the story of two Norwegian sailors who get caught up in the turmoil of the times during the Second World War.
Alfred (Kristoffer JONER, known from THE WAVE) and Sigbjörn (Pal Sverre HAGEN, known from KON-TIKI) are best buddies and go to sea together as civilian sailors, like many Norwegians did at the time. When the Second World War began with Hitler Germanys attack on Poland, of course no one asked anymore whether one was a soldier or a civilian sailor. So it happens that the two of them and their friends are drawn into the madness of war, from which there will be no escape for six years or more. At the same time, the fate of Alfred's family in Bergen is also followed. Cecilia (Ine Marie WILMANN, known from TROLL) does everything she can to keep her children alive. But then the Allies' disastrous attack on Bergen occurs, in which the school is also hit...
This film magnificently shows the many sufferings of the civilian population in times of war. Ordinary people just trying to make a living are drawn into the madness of carnage. This great film impressively shows the devastation this causes on the bodies and souls of those affected. A small flaw is the erratic narration, which makes the characters less relatable. Filming also took place in Northern Germany and Malta. Florian SCHMIDTKE (NETFLIX series BARBARIANS), Damian HARDUNG (DAS SCHÖNSTE MÄDCHEN DER WELT / THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL IN THE WORLD) and Max HUBACHER (DER HAUPTMANN / THE CAPTAIN) appear in smaller roles.
The attack on Bergen reminded me of the events in Esens in East Frisia in 1943, where entire school years were wiped out by a bomb on a school. It's hard to imagine what that meant for small towns like Bergen and Esens. This madness of war was and is reality!
By the way, the music for the film comes from Volker BERTELMANN, who just received an ACADEMY AWARD for ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT.
Alfred (Kristoffer JONER, known from THE WAVE) and Sigbjörn (Pal Sverre HAGEN, known from KON-TIKI) are best buddies and go to sea together as civilian sailors, like many Norwegians did at the time. When the Second World War began with Hitler Germanys attack on Poland, of course no one asked anymore whether one was a soldier or a civilian sailor. So it happens that the two of them and their friends are drawn into the madness of war, from which there will be no escape for six years or more. At the same time, the fate of Alfred's family in Bergen is also followed. Cecilia (Ine Marie WILMANN, known from TROLL) does everything she can to keep her children alive. But then the Allies' disastrous attack on Bergen occurs, in which the school is also hit...
This film magnificently shows the many sufferings of the civilian population in times of war. Ordinary people just trying to make a living are drawn into the madness of carnage. This great film impressively shows the devastation this causes on the bodies and souls of those affected. A small flaw is the erratic narration, which makes the characters less relatable. Filming also took place in Northern Germany and Malta. Florian SCHMIDTKE (NETFLIX series BARBARIANS), Damian HARDUNG (DAS SCHÖNSTE MÄDCHEN DER WELT / THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL IN THE WORLD) and Max HUBACHER (DER HAUPTMANN / THE CAPTAIN) appear in smaller roles.
The attack on Bergen reminded me of the events in Esens in East Frisia in 1943, where entire school years were wiped out by a bomb on a school. It's hard to imagine what that meant for small towns like Bergen and Esens. This madness of war was and is reality!
By the way, the music for the film comes from Volker BERTELMANN, who just received an ACADEMY AWARD for ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT.