This unbearably tense war movie is the Danish entry for this year's Best Foreign Language film. It's about a group of young German POW's who are forced to clear a minefield with their bare hands and it makes "The Hurt Locker" seem like a walk in the park. Brilliantly directed by Martin Zandvleit and beautifully played by a cast of mostly unfamiliar faces, this is an intelligent and unsentimental look a a piece of World War Two history usually ignored by the cinema and it has the courage to paint 'the enemy' in a good light and 'the allies' as villains. It's also beautifully shot in widescreen by Camilla Hjelm. See this.
116 Reviews
Love and Its Limits
katielynnbeam28 March 2016
Warning: Spoilers
We love to hate the Nazis—Inglourious Basterds, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Schindler's List. They're the most reliable bad guys in cinema. And, as World War II and Denmark's Nazi occupation ends in Martin Zandvliet's Land of Mine, they're the most reliable bad guys to Danish Sgt. Carl Rasmussen. Land of Mine opens on Carl beating a surrendered and retreating Nazi soldier to a pulp.
We mind, but not too much.
Cue the German boys and Zandvliet's chosen untold true story of WWII — the Danish military force 2,000 young, surrendered German soldiers to clear nearly two million German mines from the beaches of Denmark. Half survive.
The middle-aged Sgt. Carl receives command of a dozen such baby- faced Germans to rid one Denmark beach of its 45,000 mines. Through his early cruelty, he keeps them uniformed and in strict military formation. But uniforms quietly slip into plain clothes, and lines, into free-form playing boys who mirror the lush, rolling landscapes of Carl's beloved Denmark. Predictably, Carl lacks the wherewithal to enforce the starvation and mistreatment of his Nazis subordinates once he sees them as mere boys, who already fear daily they will be maimed or killed by mines. The boy soldiers become his sons—he steals food for them, plays with them, and forgives them. The only real question becomes the lengths to which Carl will go to protect them.
Zandvliet tells his unknown story through unknown actors (this was the feature film debut for most of the boys). This casting choice provides us a fresh start, access to a new and unexpected world where mistreatment of Nazis ushers us out of a theater in tears and silence. German or Dane, the characters are unavoidably human, capable of both love and hate, both self-sacrifice and utter butchery. That cruel Nazi flare we've come to expect from cinema's WWII Germans is, here, wielded not by Germans but by Danes—Carl nearly beating to death the retreating soldier, Lt. Jensen sending the German boys to another minefield rather than home as promised, the Danish mother sneering a wish for the German boys' death.
Yet, despite its cruelty, Land of Mine is a tale of love. At first, Carl's love for his country and its land is placed in direct opposition to any possible love for the German boys under his command. The Germans destroyed Denmark's land with buried mines. Love for this land leads the Danes to hazard the lives of the German youth to restore it. The problem for Carl and his Danish comrades is not an utter lack of love but a limit to its breadth. Carl intuitively loves his land, his dog, his people. But it is only through an unlikely grace—the burden of the mines, jointly carried— that he learns to love his enemy.
In the end, Carl's love for the land merges with his love for the German boys. And Land of Mine ushers us away with one last thrilling landscape. It is not Danish. Nor is it German. It's both.
We mind, but not too much.
Cue the German boys and Zandvliet's chosen untold true story of WWII — the Danish military force 2,000 young, surrendered German soldiers to clear nearly two million German mines from the beaches of Denmark. Half survive.
The middle-aged Sgt. Carl receives command of a dozen such baby- faced Germans to rid one Denmark beach of its 45,000 mines. Through his early cruelty, he keeps them uniformed and in strict military formation. But uniforms quietly slip into plain clothes, and lines, into free-form playing boys who mirror the lush, rolling landscapes of Carl's beloved Denmark. Predictably, Carl lacks the wherewithal to enforce the starvation and mistreatment of his Nazis subordinates once he sees them as mere boys, who already fear daily they will be maimed or killed by mines. The boy soldiers become his sons—he steals food for them, plays with them, and forgives them. The only real question becomes the lengths to which Carl will go to protect them.
Zandvliet tells his unknown story through unknown actors (this was the feature film debut for most of the boys). This casting choice provides us a fresh start, access to a new and unexpected world where mistreatment of Nazis ushers us out of a theater in tears and silence. German or Dane, the characters are unavoidably human, capable of both love and hate, both self-sacrifice and utter butchery. That cruel Nazi flare we've come to expect from cinema's WWII Germans is, here, wielded not by Germans but by Danes—Carl nearly beating to death the retreating soldier, Lt. Jensen sending the German boys to another minefield rather than home as promised, the Danish mother sneering a wish for the German boys' death.
Yet, despite its cruelty, Land of Mine is a tale of love. At first, Carl's love for his country and its land is placed in direct opposition to any possible love for the German boys under his command. The Germans destroyed Denmark's land with buried mines. Love for this land leads the Danes to hazard the lives of the German youth to restore it. The problem for Carl and his Danish comrades is not an utter lack of love but a limit to its breadth. Carl intuitively loves his land, his dog, his people. But it is only through an unlikely grace—the burden of the mines, jointly carried— that he learns to love his enemy.
In the end, Carl's love for the land merges with his love for the German boys. And Land of Mine ushers us away with one last thrilling landscape. It is not Danish. Nor is it German. It's both.
Another great danish flick!
Vikingbyheart7 July 2016
Several World War II stories are not told in the books, being forgotten over time. Inspired by true events, the film Under Sandet (original title) or Land of Mine (in English) addresses one of these reports, which occurred in Denmark after the war. Fearing that a possible Allied invasion would take place from the Danish coast, Nazi Germany filled the entire length of Denmark's west coast with over 1.5 million mines. With the German surrender and the end of the war in May 1945, more than 2,000 German prisoners of war were sent to disarm those landmines. The story focuses on a small group of young Germans who have the hard and dangerous task of clearing 45,000 mines from a danish beach to gain freedom.
