This Norwegian/Irish co-production, offers a somewhat different approach to recounting the dark horrors of Nazi takeover tactics, and while it probably played better in the country of origin it makes for an engrossing history lesson. With minimal special effects it effectively illustrates the tension and anxiety forced onto the lives of all those in the German war machines sights. Under the guise of: 'we are coming into your territory to protect you from an attack by the nasty British!' - then, sneaking into Drobak Sound in the dead of night, without light, and Guns poised, the Germans telegraphed a tell tale warning of what's to come. This tense tale is based on fact - even though director Erik Poppe, tells us in an admirably honest but curious end credit: This telling is a work of fiction - based on actual history but not a documentary - It is informed by one truth, others may exist. An interesting touch that suggests you may have to do some homework for other elements of the story.
It's all perfectly performed from top to minor supporting roles and hardly misses a beat within its desperate cat and mouse premise. It charts several interesting insights to some little known facts within Norway's political make up of the times, and how this 'King' was being forced into a desperate decision by a crafty enemy. An enemy that had already determined to 'take' this valuable geographical advantage and its mineral resources... 'ready or not'. Direction is on target and a descriptive music score moves along with the action. For some reason this polished production is saddled with a hand-held photographic approach and while this works for the news gathering type of 'on-the-run' elements, it makes for some, at times, clumsy moments elsewhere.
Anyone wanting to understand more about this neutral countries dangerously vulnerable situation - should be richly rewarded. There are titles at the finish to update us on what happened to those involved BUT... it's so difficult to understand why moviemakers who spend thousands of dollars on titling - opt for the smallest font sizes available - then squash all this vital information into the middle section of a WIDE screen ratio - leaving most unreadable! - I ask?
It's all perfectly performed from top to minor supporting roles and hardly misses a beat within its desperate cat and mouse premise. It charts several interesting insights to some little known facts within Norway's political make up of the times, and how this 'King' was being forced into a desperate decision by a crafty enemy. An enemy that had already determined to 'take' this valuable geographical advantage and its mineral resources... 'ready or not'. Direction is on target and a descriptive music score moves along with the action. For some reason this polished production is saddled with a hand-held photographic approach and while this works for the news gathering type of 'on-the-run' elements, it makes for some, at times, clumsy moments elsewhere.
Anyone wanting to understand more about this neutral countries dangerously vulnerable situation - should be richly rewarded. There are titles at the finish to update us on what happened to those involved BUT... it's so difficult to understand why moviemakers who spend thousands of dollars on titling - opt for the smallest font sizes available - then squash all this vital information into the middle section of a WIDE screen ratio - leaving most unreadable! - I ask?