Oscar-nominated Danish film Land of Mine is the riveting story of a group of young German POWs forced to clear a beach of thousands of buried landmines.
Based on true events where thousands of (mostly teenage) German POWs lost their lives in the immediate months following the end of World War II clearing landmines, director Martin Zandvliet focuses on a small group under the watch of an angry Danish sergeant (Roland Møller).
Avoiding excess melodrama or grandstanding, the stark economy of dialogue and action result in concern for each of the boys whilst understanding the anger of the Danes towards what they represent. Beautifully photographed with understated performances, Land of Mine is a deeply moving anti-war film full of chilling suspense.
Nominated for best foreign language Oscar in 2017.
Rating: 82%
Director: Martin Zandvliet (Applause, Teddy Bear)
Writer: Martin Zandvliet (Applause, Teddy Bear)
Main cast: Roland Møller (A Hijacking, Northwest), Louis Hofmann (Sanctuary, The Almost Perfect Man), Joel Basman (The Monuments Men, Hanna)
An Opinion or Two 