The film, written and directed by Martin Zandvliet, is an excellent motion picture, managing to bring to the screen a work with a new approach, although all the other war films ever made before. With an original script, the director succeeds to convey the bitterness brought by five years of Nazi occupation in Denmark. He also portrays the exploitation of children dragged into war. One of the great successes of Zandvliet's direction and script is to show the war cycles: the winners, the danes, start to adopt the brutal practices of the losers, the Germans. It was precisely for situations like this that the Second World War broke out. France and other winning countries of World War required repairs and imposed absurd sanctions to Germany.
The photography, by Camilla Hjelm, is to behold. And here, again, we have to highlight the director's work. The use of long shot captures the beautiful danish landscape, while more intimate moments allow us to monitor the interactions among those soldiers. Maintaining an intense pace, the tranquility and vastness of the beach are contrasted, at all times, with the danger that awaits them "under the sand", expression that names the film. The soundtrack is catchy and at times heartbreaking, fitting in the drama narrated in the film.
One of the elements that makes Land of Mine a memorable experience is the excellent performance of Roland Møller, playing the role of Sergeant Carl Rasmussen, protagonist of the story. Responsible to oversee the group of German soldiers, Carl struggle to separate his military duties from the hatred he feels for the old enemy. The actor delivered a complex character, moody, bitter and angry, but at the same time which has not lost humanity that exists within him. The rest of the cast was also well chosen and psychologically developed, in which the actors who play the soldiers have different personalities.
With a philosophical discussion about military conflicts as well as being very intense and beautiful, Under Sandet gives us a real view of the complexities of the Second World War and human behavior.
Originally posted in: https://vikingbyheart.blogspot.com.br
The film, written and directed by Martin Zandvliet, is an excellent motion picture, managing to bring to the screen a work with a new approach, although all the other war films ever made before. With an original script, the director succeeds to convey the bitterness brought by five years of Nazi occupation in Denmark. He also portrays the exploitation of children dragged into war. One of the great successes of Zandvliet's direction and script is to show the war cycles: the winners, the danes, start to adopt the brutal practices of the losers, the Germans. It was precisely for situations like this that the Second World War broke out. France and other winning countries of World War required repairs and imposed absurd sanctions to Germany.
The photography, by Camilla Hjelm, is to behold. And here, again, we have to highlight the director's work. The use of long shot captures the beautiful danish landscape, while more intimate moments allow us to monitor the interactions among those soldiers. Maintaining an intense pace, the tranquility and vastness of the beach are contrasted, at all times, with the danger that awaits them "under the sand", expression that names the film. The soundtrack is catchy and at times heartbreaking, fitting in the drama narrated in the film.
One of the elements that makes Land of Mine a memorable experience is the excellent performance of Roland Møller, playing the role of Sergeant Carl Rasmussen, protagonist of the story. Responsible to oversee the group of German soldiers, Carl struggle to separate his military duties from the hatred he feels for the old enemy. The actor delivered a complex character, moody, bitter and angry, but at the same time which has not lost humanity that exists within him. The rest of the cast was also well chosen and psychologically developed, in which the actors who play the soldiers have different personalities.
With a philosophical discussion about military conflicts as well as being very intense and beautiful, Under Sandet gives us a real view of the complexities of the Second World War and human behavior.
Originally posted in: https://vikingbyheart.blogspot.com.br
Great film – just a great film about life, the cancer of war, and death
Duchino11 July 2016
My dear friend Ilario, a cultured movie buff, had warmly suggested this film these past days, among the many he mentions and those we get to talk about, and I could perceive that he had figured how this "Land of Mine" would strike many chords with me. And it did; I watched it in original German/Danish with English subs (shaky at times, but OK), and the immersion was immediate from the impactful start. I'm sensitive to war scenarios and characters – especially lesser told ones – as this story tactfully paints a very sad, cruel and almost hopeless reality. The Sergeant is a great figure, the kids are true to life, the skies and beaches cold and lonely too. And full of death. "Under Sandet", instead, is full of cinematographic art.
Disturbing, Disquieting & Devastating, 'Land Of Mine' Is Essential Cinema
CinemaClown30 January 2017
Nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the upcoming Academy Awards, Land of Mine (also known as Under sandet) is a disturbing, disquieting & devastating cinema that's inspired from the immoral & inhuman act that the Danish authorities perpetrated against German POWs, majority of whom were teenagers, following the end of the Second World War in Europe.
Set in post-World War II Denmark, the story of Land of Mine follows a Danish Sergeant who is assigned the duty to defuse & remove over 2 million mines that were buried by the Germans along the coast during the war. Receiving a batch of teenage Germans POWs to carry out the operation, the Sergeant's initial hostility towards them begins to undergo an unexpected change.
Written & directed by Martin Zandvliet, the film opens with a crucial sequence that establishes the seething hatred that the Sergeant has against Germans and takes it up from there. Every segment featuring the young boys trying to defuse the mines with their bare hands despite being obviously ill-equipped to carry out the dangerous task is nail-biting as hell and even more hard-hitting when they fail at it.
Zandvliet's direction exhibits terrific restraint from start to finish and even more admirable is how he handles the characters & their arcs. Without choosing a side, he puts believable people on screen and keeps all their human attributes in tact, whether they are Danish or Germans. And while the hostile nature of the former against the latter is understandable, what the Danish authorities force them to do is equally inexcusable.
Shot at historically authentic locations, the entire picture is splendidly photographed and the era of Denmark recovering from the war is wonderfully captured by its desaturated & earthy colour tones. Camera-work is hand-held, static & expertly controlled for the most part and allows the scenes to play out at their desired pace but the longer it lingers on the defusing process, the more suspenseful it becomes and majority of the time, ends on a heartbreaking note.
Editing is skilfully carried out, for every single minute of its 1½ hour narrative is accounted for & is relevant to the plot. Every sequence on the beach is compelling & handled with patience and every explosion or casualty reverberates with the audience & the impact of it is deeply felt. The film does feel longer than its runtime but it is relentlessly gripping till the end. And further enhancing its grim aura is the poignant score that always surfaces on time.
Coming to the performances, Land of Mine features an incredibly committed cast in Roland Møller, Louis Hofmann & others, with Hofmann impressing the most. Møller is in as the Sergeant overseeing the mine clearing operation and expresses his character's inner conflict brilliantly while Hofmann plays one of the young boys performing the fatal, endless task of defusing millions of buried mines with stunning balance, and the scenes between the two are its main highlight.
