They are nothing but adult sin and punishment

Amy 2022-03-25 09:01:15

"Western Soldier Saint" Kravitz once said: "Victory is simply the realization of a better political reality." World War II, as the most tragic and largest war, even changed human history, For filmmakers, it seems that there are inexhaustible themes, and the cruelty of war is not only reflected in the battlefield where the soldiers are hand-to-hand, but also in the back of the front line where the originally hostile two sides live in peace after the war, it is a place full of human trials.

"Minefield" tells a WWII story that we don't see too often. Director Martin Zandvliet's lens language is relatively plain, obviously belonging to the type of Nordic director who is more influenced by Hollywood movies. But the bleak vistas and gloomy tones of the Danish coastline still set the heavy temperament of the whole film.

Even if the war is over, the bloodshed will not stop. The juxtaposition of child soldiers and minefields in the movie is obviously quite shocking and brutal. But Martin Zanrivert's use of violence is relatively restrained, because the immature, dirty faces and the mines hidden under the sand that could be detonated at any time have become the most heart-wrenching in this invisible war zone. main character.

It's just that, while "Minefield" has almost all the ingredients for a successful film, Martin Zanrivert's control of the narrative is not very sophisticated, played by Roland Møller. Cruel and ruthless Sergeant Carl changed his prejudice against these children of prisoners almost overnight, and quickly transformed into a loving father who was also friend and foe. This directly leads to the lack of emotional layers in the whole film and the lack of credibility.

But thanks to the excellent performances of Roland Moore and a group of children, when we learn about the real history, those eyes that are still clear and bright after the devastation of the war can still hit our hearts. After all, war is too cruel. In fact, Kravitz also has a sentence that has caused countless controversy in future generations: "The use of violence is unlimited." In "Minefield", we may understand it as the hatred between two hostile countries after the smoke of gunpowder. continuation.

These too young kids don't even know what's going on, what they're going through. They are simply being forced to bear the consequences of this war, the sin and punishment of adults who are dead and not dead.


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Extended Reading
  • Keegan 2022-03-23 09:02:46

    You know mines will always explode, and you can even predict when some mines will explode, but you still get a fright every time it explodes. After the screening, the producer mentioned a lot of behind-the-scenes scenes, and every outstanding young actor was carefully selected. It is said that during the filming, they also went to the girls together, and each child did not know when his character was taken Killed, the first to be killed is the most lazy child. 【Chinese 1】

  • Laury 2022-03-21 09:02:45

    Another piece of dusty history, the entire viewing process is shocking. One by one, young lives were lost, and the crimes of war should not have been borne by them. The tenacity and meticulousness of the Germans can also be seen in the film. Nordic films are always in peace, interpreting the most moving emotions.

Land of Mine quotes

  • Lt. Ebbe Jensen: If they are old enough to go to war, they are old enough to clean up.

  • closing title card: After the war, more than 2000 German prisoners were forced to remove over 1.5 million landmines from Denmark's west coast.

    closing title card: Nearly half of them were killed or severely wounded.

    closing title card: Many were barely more than children.