The Bombardment, aka The Shadow in My Eye, is a World War II biographical film based on the actual events of the bombings in Copenhagen. This Danish production is directed and written by senior filmmaker Ole Bornedal. The film is starred by a local cast, including Alex Høgh Andersen, Fanny Bornedal, and three child stars, Bertram Bisgaard, Ester Birch Beck, and Ella Josephine Lund Nilsson. Surprisingly, this Netflix release film is like a priceless gem from film medium with the global context we face today.
At the end of WWII, in March 1945, the British air force intended to bomb a building in the centre of the Danish capital, Copenhagen. This building was filled by Gestapo (Nazi) troops to capture local rebels. The mission that had been planned so carefully turned out to be wrong.
The film’s opening segment is guaranteed to shock the audience when an allied plane fires at a vehicle for a family group that will attend a wedding. This action seems to be the beginning of a bad omen of the following events. The story does not lead to an investigation of this incident. With only a small dialogue, “next time, look more closely at the target”. That’s what it is. Life seems to have no value. This is the message the film wants to convey.
The story is divided into four major segments that represent the various perspectives of the characters. The first is Henry (Bisgaard), the boy who is traumatized, so he is “mute” due to seeing the “opening” scene directly above. Henry is sent to Copenhagen to study there and befriends two little girls, Eva (Nilsson) and Igmor (Beck). The second is a school teacher, Sister Teresa (Bornerdal), who is restless due to the brutality of the war and begins to question God. The third is Frederick (Andersen), a local youth who joins the Gestapo volunteer. The fourth was one of the British pilots who flew the bomber sent to Copenhagen.
These four unique points of view make the storyline attractive because we get emotionally into each character. All of this becomes an exposition before the climax event to strengthen the dramatic side of the plot. What they feel, we also feel it. Uniquely, these four segments are presented with different genres and moods so that every moment feels fresh. For example, the absurd nuance in Teresa’s part, which contrasts with the pilot’s thriller segment, or the bakery scene in the three-boy detail. Each piece seems to have enough power to make its film material.
On technical achievements, this film is arguably so great. Scenes in the air and bomb explosions are so natural that it’s hard to tell the difference between achieving visual and natural effects. The cinematography, in particular, is the main strength of the film, in addition to the setting and acting. One of the best I’ve watched in this medium is a long “follow shot” at the ending scene. So powerful, it’s impossible not to shed tears. All of the above achievements are meaningless without the acting strength of the players, primarily the three little casts who played amazingly, and of course, Bornerdal, who played strong as Teresa.
With a touching war docudrama story through the approach of its characters, The Bombardment is one of the best films in its genre and is relevant to the situation the world is currently facing. War, no one in their right mind would want this other than only ending in torture and suffering for all parties. The story of this film is a vital spectacle that is enough to become a big lesson, so that past events do not repeat themselves. I hope this film can be a winner at the Academy Awards next year. Let’s watch this film because it is guaranteed that you will get a different cinematic and inner experience.
Hai, sy nonton tadi malem, bagus, ending cerita Eva pulang kerumah makan bubur sarapannya. Tapi sy masih agak confuse dgn nasib Igmore dan Teresa, mungkin Igmore meninggal tapi kenapa Teresa terjun ke air disaat datang pertolongan? dan apa yg terjadi setelahnya? Apakah bom meledak di basement tsb? Atau Igmore dan Teresa tersedot air? Tksh sdh mau peduli dgn pertanyaan saya.
Memang tidak banyak dijelaskan soal itu. Mgkn Teresa merasa gagal tidak bisa mampu menolong Igmore sehingga dia memutuskan untuk mengakhiri hidupnya. Dari credit, tidak tertulis nama-nama karakternya, bisa jadi hanya fiktif. Rasanya ini tidak masalah untuk menyelesaikan dengan cara demikian. Poinnya adalah percobaan untuk merekonstruksi kisahnya, dan film ini menurut penulis terbilang berhasil. Maaf atas keterlambatan merespon.
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