On an overall scale, Land of Mine not only ranks amongst the best films of its year but is one of the finest films to come out from Cinema of Denmark. Incessantly human, powerfully moving & making a strong statement about what makes us human & why it's even more important to stay as one in times of bitter conflict, this Danish masterpiece is an extremely riveting example of its genre that treads a difficult path & is utterly discomforting at times yet manages to fully redeem itself in the end. An essential viewing by all means, this Danish masterpiece comes very highly recommended.
Set in post-World War II Denmark, the story of Land of Mine follows a Danish Sergeant who is assigned the duty to defuse & remove over 2 million mines that were buried by the Germans along the coast during the war. Receiving a batch of teenage Germans POWs to carry out the operation, the Sergeant's initial hostility towards them begins to undergo an unexpected change.
Written & directed by Martin Zandvliet, the film opens with a crucial sequence that establishes the seething hatred that the Sergeant has against Germans and takes it up from there. Every segment featuring the young boys trying to defuse the mines with their bare hands despite being obviously ill-equipped to carry out the dangerous task is nail-biting as hell and even more hard-hitting when they fail at it.
Zandvliet's direction exhibits terrific restraint from start to finish and even more admirable is how he handles the characters & their arcs. Without choosing a side, he puts believable people on screen and keeps all their human attributes in tact, whether they are Danish or Germans. And while the hostile nature of the former against the latter is understandable, what the Danish authorities force them to do is equally inexcusable.
Shot at historically authentic locations, the entire picture is splendidly photographed and the era of Denmark recovering from the war is wonderfully captured by its desaturated & earthy colour tones. Camera-work is hand-held, static & expertly controlled for the most part and allows the scenes to play out at their desired pace but the longer it lingers on the defusing process, the more suspenseful it becomes and majority of the time, ends on a heartbreaking note.
Editing is skilfully carried out, for every single minute of its 1½ hour narrative is accounted for & is relevant to the plot. Every sequence on the beach is compelling & handled with patience and every explosion or casualty reverberates with the audience & the impact of it is deeply felt. The film does feel longer than its runtime but it is relentlessly gripping till the end. And further enhancing its grim aura is the poignant score that always surfaces on time.
Coming to the performances, Land of Mine features an incredibly committed cast in Roland Møller, Louis Hofmann & others, with Hofmann impressing the most. Møller is in as the Sergeant overseeing the mine clearing operation and expresses his character's inner conflict brilliantly while Hofmann plays one of the young boys performing the fatal, endless task of defusing millions of buried mines with stunning balance, and the scenes between the two are its main highlight.
On an overall scale, Land of Mine not only ranks amongst the best films of its year but is one of the finest films to come out from Cinema of Denmark. Incessantly human, powerfully moving & making a strong statement about what makes us human & why it's even more important to stay as one in times of bitter conflict, this Danish masterpiece is an extremely riveting example of its genre that treads a difficult path & is utterly discomforting at times yet manages to fully redeem itself in the end. An essential viewing by all means, this Danish masterpiece comes very highly recommended.
Like a train wreck, great entertainment but the outcome is horrifying.
ericnottelling7 April 2016
Warning: Spoilers
This was a very well written and acted movie. The production level was very good and after viewing it, I don't think it was a very expensive movie to film. Yet it might be one of the best films I have seen from 2015. I really liked the story line here. Post WWII with a real feel for the era. You had a very real sense that the anger these people were feeling was real. There are parts in the movie where you just had to think WOW it just got real. From the very beginning they were not going to hold back. You could really feel the emotional message of the movie.
The movie is not for people who like happy endings. This is a very powerful story that sucks you in, and it holds you there in suspense. It's like watching a train wreck. It's great entertainment but the outcome is simply horrifying as you know what is coming down the tracks. It is filled with anger, fear and dread. But also human connection, reflection, and the propensity for humans to know the moral right. There is no way you can look at this movie and say there is a "happy ending". Instead it gives you a real glimpse of the complexities of post WWII mechanics and human character.
There is simply no way to look past the harsh realities of this film. It speaks to who we are and how human beings react. But it also shows that while we may not be innocent, we try to preserve others who we think are.
The movie is not for people who like happy endings. This is a very powerful story that sucks you in, and it holds you there in suspense. It's like watching a train wreck. It's great entertainment but the outcome is simply horrifying as you know what is coming down the tracks. It is filled with anger, fear and dread. But also human connection, reflection, and the propensity for humans to know the moral right. There is no way you can look at this movie and say there is a "happy ending". Instead it gives you a real glimpse of the complexities of post WWII mechanics and human character.
There is simply no way to look past the harsh realities of this film. It speaks to who we are and how human beings react. But it also shows that while we may not be innocent, we try to preserve others who we think are.
Great writing makes this a powerful movie
zeki-427 July 2017
This movie certainly deserved its Oscar nomination.
Rarely do movie stick with me for days. 'Land of mine' did.
It's not an action-movie, like 'Dunkirk' or other movies set in and around World War 2. It's an important character study about humanity, desperation, resentment, anger, prejudice and hate that I think everyone need to see, even if they have no interest in World War 2. There are no good or bad guys here. Just people that try to deal with difficult situations commanded by other people above them.
They should make more movies like this.
Rarely do movie stick with me for days. 'Land of mine' did.
It's not an action-movie, like 'Dunkirk' or other movies set in and around World War 2. It's an important character study about humanity, desperation, resentment, anger, prejudice and hate that I think everyone need to see, even if they have no interest in World War 2. There are no good or bad guys here. Just people that try to deal with difficult situations commanded by other people above them.
They should make more movies like this.
Some of the most heart-pulse racing moments you can have in a war history story that needs to be told.
CineMuseFilms29 March 2017
In matters of war, no nation is free of guilt. Regardless of whether they are produced by victorious or vanquished countries, the better war films set out facts, acknowledge wrongdoing, express regret, and seek atonement. Many of them put guilt and culpability onto the widescreen so that current and future generations may learn from the past. This is the psychological space in which we find the extraordinary Danish-German war film Land of Mine (2016).
