digdilem

"I have five drawers in my mind. The top three drawers I open all the time. The fourth, less often. I closed the bottom drawer on May 8th 1945 and haven't opened it since."

Gunnar Søntesby, known during the Second World War is "Agent No 24" and "The Chin", was the most highly decorated citizen in Norway for his work in the resistance. This film follows this time in occupied Norway and the training and support given by the British.

I stumbled onto this film by accident, and it will stay with me as one of the most powerful wartime films I've ever seen. Perhaps because of its understatement and attention to detail, perhaps because of the beautiful landscapes, good acting, careful direction and well written script. Perhaps because of the extraordinary story it tells. But likely all of these.

Much is made of the Norwegian citizens who supported and helped the Nazis, including Gunnar's childhood best friend who informed upon him. It is clear this represents a huge sense of betrayal to all Norwegians to this day, and post-war treatment of them was not forgiving.

The film is set in the modern day with a much older Søntesby addressing a room of students who listened attentively to his story, although it must have seemed a world away from the Norway he helped liberate.

This is not a film that over dramatises. Explosions, yes, but no whooping or celebration so as you'd see in any American film about the war. This was a grim time with high stakes for all involved. These men and women had a job to do and they did it stoically, intelligently and effectively. In a very Norwegian manner, in fact.

What stands out for me is the lack of words when none are needed. It doesn't try to explain every detail when it is obvious, but it gives enough time and context for you to see clearly. It doesn't even go out of its way to explain why fascism is bad, or why another country invading yours is insulting - it's taken as read. The Nazis (German and Norwegian) aren't demonised, they don't need to be. It's hard to explain this exactly without spoiling the film but hopefully you'll understand me once you've seen it, and the contrast to most war films. And you should watch it.

Originally shot in the Norwegian language, the version I watched had an English voiced version which was mostly well voiced and easy to forget, with just the occasional babble as words were inserted to match the lip movements. This happened just four or five times and is literally my only criticism, and that it is not about the core production shows the quality of that.

I have to agree with most of the other reviewers here and say this is strange film that promises much but delivers little.

Things I liked: The visuals were very nice and gave genuine atmosphere. Margot Robbie was excellent and paired well with Simon Pegg, they had good screen chemistry and casting directors would do well to team them up again.

Things I did not like: The story was... Well, it wasn't really there. It delivered the twist about a third of the way in and then pretended like it didn't, and then meandered around like a bored teenager, kicking at at the floor and sighing occasionally.

Dexter Fletcher deserves a mention, but not in a good way. The character was obviously meant to be deeply unlikeable, and he served it just like that. Single faceted, no depth, just an outright unpleasant man, surly, rude, unfunny and just unpleasant to watch.

By all means watch it if you want to be confused and bored, or are fans of Pegg or Robbie or good photography and can overlook the rest. Don't watch it if you expect an entertaining 95 minutes, because it isn't.