The 12th Man (2017)
(Den 12. mann)
Country: NOR
Technical: col/2.39:1 135m
Director: Harald Zwart
Cast: Thomas Gullestad, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Marie Blokhus, Mads Sjøgård Pettersen
Synopsis:
During World War Two a team of British-trained Norwegian saboteurs is sent in on a fishing boat, but their contact doesn't show, they are betrayed to the Germans and the single survivor, missing a boot and with his big toe shot off, faces a weeks long flight to Sweden. Despite the constant threat of capture, frost bite and gangrene, he succeeds thanks to the courage of Norwegian civilians, for whom he becomes a symbol of defiance towards their occupiers.
Review:
Not so much a spoiler, since the film, even the title, gives away the outcome of this gripping - and true life - survival story, shot with justifiable pride and deploying its considerable budget with a lack of ostentation that makes the final Lord of the Rings-style flight to freedom all the more effective. Gullestad is mesmerising as Jan Baalsrud, cartographer turned soldier, who retains a sense of humour in spite of having to remove his toes with a penknife; Meyers is also impressive as his nemesis, negotiating his German dialogue with aplomb. Like The Revenant, this is a one-note viewing experience which can be exhausting, but is an inspiring reminder that the direst trials bring out the best in human nature and endurance.
(Den 12. mann)
Country: NOR
Technical: col/2.39:1 135m
Director: Harald Zwart
Cast: Thomas Gullestad, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Marie Blokhus, Mads Sjøgård Pettersen
Synopsis:
During World War Two a team of British-trained Norwegian saboteurs is sent in on a fishing boat, but their contact doesn't show, they are betrayed to the Germans and the single survivor, missing a boot and with his big toe shot off, faces a weeks long flight to Sweden. Despite the constant threat of capture, frost bite and gangrene, he succeeds thanks to the courage of Norwegian civilians, for whom he becomes a symbol of defiance towards their occupiers.
Review:
Not so much a spoiler, since the film, even the title, gives away the outcome of this gripping - and true life - survival story, shot with justifiable pride and deploying its considerable budget with a lack of ostentation that makes the final Lord of the Rings-style flight to freedom all the more effective. Gullestad is mesmerising as Jan Baalsrud, cartographer turned soldier, who retains a sense of humour in spite of having to remove his toes with a penknife; Meyers is also impressive as his nemesis, negotiating his German dialogue with aplomb. Like The Revenant, this is a one-note viewing experience which can be exhausting, but is an inspiring reminder that the direst trials bring out the best in human nature and endurance.
(Den 12. mann)
Country: NOR
Technical: col/2.39:1 135m
Director: Harald Zwart
Cast: Thomas Gullestad, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Marie Blokhus, Mads Sjøgård Pettersen
Synopsis:
During World War Two a team of British-trained Norwegian saboteurs is sent in on a fishing boat, but their contact doesn't show, they are betrayed to the Germans and the single survivor, missing a boot and with his big toe shot off, faces a weeks long flight to Sweden. Despite the constant threat of capture, frost bite and gangrene, he succeeds thanks to the courage of Norwegian civilians, for whom he becomes a symbol of defiance towards their occupiers.
Review:
Not so much a spoiler, since the film, even the title, gives away the outcome of this gripping - and true life - survival story, shot with justifiable pride and deploying its considerable budget with a lack of ostentation that makes the final Lord of the Rings-style flight to freedom all the more effective. Gullestad is mesmerising as Jan Baalsrud, cartographer turned soldier, who retains a sense of humour in spite of having to remove his toes with a penknife; Meyers is also impressive as his nemesis, negotiating his German dialogue with aplomb. Like The Revenant, this is a one-note viewing experience which can be exhausting, but is an inspiring reminder that the direst trials bring out the best in human nature and endurance.