It is 1945 and the war is over, but the beautiful Danish coastline has two million deadly mines left buried in the sand by the Nazi occupation. Danish Sergeant Carl Rasmussen (Roland Møller) is assigned a squad of fourteen German prisoners of war who must clear a beach that contains 45,000 active mines. The Sergeant's treatment of the teenage boys is initially brutal: they live and work in terrible conditions, are practically starved and constantly reminded that everyone in Denmark hates them and nobody cares if they live or die. Their task is to crawl along the beach by hand, poking a stick in the sand to locate mines, then defuse them before they explode. Inevitably, many failed. With echoes of Stockholm syndrome, both captor and captives find glimpses of humanity in each other that leads to Rasmussen being suspected by his tormenting superiors of going soft on the Germans. He must walk the fine line between military obedience, personal hatred of Nazis, and his growing compassion and realisation that these are just boys who were conscripted into battle. His characterisation and its transition from hatred to acceptance frames the narrative of this high-tension drama.
Stunningly realistic cinematography with minute attention to detail amplifies the horror of this story. The acting is remarkable from a mostly unknown cast and Rasmussen's performance captures the very essence of moral conflict. The mine-clearing proceeds inch-by-agonising-inch, and the film's plot line inches forward at a similar pace. With camera at sand-level, we see close-up images of teenage warriors with beads of terror trickling down their faces as their sand-covered fingers slowly un-screw a detonator from a mine, knowing that an explosion will tear their body to pieces. These are some of the most heart-pulse racing moments you can experience through film. This is not entertainment nor is it for faint-hearted viewers; several scenes are horrific.
Most war films glorify battle or corner us into cheering one side or the other. This film presents an exquisite conundrum: was it morally acceptable for the Danish military to force German POWs to remove the deadly mines that the Nazi army left behind, knowing that most will die or be maimed? Or should this deadly work have been carried out by Danish soldiers? Was the inhumane treatment of teenage soldiers justifiable, regardless of the brutality of the Nazi occupation of Denmark? In the light of such questions, is this film one of justification or a confessional that seeks atonement? Land of Mine shines a bright light on what has hitherto been a dark secret of Danish history. It is a powerful and important story.
It is 1945 and the war is over, but the beautiful Danish coastline has two million deadly mines left buried in the sand by the Nazi occupation. Danish Sergeant Carl Rasmussen (Roland Møller) is assigned a squad of fourteen German prisoners of war who must clear a beach that contains 45,000 active mines. The Sergeant's treatment of the teenage boys is initially brutal: they live and work in terrible conditions, are practically starved and constantly reminded that everyone in Denmark hates them and nobody cares if they live or die. Their task is to crawl along the beach by hand, poking a stick in the sand to locate mines, then defuse them before they explode. Inevitably, many failed. With echoes of Stockholm syndrome, both captor and captives find glimpses of humanity in each other that leads to Rasmussen being suspected by his tormenting superiors of going soft on the Germans. He must walk the fine line between military obedience, personal hatred of Nazis, and his growing compassion and realisation that these are just boys who were conscripted into battle. His characterisation and its transition from hatred to acceptance frames the narrative of this high-tension drama.
Stunningly realistic cinematography with minute attention to detail amplifies the horror of this story. The acting is remarkable from a mostly unknown cast and Rasmussen's performance captures the very essence of moral conflict. The mine-clearing proceeds inch-by-agonising-inch, and the film's plot line inches forward at a similar pace. With camera at sand-level, we see close-up images of teenage warriors with beads of terror trickling down their faces as their sand-covered fingers slowly un-screw a detonator from a mine, knowing that an explosion will tear their body to pieces. These are some of the most heart-pulse racing moments you can experience through film. This is not entertainment nor is it for faint-hearted viewers; several scenes are horrific.
Most war films glorify battle or corner us into cheering one side or the other. This film presents an exquisite conundrum: was it morally acceptable for the Danish military to force German POWs to remove the deadly mines that the Nazi army left behind, knowing that most will die or be maimed? Or should this deadly work have been carried out by Danish soldiers? Was the inhumane treatment of teenage soldiers justifiable, regardless of the brutality of the Nazi occupation of Denmark? In the light of such questions, is this film one of justification or a confessional that seeks atonement? Land of Mine shines a bright light on what has hitherto been a dark secret of Danish history. It is a powerful and important story.
dangerous work
cdcrb15 February 2017
Warning: Spoilers
SPOILER ALERT. the was is over. roland moller is a Danish sergeant in charge of a group of very young German soldiers, whose job it is to clear a section of the Danish beach of mines planted by the Germans in anticipation of the invasion. based on a true story. I have read a lot of books about the war but have never heard this one. unfortunately when you defuse mines, you tend to get blown up. we just don't know when. although you are never really surprised. I couldn't help but think about who fights wars-young men. an entire generation was almost wiped out in ww2. on both sides. roland moller is terrific as the sergeant and the guys playing the soldiers are very good. it's not a fun movie, and when the director lightens it up, we all pay. its not for the squeamish, let me just say that.
The story is simple and amazing!
adrianparada9 October 2016
Warning: Spoilers
You watch so often heroes in war with a Hollywood point of view but in this case you're receiving a story which shows how the war really is. I'm coming from a city and a country that has lived the war and the human conflict of This movie goes beyond all Borders and frontiers. I feel so related with the story. I'm not the a film expert but for me this is a masterpiece. This movie teach us all about war, about life, about death, hate and love, how About losers and winners. I recommend this movie for all those people that Think war is the solution. This story talks about a very distant country for me but thanks the magic of filmmaking I feel it so close to my story and my Country. Apparently simple, obviously beautiful. Greetings.
Great and touching movie. I highly recommend
chaouachiyoussef14 January 2019
Great and touching movie about human relations and humanity.
It speaks about nazis young soldiers who were captured in Denmarek and were used like slaves to look for and extract mines along the coast of Denmark.
This movie brings something new that I have never seen before in cinema about nazis.
Young soldiers shall not suffer the consequences of wrong decisions of leaders and commanders and we are human after all.
