Not long ago, Sisu told the story of an old soldier who struggled against the Nazis to reclaim his gold. “Blood & Gold” returns to the theme of gold in a WWII setting, featuring unique aesthetic packaging. Directed by Peter Thorwarth, this German-produced film stars Marie Hacke, Alexander Scheer, Robert Maaser, Florian Schmidtke, Petra Zieser, and Roy McCrerey. Netflix recently released the film on May 26. Does this movie promise something as fresh as Sisu?
Set against the backdrop of the story towards the end of World War II, it narrates the tale of Heinrich (Maaser), a hunted deserter from his platoon, saved from death by a resident named Elsa (Hacke). Meanwhile, the leader of the German troops, von Starnfeld (Scheer), receives tips about gold in a nearby small town. The situation becomes more complicated when several residents learn about and cover up the presence of the gold. Heinrich and Elsa are also forced to go to town because soldiers brought Elsa’s sister there. A precarious situation is unavoidable among all the interests of these parties.
From the beginning, the nuance of Western spaghetti is evident through the tone and music. The plot reminds me of films directed by Quentin Tarantino and Guy Ritchie, where surprise and spontaneity become the spirit in the development of the plot. Gold is a strong motif that binds the story between the subplots. A series of action fights are presented attractively. Unfortunately, the execution of the story is somewhat lacking and not as impactful. “Glory or death,” says the commander, but this philosophy does not fully apply to the story. Don’t our two protagonists deserve what the title promises?
Despite its unique aesthetic packaging, “Blood & Gold” attempts to present the story of human greed set in World War II, even though the execution falls short of expectations. Despite its achievements and technical prowess, this film cannot quite reach the same level as masterpieces like “Pulp Fiction,” “Inglorious Basterds,” or “Snatch.” These films never delve into morality because, for them, it’s just a joke (satire) reflecting the fading humanity. For these filmmakers, the film is an ideal medium to be wildly explored to convey their perspective on the world. At least, “Blood & Gold” offers action and captivating visuals that are enough to entertain connoisseurs of the genre.
