As the title suggests, Denmark’s A War (originally titled Krigen) takes on a topic broad enough to play well anywhere in the world. War is messy, decisions must be made in the heat of the moment, and their ramifications are devastating. When a father and company commander makes a questionable call while deployed in Afghanistan, it follows him back home to his already tumultuous family.
Critics and audiences alike have rated this film highly, and if the trailer is any indication, that’s likely because it’s a solidly told classic. This story has existed since humanity first showed up and started poking each other in the eye. It’s a depressing fact, but war is a common denominator for all of us, and stories like this continue to be told because they continue to happen. Its familiarity doesn’t make it any less heart-rending, and in capable hands these films become classics.
I have a feeling that the overriding sentiment of A War can be summarized by Colonel Nicholson’s remark at the end of The Bridge on the River Kwai: “What have I done?”
A War is directed by Tobias Lindholm and stars Pilou Asbæk, Tuva Novotny, and Dar Salim. It is currently in theaters in the U.K. and will be released on February 12th, 2016 in the U.S. International release dates can be found here.
What is your favorite contemplative war movie? Let us know in the comments!
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