The Crossing

Nice film on the dark side of Norway during the second world war, in which we follow 4 children trying to reach Sweden and escape the Nazis. Despite the harsh subject, the film remains light.

December 1942 Norway. After their parents are arrested for possibly hiding Jews, the children find two children hiding in the basement. 10-year-old Greta insists on helping them get to safety in Sweden, whereas her older brother Otto, a proto-Nazi, only goes along to protect her. Most of the ensuing action involves the four (at one point five) children, with different adults being either helpful or dangerous.

This is a good children's adventure, where there are real consequence. The scenery is nice, and the children play their parts reasonably well. There are a couple of plot points I am not too keen on, which is why only gave it a rating of 7.

When their parents are detained for being suspected of harbouring Jews it is up to two children to attempt to smuggle two Jewish children across the border and into Sweden.

The film is sweet, optimistic, and avoids being dark and depressing. This is likely due to it being a family film rather than a bleak look at the realities of war.

The acting is reasonable. I have seen better and I have sure as hell seen worse. The events are tense, however, after a while, you do rather feel like the threat level is pretty minimal. But again... kids film. They weren't going to go murdering all of kids for the sake of realism.

This film serves as a reasonable introduction to younger audiences of the things that went on during the war and what some people had to resort to.

I don't usually go for movies like this, but the convincing young cast are more than capable of carrying the story, where 4 children embark on a treacherous journey to reach Sweden and escape the Nazis.

There's enough momentum and intriguing pieces to keep me interested and the more I got to know them, I wanted to find out if things would turn out well, which of course it does, being a tale that is made for young audiences and provides a warmth and assuredness, despite the bleak, snow laden landscape. It actually took me back to a novel, Master of the Grove, by Victor Kelleher, with its vivid imagery of an ice packed wilderness and isolation. As with that story, The Crossing includes sinister and helpful characters that they encounter along the way and there is always the feeling of uncertainty and danger, albeit given in a light manner despite their predicaments.

I would recommend this to children of all ages because of its generous display of comeraderie, compassion and bravery. And not a single mobile phone in sight! Yes!

Norway continues to ace the war films in all facets. Nothing over the top in this film. Well worth watching for all ages. Along with most of Europe they almost always deliver when creating films in this genre and pretty well in all genres to speak of. Great casting as far as choosing characters who aren't products from baby pageants.