Finally we can say that among those who won the war againt nazis, there were some who should have been judged for what they did to nazis hostages.
Grimm drama on the casualties of war
subxerogravity13 February 2017
There's a weird double edge sword going on here. Though I can't blame the Danish for being so cruel to the Germans so soon after the war ended, it's difficult in this PC world of 2017 to see this happening.
Denmark forces German soldiers to clean up their mess (A series of beaches infected with their land mines) before they can go home. Making this task even crueler is the soldiers doing it don't look old enough to smoke a cigarette.
It was a very honest look at the aftermath of war. The Danish military were treating the German's worse than dogs, though Germany deserved it for the part they played in WWII. Land of Mine is a focus on humanity as one Danish Commanding officer must find this with a group of German boys he commands like they were slaves
Land of Mine was at times hard to look at, especially when these kids were getting blown up. A little too real on how land mines work. One minute you're there, the next minute you're gone. Sometimes you saw the explosion coming, and then they surprise you with one you didn't. It strangely added to the drama.
Land of Mine was an interesting look on what it takes to turn the other cheek and forgive the enemy.
http://cinemagardens.com
Denmark forces German soldiers to clean up their mess (A series of beaches infected with their land mines) before they can go home. Making this task even crueler is the soldiers doing it don't look old enough to smoke a cigarette.
It was a very honest look at the aftermath of war. The Danish military were treating the German's worse than dogs, though Germany deserved it for the part they played in WWII. Land of Mine is a focus on humanity as one Danish Commanding officer must find this with a group of German boys he commands like they were slaves
Land of Mine was at times hard to look at, especially when these kids were getting blown up. A little too real on how land mines work. One minute you're there, the next minute you're gone. Sometimes you saw the explosion coming, and then they surprise you with one you didn't. It strangely added to the drama.
Land of Mine was an interesting look on what it takes to turn the other cheek and forgive the enemy.
http://cinemagardens.com
The Danish always makes fun movies, don't they?
darapjohnson21 October 2022
And no, with fun I don't mean "haha funny". I meant as in they're so enjoyable to watch. You americans should definitely give more danish movies a watch. You'll not regret it.
Based on a true story, "Land of Mine" takes a look at German POW's who were forced to remove 1.5 million landmines on the west coast of Denmark and this movie takes a particular look at 14 young boys who are made to remove thousands of land mines under a danish sergeant.
A very intriguing plot which was executed brilliantly. Pretty sad movie with a great story and a look at how terrible war was even for innocent young people that wanted nothing to do with the war to begin with.
Based on a true story, "Land of Mine" takes a look at German POW's who were forced to remove 1.5 million landmines on the west coast of Denmark and this movie takes a particular look at 14 young boys who are made to remove thousands of land mines under a danish sergeant.
A very intriguing plot which was executed brilliantly. Pretty sad movie with a great story and a look at how terrible war was even for innocent young people that wanted nothing to do with the war to begin with.
Unpopular Opinion: Interesting Premise with Poor delivery.
WillInDenmark8 May 2023
I recently viewed the Danish-German war drama "Under Sandet" (2015), written and directed by Martin Zandvliet, which is based on true events. The film depicts the story of young German prisoners of war who were tasked with clearing the Jutland coast of two million landmines using their bare hands. This lesser-known chapter of Danish post-war history is a fascinating premise for a film.
The film begins with a group of German soldiers being transported to a Danish beach where they are forced to commence the dangerous task of removing landmines. The soldiers, led by the unyielding Sergeant Carl Rasmussen (played by Roland Møller), are subjected to cruel and inhumane treatment. Rasmussen's plan seems to be to starve the German soldiers to death while forcing them to work. However, the character development falls flat as the soldiers are portrayed as one-dimensional, lacking in personality. Similarly, Rasmussen initially comes across as a heartless monster consumed by hatred, making his later change of heart seem unearned.
One of the film's major issues is its monotony. The film maintains a dull tone throughout, and the bomb disarming scenes lack the excitement they could have had if the audience was more invested in the characters.
While the film has received acclaim for bringing attention to a little-known piece of history, its historical inaccuracies detract from its value. For instance, the German soldiers are led by a Danish sergeant in the film, whereas in reality, German officers led the program. Additionally, the film focuses heavily on the brutality of the Danish sergeant, which is not a part of history. The Danish government's stated plan in the film to starve workers to death is also not factual, as it was the Germans who functioned with death camps and starvation labor. This inaccuracy detracts from the actual controversy surrounding the use of German labor to deactivate the mines.
While films that take creative liberties with history to make a point can be effective, "Under Sandet" falls short due to its overemphasis on its supposed factual basis. The actors, including the German soldiers played by Louis Hofmann, Emil & Oscar Belton, and Joel Basman, failed to leave a lasting impression. The film's score also did not enhance the viewing experience.
Overall, "Under Sandet" has the potential to be an insightful and powerful film, given its historical context. However, its lack of character development, monotonous tone, and historical inaccuracies ultimately undermine its potential. I would rate it 2 out of 10 stars.
The film begins with a group of German soldiers being transported to a Danish beach where they are forced to commence the dangerous task of removing landmines. The soldiers, led by the unyielding Sergeant Carl Rasmussen (played by Roland Møller), are subjected to cruel and inhumane treatment. Rasmussen's plan seems to be to starve the German soldiers to death while forcing them to work. However, the character development falls flat as the soldiers are portrayed as one-dimensional, lacking in personality. Similarly, Rasmussen initially comes across as a heartless monster consumed by hatred, making his later change of heart seem unearned.
One of the film's major issues is its monotony. The film maintains a dull tone throughout, and the bomb disarming scenes lack the excitement they could have had if the audience was more invested in the characters.
While the film has received acclaim for bringing attention to a little-known piece of history, its historical inaccuracies detract from its value. For instance, the German soldiers are led by a Danish sergeant in the film, whereas in reality, German officers led the program. Additionally, the film focuses heavily on the brutality of the Danish sergeant, which is not a part of history. The Danish government's stated plan in the film to starve workers to death is also not factual, as it was the Germans who functioned with death camps and starvation labor. This inaccuracy detracts from the actual controversy surrounding the use of German labor to deactivate the mines.
