Starring
Roland Moller, Mikkel Folsgaard, Laura Bro, Louis Hofmann, Joel
Morbach, Oskar Bokelmann, Emil Belton, Oskar Belton. Directed by
Martin Zandvliet. (2015, 101 min).
The
Nazis weren't the only ones committing atrocities in World War
II.
Once
the war ended, the Danish army forced thousands of captured German
soldiers to clear its beaches of over two million land mines. Most of
them were inexperienced kids and nearly half were killed.
Land of Mine presents a part of Danish history few people are
probably aware of.
Roland
Moller plays Sgt. Rasmussen, who, like most Danes, still harbors an
understandable amount of resentment and hatred for the Germans. He's
placed in charge of 14 boys, who must clear a section of beach where
45,000 landmines are buried, which he estimates will take three
months, providing each boy finds and defuses six-an-hour. Once their
task is completed, they will be permitted to go home.
With
precious little prior training, every day is a living a nightmare. The
knowledge that any of them could die without warning takes a
psychological toll on the soldiers, not helped by Rasmussen's callous
treatment. It's days before he even feeds them for the first time and
he's indifferent when a few become seriously ill. But after one of
them is blown up (whose death is agonizingly slow) and he sees how it
affects the rest of them, Moller has an epiphany, reminded that his 'enemies' are just homesick kids who had their own families,
hopes and dreams before the war, and now just want to return to put
their lives back together.
 |
| "Oh, now I get it...Land of Mine...we're hunting for mines." |
Other
than Sebastian (Louis Hofmann) and two ill-fated twins, we don't know
much about these soldiers. This is mostly Rasmussen's story and his
evolution from vindictiveness to empathy, becoming almost a father
figure in the process. The performances are mostly low-key and
convincing, Moller in particular, who conveys his character's change
with subtlety and skill.
Despite
the deliberate pace and consistently solemn tone, Land of Mine
is often a harrowing, tension-filled experience. Watching these kids
attempt to defuse the mines without being blown to bits is almost
unbearably nerve-racking, made all the more intense due to the
relative quiet permeating the surrounding scenes.
Nominated
for Best Foreign Language Film at the 2017 Oscars, Land of Mine
is a somber, eye-opening film. Like the previous year's winner, Son
of Saul, the subject matter isn't something most would want to
revisit, but it's definitely worth an evening of your time.
EXTRA
KIBBLES
"In
Conversation with Director Martin Zandvliet" - A Q&A session
following a screening.
KITTY CONSENSUS:
VERY WELL MADE, BUT NOT EXACTLY A FEEL-GOOD FILM
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