What Is the Story About?
The film centres around The Battle of Narvik, the warfare that handed Hitler his first major defeat. The film follows a long and thorough attempt to disrupt the process of iron ore transportation from Narvik to Nazi Germany in the early 1940. The film also follows what it takes for a Soldier’s family to make through the warfare alive, despite being caught in lies, deception and spying.
Performances?
Kristine Hartgen as Ingrid Tofte has literally put her life into the character. She is the heart and soul of the film. Initially as a naive wife of a soldier, to a stubborn and mentally powerful mother who fights all odds to save her dying son amidst blasts and deaths.
Analysis
Erik Skjoldbjærg, who made the stunning thriller Insomnia (1997) returns to the directorial chair with Narvik (2022), a film that discusses a less discussed ‘Battles of Narvik’ by superposing a soldier and his wife alongside the scary happenings. The film rightly discusses the cost of neutrality and what it means to survive. But however, does stumble when it comes to the writing and pace.
Narvik introduces ‘The Battles of Narvik’, that were fought from 9 April to 8 June 1940, as a naval battle in the Ofotfjord and as a land battle in the mountains surrounding the north Norwegian town of Narvik, as part of the Norwegian Campaign of the Second World War. The film narrates the premise : the war for iron-ore and then superposes a Norwegian soldier’s family into the tornado of deception and lies.
Ingrid Tofte, Gunnar Tofte’s wife and mother to Ole, undergoes hell and beyond while her husband is off to defending the country at the port from Nazi Germany. She is caught in the storm between defending her country, spying for the British and then backstabbing her own country to save her family. Narvik rightly dissects her emotional turmoil and Gunnar’s Nationalistic pride. This plays out like a thesis, anti-thesis and synthesis on what Neutrality means at the times of war means.
However, Narvik fails at playing out Gunnar’s emotions while he realises what his wife has done. After stretching the run-time for far too long, the proceedings hurry at un-necessary pace denying a long, rightful confrontation and realization. Nevertheless, the film still tries it’s best to place a fictional story to make a realtime battle incident more interesting and heart-touching with minimal war-glorification.
In short, Narvik definitely deserves to be watched once. For the lead actress performance and also for a closer look at the damage Nazi Germany and World War 2 has done to a country that remained neutral.
Other Artists?
Carl Martin Eggsbø as Corporal Gunnar Tofte is the second major player in the film. He does well as a duty-driven soldier and a confused family man amidst war. Stig Henrik Hoff as Aslak Tofte also makes an impact in minimal screen-time. Rest of the actors don’t strike enough writing wise and performance wise.
Music and Other Departments?
Narvik is exceptionally shot. John-Erling Holmenes Fredriksen’s cinematography department drives the film more often. The blast scenes and following scenes of destruction are so heartbreakingly picturised. Christine Hals’ music is also just right on the point.
Highlights?
Core Story & Intent
Kristine Hartgen’s performance
Cinematography
Drawbacks?
Surface level Anti-war Themes
Weak Supporting
Cast Duration
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes
Will You Recommend It?
Yes
Narvik Movie Review by Binged Bureau
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