While films that take creative liberties with history to make a point can be effective, "Under Sandet" falls short due to its overemphasis on its supposed factual basis. The actors, including the German soldiers played by Louis Hofmann, Emil & Oscar Belton, and Joel Basman, failed to leave a lasting impression. The film's score also did not enhance the viewing experience.
Overall, "Under Sandet" has the potential to be an insightful and powerful film, given its historical context. However, its lack of character development, monotonous tone, and historical inaccuracies ultimately undermine its potential. I would rate it 2 out of 10 stars.
The suspense is a killer.
JohnDeSando6 April 2017
"Those of you who count the mines, make sure my card is updated. This task is as important as defusing mines." Sgt. Carl Rasmussen (Roland Moller)
In 1945, Denmark needed to defuse the over 2 million landmines left on their western beaches by the Nazis. A Danish sergeant is responsible for 14 German POWs, youngsters all, to find the 45 K on one beach, after which the boys can go home.
That precision mentioned in the opening quote lies at the heart of the film's considerable suspense because one unaccounted for mine can take multiple lives. And so, the sergeant has to corral teenage workers, motivate them with fear, and keep at bay his growing affection for them.
Therein lies the real suspense: Will he learn to love and protect them or will he be brutal as he was in the opening scene? For a story somewhat like Hurt Locker, Land of Mine is a minimalist work of complexity, unadorned with the usual tropes of thrillers but full of the humanity to make it rise above just another WW II sentimental reflection.
Besides the tension built into the always impending explosions is the question of whether or not the Danes will act like Nazis suppressing the lads and hurrying them on to death. The moments of warmth between the sergeant and the boys are few but revelatory enough for us to hope their innocence and bravery will win him over.
Land of Mine will usher you into a war zone you've not seen handled so well in cinema, except possibly Jean Renoir's Grand Illusion in the '30's. The drama, replete with many dramatic elements and even Chekov's gun, will make you wince at the possibly grotesque fate of faultless boys and their conflicted sergeant.
In 1945, Denmark needed to defuse the over 2 million landmines left on their western beaches by the Nazis. A Danish sergeant is responsible for 14 German POWs, youngsters all, to find the 45 K on one beach, after which the boys can go home.
That precision mentioned in the opening quote lies at the heart of the film's considerable suspense because one unaccounted for mine can take multiple lives. And so, the sergeant has to corral teenage workers, motivate them with fear, and keep at bay his growing affection for them.
Therein lies the real suspense: Will he learn to love and protect them or will he be brutal as he was in the opening scene? For a story somewhat like Hurt Locker, Land of Mine is a minimalist work of complexity, unadorned with the usual tropes of thrillers but full of the humanity to make it rise above just another WW II sentimental reflection.
Besides the tension built into the always impending explosions is the question of whether or not the Danes will act like Nazis suppressing the lads and hurrying them on to death. The moments of warmth between the sergeant and the boys are few but revelatory enough for us to hope their innocence and bravery will win him over.
Land of Mine will usher you into a war zone you've not seen handled so well in cinema, except possibly Jean Renoir's Grand Illusion in the '30's. The drama, replete with many dramatic elements and even Chekov's gun, will make you wince at the possibly grotesque fate of faultless boys and their conflicted sergeant.
How much bravery is required just to persevere
vsks23 March 2017
This multiply-honored Danish-German movie from Martin Zandvliet also could have been titled Land of Mines, since it is based on Denmark's real post-World War II program that used POWs to clear the mines the Germans laid up and down the Danes' western seacoast. Apparently, someone in Hitler's command believed the Allied invasion might take place there, and when the war was over, the mines had to go. In real life, we're told, some 2,000 prisoners were given the task of clearing the beaches of some 1.5 million mines—a task New York Times reviewer A.O. Scott terms "intuitively fair and obviously cruel." About half of these former soldiers, many of whom were mere teenagers, died or were seriously injured in the process. This movie, which has subtitles, is about 14 such prisoners and not easy to watch. Lacking the Hollywood cues that typically signal when disaster's coming and who will be next to die, every moment of training, every defusing of a mine, every run on the beach is tension-filled. Hardass Danish Sergeant Carl Rasmussen (played by Roland Møller) doesn't think these prisoners should get by with a thing, and he works them hard. The story, then, is about how he gradually comes to see them as the young boys they are. The Danes are justly praised for saving the vast majority of their Jews in World War II, despite the country's occupation by the German army, but this almost forgotten episode shows a darker side. Not everyone is capable of compassion or of easy forgiveness. And where should the Sergeant's loyalties lie? With his countrymen (and the rest of humanity) who have suffered at the hands of the Nazis or with the boys now under his absolute command? The boys condemned to this excruciating duty, with its meager diet and the receding possibility they will ever return home, are portrayed by a fourteen young actors—including a pair of twins—who are utterly believable. Is their deadly task necessity or punishment? How much bravery is required just to persevere? A recent Academy Award nominee for Best Foreign Language Film, Land of Mine was shot on location on the Danish coast. A real mine—one missed by the young searchers more than 70 years ago—was discovered during filming.
One of the best this year
dakjets24 June 2016
Warning: Spoilers
The Danish sergeant Carl Leopold is responsible for a group of young German prisoners of war. The German boys are sent to the Danish west coast to defuse mines Nazis dug into the sand during World War II. Carl nourishes an intense hatred towards Germany and Germans after the war, and the boys suffers. The film is very poignant and brutal. There were several scenes that were tough to watch, this is a film that is difficult to take in right away. The story is strong and the story evolves dramatically. The psychological strain is something we as viewers are drawn into. One of the best things about this film is the wonderful actors, especially the young soldiers' suffering is conveyed in a convincing manner. This is a film you will not forget so easily. One of the year's best.
