The myths surrounding the Danish Resistance during World War II are scathingly reassessed through the eyes of two of its legendary heroes in this action-packed thriller.
The most expensive film ever made in Denmark it was also a massive homeland hit. Mads Mikkelsen is Citron, a family man who's initially sickened by the idea of murder but who grows into a vicious killer. Thure Lindhardt is Flame, a dapper red-headed assassin who becomes racked by uncertainty. Smuggling British pilots by night and assassinating Nazis by day, they are heroes. But as the war grinds on, the contradictory orders of their British and government-in-exile commanders and their inability to discern friend from foe among colleagues and superiors leave the pair increasingly isolated, a danger to their comrades and themselves. (Source: NZ International Film Festival)
This expensive Danish film offers insights into World War II we are not often privy to, a world where the black and white nature of killing the bad guy can be muddied in a single conversation. This cool-headed portrayal of resistance men working as Nazi assassins maintains a gritty suspense throughout, balancing the cool tone by showing glimpses of the impact on the men’s consciences. As the body count grows the film also exposes moral dilemmas as to the righteous actions of the supposed heroes.
There’s little cinematic glamour to detract from the realism of the story, other than the feminine Stine Stengade as Ketty Selmer, an informant who become’s Flame’s lover. That story – and a scene in which one of the pair’s comrades is almost killed – shows the insidious distrust inherent in even the most intimate relationships.
Filmmaker Ole Christian Madsen finds beauty amid the tragedy. The streets of Copenhagen and countryside of North Zealand are artworks in themselves, and the minimal lighting amplifies the emotions of the cast. That’s a good thing because it’s not always easy to root for these aloof men until we learn of their personal lives.
Ultimately, Flame and Citron’s character-driven story brings home the sad yet powerful truth that many lives amounted to nothing more than identities of war. They were two very different men fighting for the same thing.
By Rebecca Barry Hill, Flicks.co.nz
Brilliantly captures the shades of right and wrong in wartime.
A taut, handsome production -- the most expensive Danish film to date -- and it looks like a film noir, as indeed the costumes, cars, guns and fugitives force it to.
This searing, stylish account of World War II heroism from Denmark's Ole Christian Madsen avoids period realism, conveying the story of two heroes of the Danish resistance as a noir thriller, complete with shadowy alleys, double-crosses galore and the requisite femme fatale.
A deeply involving look at people living permanently on the knife-edge of danger, Flame & Citron does more than radically rethink the World War II resistance drama. Its biggest accomplishment may be to make these historical conflicts and dilemmas seem surprisingly contemporary.
Though the material might lend itself to heavy-handedness, director Ole Christian Madsen is steady, and he gets fine performances from the two leads and Stengade.
An absorbing, shades-of-gray look at home-front intrigue in Nazi-occupied Denmark during World War II. Ole Christian Madsen’s accomplished fourth feature plays out on a much larger canvas than he’s used previously and offers nuance and ambiguity in equal measure with violence and tragedy.
We've been told the NZ release date for this flick is Thursday, 19th Nov 2009.
Release date: November 19th 2009.
We haven't received times for this movie in this location yet. However these are updated as cinemas announce them, so check back soon. Hopefully the lovely cinemas in your location will choose to play it shortly. ~Ed.
