Swing Kids (1993)

Calificación de los usuarios:

6.3/10   

Director:

Thomas Carter

Guionista (WGA):

Jonathan Marc Feldman (written by)

Fecha de Lanzamiento:

5 marzo 1993 (USA)

Género:

Drama | Música

Frase comercial:

In a world on the brink of war. You either march to one tune or dance to another.

Plot:

The story of a close-knit group of young kids in Nazi Germany who listen to banned swing music from the US...

Plot Keywords:

Swing | Nazi | Germany | Swing Dancing | Political

Premios:

1 win & 1 nomination

Comentarios de los usuarios:

Uneven, but powerful

Reparto

Robert Sean Leonard	...	Peter Müller
Christian Bale	...	Thomas Berger
Frank Whaley	...	Arvid
Barbara Hershey	...	Frau Müller
Tushka Bergen	...	Evey
David Tom	...	Willi Müller
Julia Stemberger	...	Frau Linge
Jayce Bartok	...	Otto
Noah Wyle	...	Emil Lutz
Johan Leysen	...	Herr Schumler
Douglas Roberts	...	Herr Hinz
Martin Clunes	...	Bannführer
Jessica Hynes	...	Helga (as Jessica Stevenson)
Carl Brincat	...	H.J. Thug
Mary Fogarty	...	Mama Klara Müller (as Mary Fogerty)

También conocida como:

Rebeldes del swing (Spain) [es]

Duración:

112 min

País:

USA

Idioma:

Inglés

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Relación de Aspecto:

1.85 : 1

Sonido:

Dolby

Clasificación:

Australia:M | Iceland:14 (original rating) | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:12 | USA:PG-13

Locaciones de Filmación:

Prague, Czech Republic

Compañía:

Hollywood Pictures

Trivialidades:

On location in Prague in near freezing weather, Christian Bale was visited by 'Spielberg, Steven' (director of his feature film debut Empire of the Sun (1987)).

Errores:

Continuidad: At the end of the film, when Willy is running after Peter and stops, there is clearly nothing at Willy's feet. Later, after being told "Swing Heil", he grabs an umbrella on a wet poster at his feet that clearly wasn't there before.

Citas:

Arvid: You think that just because you're not doing it yourself, you're not a part of it? Well, I'm sick and tired of doing my part.

Conexiones de Película:

Referenced in Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Swing But Were Afraid to Ask (1999)

Banda de Sonido:

JUMPIN' AT THE WOODSIDE

Uneven, but powerful

Four German teenage boys (Leonard, Bale, Whaley, and Batrok), living under Nazy reign in World War II, secretly play Swing music, American stuff that's been forbidden, and embrace the concepts of the musical heritage. But this is clearly an act of rebellion, so they must do it in secret clubs at night, avoiding the Gestapo. Their relationships and the outcomes are the study of this film, which is both uneven and, ultimately, very powerful.

Roger Ebert detested this film for the fact that, to him, is unclear in it's message. He feels that the motives behind these teen's rebellion are stupid: It seems as if Hitler hadn't banned Swing music, then they would have thought that he was a swell guy.

Actually, this observation on Mr. Ebert's behalf might be the film's point. They thought Hitler was a loser because of he didn't let them play their music. Through this fact, they learn that there is a much bigger problem here, and they know that they can't conform to it. So how do they rebell? Through the music that they cherish.

Along the way, two of the boys, Leonard and Bale, are forced to join the Gestapo. Leonard doesn't embrace the teachings, but Bale is slowly brainwashed into conforming. Whaley is a cripple, and he therefore observes the Nazis from a different position. He soon begins to despise his two friends for their uniforms. While his character might be an arrogant jerk, it is clear that he's got a better idea about the evil that's going on than anyone else. Bartok is just sort of along for the ride, just wanting to hang out with his friends and play in his music...oblivious to what happens with the Jews or Nazis.

So here we have four chief characters that pretty much represent probably the most basic attitudes of German citizens during the war: Brainwashed, aware, torn in between, and indifferent. The characters are well acted, and the balance and chemisty between them work. The message at the end is very clear and VERY powerful....I am often reminded of its subtle excellence, though I haven't seen it in a good while.

Unfortunately, the film itself is uneven. Almost too much time is spent on the swing music itself. So much that it takes away from the message of the film. The music should have only served as a backdrop, and endless scenes of dancing almost threaten to take away from the impact of the theme. "Almost" is the key word. All in all, this is a most intriguing film. Kenneth Branagh appears unbilled, as a central Gestapo character.

*** out of ****