Importance Score: 35 / 100 🔵
A “compelling, poignant, and riveting” war movie garnering a flawless 100% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes is currently streaming on Netflix. Reviewers lauded the World War II feature – The Bombardment – for its gripping plot that remains etched in the memory long after watching, highlighting little-known narratives from Denmark.
The Bombardment: A Powerful Danish War Drama
Set in the closing months of World War II, the tear-jerking Danish war drama chronicles the true disaster of Operation Carthage, a British aerial assault on Copenhagen on March 21, 1945, which tragically went awry. The Bombardment weaves multiple storylines, centering on the lives of Danish schoolchildren, nuns, and resistance fighters, all impacted by an airstrike initially meant to demolish enemy command centers in Copenhagen.
The Devastating Impact of a Navigation Error
Due to a navigation mistake, one of the bombers inadvertently strikes a school, leading to severe civilian losses.
Main Characters and Their Journeys
The story revolves around three key figures as their lives intersect:
- Henry: A young boy rendered silent by trauma from a previous aerial attack.
- Frederik: A conflicted soldier who begins to question his allegiances.
- Sister Teresa: A nun striving to uphold her faith and safeguard her pupils amid the war’s horrors.
Critical Responses to The Bombardment
Reviewers had varied responses to the film. One of the nine critics remarked: “Chilling and impactful, Ole Bornedal’s stunningly filmed drama lingers in the mind long after it concludes.”
Although most agreed that the story needed to be told, some critiqued the film’s presentation: “While The Bombardment grapples with establishing the broader narrative…this dreadful tragedy is not for the sensitive, but the tale deserves to be shared, and the weight of the lives lost must never be overlooked.”
Audience Reactions and Ratings
The 2021 film earned an impressive 90% audience rating from approximately 250 viewers.
- One viewer stated: “Truly stunning, heart-wrenching, and intense, all rolled into one. Outstanding direction, and even after the conclusion, moments stay with you. Excellent cast. Brilliantly depicted 5*.”
- Another commented: “Misdirected in title as many will pass it up, assuming it’s just another war film, but it’s so much more than that.”
One reviewer criticized the pacing: “Captivating yet challenging to follow due to frequent time shifts and multiple subplots.”
The film, also known as “The Shadow in My Eye” in its direct Danish translation, is now accessible on Netflix.