blatt-vatn

I ran across this movie while going through Amazon Prime movies. I have never been a real fan of Dutch movies, but this is absolutely the most incredible movie I have ever seen -- my new no. 1 favorite. It had me sobbing at the end. So sensitively done. Shows how friendship -- enduring friendship -- can continue whether separated by place or even death. I'll never forget this one.

I really love this story. I have seen a play on it at Brigham Young University years ago. Screenplay was written by a guy named Rogers, if I remember correctly. I do believe there is much more to to be told about this story than this particular rendition tells us. There was supposed to be a Hollywood movie starring Haley Osmet and Max von Sydrow, which I have been looking forward to for a long time, but have not seen it (it was supposed to have come out in 2011). I also saw a documentary on it, which I felt was much better. It drew a few tears. I just hope that if someone does do a full-blown movie on this subject that it is done properly. One thing I felt about this one was that it could have shown more about Wobbe and Schnibbe after the trial and their encounters in prison. Both of them wrote autobiographies and these should be consulted more. Additionally, although I believe they were terrified of what was going to happen to them, the books show that they were much more heroic than would appear to be the case in this movie. They seem more terrified than heroic here. Nevertheless, it is a wonderful story and this movie still is a great rendition. These boys deserve more respect than has been given them by many reviewers, even if the movie could have been better. I'm actually surprised at the anti-religious sentiment among them. This country (USA and others) are supposed to have been places of religious tolerance. So I am very surprised that people would get bent out of shape by such things. These boys were Mormons and their faith and church is actually what drew them together. The equipment at the church house was what was actually used and I feel that religion probably actually played more of a role than is shown here. I was actually surprised that it wasn't more a part of this movie, since it is so central to the story. The branch president was actually pro-Nazi and felt it was better that the group be taken to preserve the congregation from any negativity the Nazis might direct toward them. I feel that a whole lot more could have been added to make the story more full, exciting, poignant, etc. In spite of that, this is a very good movie. Also, do yourself a favor. Get the documentary: Truth and conviction : the Helmuth Hübener story, 2002 directed by Matt Whitaker.