A blot on Danish post-war history
thniels2 December 2015
Warning: Spoilers
A dark blot on Danish post-war history finally put solidly on record and irrefutably so at that. Or at least that is what one would have thought. Having lived many years in the exact place where this takes place, the hateful remarks made towards these German conscripts were not grabbed from thin air and can be heard even today. Even in the audience at the cinema, some 70 years after the fact, there were occasional crude remarks when the teenagers had their limbs torn off. War, however horrible, ends at some point; the innate hatred towards faceless representatives of the enemy is long lived and utterly unnerving to watch.
The sere landscape of Skallingen and Blåvandshuk makes for a beautiful backdrop to this fine and thought provoking drama. My only complaint was that the house where they are lodged, although correct for both period and location, appears too old fashioned, which may add to the feeling of something that happened a long time ago. There were more modern facilities in the area at that time, which would have been easier for us in this day and age to relate to. But that is nitpicking.
The sere landscape of Skallingen and Blåvandshuk makes for a beautiful backdrop to this fine and thought provoking drama. My only complaint was that the house where they are lodged, although correct for both period and location, appears too old fashioned, which may add to the feeling of something that happened a long time ago. There were more modern facilities in the area at that time, which would have been easier for us in this day and age to relate to. But that is nitpicking.
Teen POWs in the post WWII Denmark.
Reno-Rangan24 August 2016
A Danish war-drama that was inspired by the historical account, but all the characters were fictional. Remember this title for another six month, because I am confident this film will make a journey to the west coast of the USA to compete at the 89th Academy Awards in the coming February. I have seen many foreign films, but I'm not this much positive for any others. If this film fails to make, then that would be a great disappointment despite having no idea of what are the other four films. So this is just for now, my stance may change later.
Anyway, the film was heartbreakingly amazing. The WWII stories I had seen those told from the perspectives of the Australian, Japanese, Korean, Russian to African and European to the American western sea, Hawaii. And this is a Danish story, sets in just after the end of the war where prisoners of the war were used to clean up the mess. In the opening the teen German POWs were trained to defuse the land mine explosives and then later the unit was handed over to the Danish sergeant Carl Rasmussen where they are all going to work in one of the west coast landmines that was used to defend the Scandinavia by the Nazi. That is the story told how it all ends in the remaining parts.
This was like another 'Kajaki', but not actually a war film. Using of the prisoners as the labourers is a violation, according to the Geneva rule. That's the point of the film, focused to reveal the inhume act. But it was not anything like 'The Railway Man' 'Unbroken' or the 'The Bridge on the River Kwai'. Watching a film about the brave soldiers inspires us and bring patriotism, but in this those teen kid screaming whenever something goes wrong really brings heartache. So not everybody feels comfortable with it, especially the family audience. But there were lots of edgy moments and you would never know what events follows.
"If they are old enough to go to war, they are old enough to clean up."
It was shot is the real location, and I think that part contributed to depicting the actual atmosphere where most of the POWs lost their arms and legs and some exploded into many pieces in the air. It was a simple narration, but the visuals talked itself more than anything else. All the actors were outstanding, especially those 4-5 German teens and of course the Danish sergeant Carl. I think the Carl's influence had more impact, after seeing the opening scene where he went outrage and beat up those German soldiers returning home.
There are a couple of small twists, but there are some scenes which are not easy to get over. Even though we know those were just fake, but that does not work once you totally into the story deeply. This is a different kind of emotional film, something you rarely experience. The director who is also the writer must be appreciated for handling it perfectly. Especially keeping the screenplay uncomplicated and between the two nations, where in the real event involves the British officials. I have never seen his other films, but this one will define him forth and the people are going to recognise him. So I hope he'll keep up doing such level films in the future.
I have never seen such film, I mean seen some where the kids were tortured, but this was very unique and totally a different perspective for that takes place in the backdrop of the WWII. Especially the Germans perspective is the very rare kind. So I'm kind of thinking if Germany picks 'Look Who's Back' for the Oscars, the contest between these two would bring two different moods. At this point I don't remember any Danish film I have seen so far in my life other than this one which I feel is the best Danish film ever. I mean, come on, who would do such film where your own nation, if not the whole nation, the one who represent was shown in the negative shade over the Nazi Germans. This is definitely one of the best films of the year. Highly recommended.
8/10
Anyway, the film was heartbreakingly amazing. The WWII stories I had seen those told from the perspectives of the Australian, Japanese, Korean, Russian to African and European to the American western sea, Hawaii. And this is a Danish story, sets in just after the end of the war where prisoners of the war were used to clean up the mess. In the opening the teen German POWs were trained to defuse the land mine explosives and then later the unit was handed over to the Danish sergeant Carl Rasmussen where they are all going to work in one of the west coast landmines that was used to defend the Scandinavia by the Nazi. That is the story told how it all ends in the remaining parts.
This was like another 'Kajaki', but not actually a war film. Using of the prisoners as the labourers is a violation, according to the Geneva rule. That's the point of the film, focused to reveal the inhume act. But it was not anything like 'The Railway Man' 'Unbroken' or the 'The Bridge on the River Kwai'. Watching a film about the brave soldiers inspires us and bring patriotism, but in this those teen kid screaming whenever something goes wrong really brings heartache. So not everybody feels comfortable with it, especially the family audience. But there were lots of edgy moments and you would never know what events follows.
"If they are old enough to go to war, they are old enough to clean up."
It was shot is the real location, and I think that part contributed to depicting the actual atmosphere where most of the POWs lost their arms and legs and some exploded into many pieces in the air. It was a simple narration, but the visuals talked itself more than anything else. All the actors were outstanding, especially those 4-5 German teens and of course the Danish sergeant Carl. I think the Carl's influence had more impact, after seeing the opening scene where he went outrage and beat up those German soldiers returning home.
There are a couple of small twists, but there are some scenes which are not easy to get over. Even though we know those were just fake, but that does not work once you totally into the story deeply. This is a different kind of emotional film, something you rarely experience. The director who is also the writer must be appreciated for handling it perfectly. Especially keeping the screenplay uncomplicated and between the two nations, where in the real event involves the British officials. I have never seen his other films, but this one will define him forth and the people are going to recognise him. So I hope he'll keep up doing such level films in the future.
