Film: Flame & Citron
Cast includes: Thure Lindhardt (Angels & Demons), Mads Millelsen (Exit), Christian Berkel (Valkyrie)
Genre: WWII drama/thriller, Danish with subtitles
In brief: Based on historical events, Flame & Citron dramatizes the Nazi resistance careers of two of Denmark’s most famous fighters. Flame (aka Bent) is the red-haired shooter, and Citron (aka Jorgen) is the wheelman. They’re a team, but unlike Butch and Sundance, they never seem to enjoy the adventure. The film starts with a voice over… Flame asks, “Do you remember when they arrived? They were everywhere.” As the story develops, he takes us deeper and deeper into the world of the resistance fighter… a very dark and confusing world.
As part of the resistance, they are required to follow orders. But as men of conscience, that’s not so easy. As the layers of complexity build, it’s not easy to know if it’s better to follow orders or to follow your conscience.
Unlike many WWII-era dramas, Flame & Citron never makes us want to cheer the good guys… we’re never totally sure who they are or if they’re really good. In that regard, the film is a more accurate portrayal of the era… if not the actual events. It’s not always easy to follow each plot turn, but as the film develops we realize that the inability to accurately evaluate events and characters is part of the experience. This is a dark story, stylishly told… and it’s totally absorbing.
2 popped kernels
Popped kernels for the good suspense, beautiful production and good characters. Unpopped kernels for the difficulty in keeping up with the story in places... it might have been because of the subtitles.
