Land of Mine (2017)
In the days following the surrender of Germany in May 1945, a group of young German prisoners of war is handed over to the Danish authorities and subsequently sent to the West Coast, where they are ordered to remove the more than two million mines that the Germans had placed in the sand along the coast. With their bare hands, crawling around in the sand, the boys are forced to perform the dangerous work under the leadership of a Danish sergeant.
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This was one of the nominees for the best foreign language films at the 2017 Oscars. I would have picked it or A Man Called Ove from Sweden. The Salesman won and I was not crazy about it. Land of Mine is what the title implies, and that is the 1.5 million land mines left in Denmark by the occupying German army from 1941-1945. German soldiers were forced to remove the mines, leading to numerous injuries and deaths. Some of the soldiers were teenagers and it is heartbreaking to watch these kids become the pawns of war. The sins of the older men who took their nations to war is what makes this at thinking person's movie. The boys had no responsibility for the atrocities committed by their leaders and yet they were the one who paid the highest price. They crawl on their hands and knees as they attempt to diffuse the mines from the beach. as expected, mistakes are made and innocent children die for no good reason. Land of Mine is one great movie.
'LAND OF MINE': Four and a Half Stars (Out of Five) A Danish-German war film (based on actual events) about teenage German prisoners of war, that were forced to clear mines from postwar Denmark (shortly after the end of World War II). The film has received nearly unanimous rave reviews from critics, and it's won (or been nominated for) multiple prestigious awards; including a 2017 Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film. The movie was written and directed by Martin Zandvliet, and it stars Roland Moller. I agree with all of it's critical acclaim, it's an amazing film!Historians estimate that following the end of World War II (in Europe), 2,000 captured German soldiers were forced to remove mines, with their bare hands, from former warzones. Many of these prisoners of war were teenagers, and they were also extremely inexperienced. It's also estimated that nearly half of them were killed, or severely wounded, by the mines. This film tells the story of a small group of those teenage German prisoners, in Denmark. It focuses on their relationship with their commanding Danish sergeant (Moller), who at first hates the boys and then grows sympathetic towards them.The movie is extremely emotional and involving. Only the least empathetic viewer could not feel something for these boys, that were forced to go through this unbelievably horrendous experience. The relationship they have with their enemy sergeant is also extremely touching and powerful. By focusing on a part of World War II history that's rarely covered (in films at least), the movie also seems original and surprisingly educational. It's a very moving story about forgiveness, in the harshest of circumstances, as well. I think it's a masterpiece that everyone should see. I'd almost give it a perfect rating, but I'm slightly hesitant to for some reason.Watch our movie review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: https://youtu.be/hAV3iy1JkJ8
Some of my favorite films have been Danish films and this gem did not disappoint! It is a poignant and sad portrayal of the continuing tragedy of war even after WW2 had ended. Young Germans are forced to remove German mines from Denmark but we understand that Denmark also was a victim by having it's beaches loaded with 1.2 million mines...and they had to be removed but how to remove them in a humane way? Man's inhumanity to man and what a powerful story this movie tells. I loved every moment of it.
"Those of you who count the mines, make sure my card is updated. This task is as important as defusing mines." Sgt. Carl Rasmussen (Roland Moller) In 1945, Denmark needed to defuse the over 2 million landmines left on their western beaches by the Nazis. A Danish sergeant is responsible for 14 German POWs, youngsters all, to find the 45 K on one beach, after which the boys can go home.That precision mentioned in the opening quote lies at the heart of the film's considerable suspense because one unaccounted for mine can take multiple lives. And so, the sergeant has to corral teenage workers, motivate them with fear, and keep at bay his growing affection for them.Therein lies the real suspense: Will he learn to love and protect them or will he be brutal as he was in the opening scene? For a story somewhat like Hurt Locker, Land of Mine is a minimalist work of complexity, unadorned with the usual tropes of thrillers but full of the humanity to make it rise above just another WW II sentimental reflection.Besides the tension built into the always impending explosions is the question of whether or not the Danes will act like Nazis suppressing the lads and hurrying them on to death. The moments of warmth between the sergeant and the boys are few but revelatory enough for us to hope their innocence and bravery will win him over.Land of Mine will usher you into a war zone you've not seen handled so well in cinema, except possibly Jean Renoir's Grand Illusion in the '30's. The drama, replete with many dramatic elements and even Chekov's gun, will make you wince at the possibly grotesque fate of faultless boys and their conflicted sergeant.