Written by Rosie O’Neill
With the huge popularity of recent multi-award winner 1917 (which saw box office figures of over $200 million worldwide), along with previous hits Dunkirk and Hacksaw Ridge (both multi-award winning); it seems that our appetite for films about war is only growing.
War provides an emotionally rich and high-stakes backdrop for stories of all kinds, so perhaps it’s no surprise that we can’t get enough of them. But while these box office big-hitters often focus on dramatic, front line action, there are lots of quieter films that explore war from different perspectives. These films offer remarkable and powerful stories, shining spotlights on (often true) daring resistance plots, highlighting the repercussions of war that were felt for many years on all sides, and uncovering some heartbreaking stories of strength in the face of impossible circumstances.
Here’s a roundup of seven films about war that are well worth checking out:
Operation Finale
A Netflix original starring Oscar Isaac as real life Mossad agent, Peter Malkin. The film explores the true story of a covert mission undertaken by the Israeli secret service, which sees them attempt a daring extraction of infamous Nazi, Adolph Eichmann, from Buenos Aires – returning him to Israel to face charges for his part in the ‘final solution’. Isaac gives a warm and charismatic performance as the lead; with Ben Kingsley offering an equally charismatic turn as Eichmann. We see how far reaching (and long lasting) the atrocities of the war were for so many people, and there are poignant reminders of the concentration camps contrasted with everyday life. In one particularly vivid scene, we see an older gentleman pull the sleeve of his shirt down to cover his tattoo while serving in a cafe.
Unbroken
Directed by Angelina Jolie and starring Jack O’Connell, Unbroken is the true story of Olympic athlete Louis Zamperini. The film portrays Zamperini’s life as he discovers his talent for running, moving on to his enlistment in the armed forces. Unbroken is a story about this man’s huge feat of personal perseverance in the face of adversity, as he is taken as a prisoner of war by the Japanese navy. Zamperini’s strength of character and grit make for a compelling story, and O’Connell is utterly captivating in the role.
The Aftermath
Keira Knightley and Jason Clarke star as a British married couple stationed in post-war Hamburg to oversee the peace-keeping and reconstruction. After taking a requisitioned home from German architect Lubert (Alexander Skarsgard) and his teenage daughter, Rachael and Lewis (Knightley and Clarke) decide to let them continue living in part of the house. The film portrays a tender relationship that develops between Lubert and Rachael, one that is ultimately born from grief on both sides. The Aftermath shows how war continued to fracture relationships (Rachael and Lewis are distant after the loss of their young son in a London air raid), and ignite tensions (the Germans resent and fear the British presence in Hamburg, something which Lewis himself is uneasy about) even after peace was announced.
Where Hands Touch
Amandla Stenberg plays bi-racial German teenager Leyna, in this quiet story of oppression and impossible love. 1917 actor George MacKay stars as the young Hitler Youth officer (Lutz) who falls in love with her before she is sent to a concentration camp. Their romance is beautifully acted and the story is a heartbreaking and illuminating tale of the way many black Germans were treated in the Nazi regime. One scene in particular, set against the bleak background of a concentration camp, captures a secret stolen moment between Leyna and Lutz, highlighting their desperation and hopelessness with some terrific acting on both sides.
Ashes in the Snow
Ashes in the Snow is the story of young Lithuanian girl Lina (played by Bel Powley), and her harrowing journey to a Siberian labour camp during Stalin’s war time regime. Lina is an accomplished artist, and her talent allows her to capture, process and ultimately survive her situation. The power of art and its ability to lend hope and self-empowerment are strong themes. It’s nicely acted and an interesting perspective to see the war from.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
Lily James plays writer Juliet Ashton in this adaptation of the novel by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. Lost and struggling to return to normal life in London after the war, Ashton receives a letter one day from a farmer (played by Michiel Huisman) on Guernsey about one of her lesser-known books. They strike up an instant connection through their letters, and when Ashton learns of their war-time literary society, she drops her life in London to visit the island. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society deals with the aftermath of war, particularly in a place which suffered under German occupation, and highlights the sanctuary that can be found with good friends and books.
Anthropoid
A 2016 remake of the 1975 film, Operation Daybreak, Anthropoid stars Jamie Dornan and Cillian Murphy as Czech resistance fighters. The film charts the true story of the (ultimately doomed) mission to assassinate SS General Reinhard Heydrich. Dornan and Murphy give a captivating and surprisingly tender portrayal of friendship and brotherhood in the face of impossible tension, and the film has a real classic war film quality to it (no doubt thanks to the original that inspired it).
