TOBIAS LINDHOLM
Bil’s rating (out of 5): BBB. Denmark, 2015. Danmarks Radio, Det Danske Filminstitut, Nordisk Film Production, Nordisk Film- & TV-Fond, Studio Canal. Screenplay by Tobias Lindholm. Cinematography by Magnus Nordenhof Jonck. Produced by Rene Ezra, Tomas Radoor. Music by Sune Wagner. Production Design by Thomas Greve. Costume Design by Louize Nissen. Film Editing by Adam Nielsen. Academy Awards 2015.
Danish soldiers in rural Afghanistan become embroiled in the situation of one particular family in the village where they are stationed, placing the family in danger from the Taliban that these peacekeepers are there to protect them from. When an ambush leads to a split-second decision on the part of the commander to bring in air support, it is viewed back home as an unnecessary strike that causes casualties and makes him a war criminal. He is sent home to his wife and children, their life without him having been glimpsed frequently between scenes of battle, and when he is put on trial, his fellow soldiers are interrogated while his family life becomes melancholy. Intelligently written and directed, this surprisingly spare film asks no questions of any of the themes or issues that it brings up, presenting its case from beginning to satisfying end, intense without being challenging and intelligent without being complex.