I have never seen such film, I mean seen some where the kids were tortured, but this was very unique and totally a different perspective for that takes place in the backdrop of the WWII. Especially the Germans perspective is the very rare kind. So I'm kind of thinking if Germany picks 'Look Who's Back' for the Oscars, the contest between these two would bring two different moods. At this point I don't remember any Danish film I have seen so far in my life other than this one which I feel is the best Danish film ever. I mean, come on, who would do such film where your own nation, if not the whole nation, the one who represent was shown in the negative shade over the Nazi Germans. This is definitely one of the best films of the year. Highly recommended.
8/10
A war film with a difference
eddie_baggins7 November 2017
Just when you think you've seen all there is to see concerning World War 2 and big screen stories, along comes a film shining a light on an aspect of the war that I would imagine very few know much about.
Oscar nominated Danish/German film Land of Mine delivers a non-fictional narrative of a true life aspect of World War 2, that being upon the conclusion of fighting during the great war, German POW's (mainly young soldiers) were harnessed by the Danish army to take on the arduous and literally explosive task of disarming over 2 million mines that had been left scattered across the coastline of Denmark at the height of the World War 2 conflict.
This little known (at least here in Australia) aspect of post-war Europe allows director Martin Zandvliet a chance to deliver some white knuckle big screen action as our rag-tag group of young German POWS go about their business of clearing out a section of Danish coastline under the often brutal care of Roland Møller's Danish Sergeant Carl Rasmussen.
Land of Mine cares very little for adding much backstory or humanising any of these characters for us, we know and understand that what these men and boys on both sides have been through would be nothing short of horrific and instead Zandvliet places us alongside the group as they face a day to day proposition of death as their month long journey to find and disarm mines consumes their day to day lives.
You're never under any confusion as to what this task required and it's one of those interesting conundrums as to whose lives were more important as the Danish saw an opportunity as such to get revenge on the German's that had caused so much pain for them, even if many of the POW's tasked with the mine clearances quite clearly were not often at fault.
It's a little bit of shame that we don't get to know these characters better as Zandvliet's film pulls no punches when it comes to showing the true bloody nature of the task these individuals undertook but despite the fact Land of Mine's cold approach doesn't allow it to connect to us as emotionally as we could've done with, as an examination of a shocking aspect of post-World War 2 and an insight into a different facet of the war in Europe, Land of Mine is a real must-see.
Final Say –
A confronting, shocking and sometimes unbearably tense war drama, Land of Mine is a war film like none other and while it never pulls off a true emotionally resonate connection, this foreign language effort is well worth digging up and one of the more impressive war films of recent years.
3 ½ games of fetch out of 5
Oscar nominated Danish/German film Land of Mine delivers a non-fictional narrative of a true life aspect of World War 2, that being upon the conclusion of fighting during the great war, German POW's (mainly young soldiers) were harnessed by the Danish army to take on the arduous and literally explosive task of disarming over 2 million mines that had been left scattered across the coastline of Denmark at the height of the World War 2 conflict.
This little known (at least here in Australia) aspect of post-war Europe allows director Martin Zandvliet a chance to deliver some white knuckle big screen action as our rag-tag group of young German POWS go about their business of clearing out a section of Danish coastline under the often brutal care of Roland Møller's Danish Sergeant Carl Rasmussen.
Land of Mine cares very little for adding much backstory or humanising any of these characters for us, we know and understand that what these men and boys on both sides have been through would be nothing short of horrific and instead Zandvliet places us alongside the group as they face a day to day proposition of death as their month long journey to find and disarm mines consumes their day to day lives.
You're never under any confusion as to what this task required and it's one of those interesting conundrums as to whose lives were more important as the Danish saw an opportunity as such to get revenge on the German's that had caused so much pain for them, even if many of the POW's tasked with the mine clearances quite clearly were not often at fault.
It's a little bit of shame that we don't get to know these characters better as Zandvliet's film pulls no punches when it comes to showing the true bloody nature of the task these individuals undertook but despite the fact Land of Mine's cold approach doesn't allow it to connect to us as emotionally as we could've done with, as an examination of a shocking aspect of post-World War 2 and an insight into a different facet of the war in Europe, Land of Mine is a real must-see.
Final Say –
A confronting, shocking and sometimes unbearably tense war drama, Land of Mine is a war film like none other and while it never pulls off a true emotionally resonate connection, this foreign language effort is well worth digging up and one of the more impressive war films of recent years.
3 ½ games of fetch out of 5
Tough-as-nails post-WW II soldier drama from Denmark
paul-allaer19 March 2017
"Land of Mine" (2015 release from Denmark; original title: Under sandet, ('Under the Sand'); 100 min.) brings the story of a group of German POWs in Denmark. As the movie opens, we are reminded it is "Denmark, May 1945", right after the end of WW II. We get to know Danish Sgt. Rasmussen, who--after violently lashing out against German soldiers leaving the country--is assigned to de-mine an area on Denmark's western coast. Apparently the Nazis anticipated a possible invasion there, incorrectly as we all know. Rasmussen gets the help of about a dozen German soldiers who are ordered to actually do the work. When the soldiers arrive, it turns out most of them are just boys. As the Germans are trained on how to de-mine, one of them accidentally detonates a mine and dies. At this point we are a good 10 min. into the movie, but to tell you more of the plot would spoil your viewing experience, you'll just have to see for yourself how it all plays out.
Couple of comments: this is a high-profile (more on that later) and expensive (for European standards) production that brings to the big screen a post WWI episode not well known by the public at large (in the movie's end titles, we learn that more than 2,000 German soldiers were involved in this enormous mining clearance project). The movie's underlying tension (namely, at any time one of those landmines may detonate when making a minor error) rarely lets up, keeping us at the edge of our seat. On top of that, there are several outright brutal scenes involving Sgt. Rasmussen's attitude towards the boy soldiers (it somehow reminded me of the first half hour of Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket). All that said, while one certainly may have empathy for the boy soldiers as a group, I found it difficult to have the same emotional investment for the individual boys, as frankly they all seemed interchangeable to me within the movie's context. But in the end, this is an eye-opening movie on many levels. Danish actor Roland Møller in the role of Sgt. Rasmussen is nothing short of extraordinary.
"Land of Mine" received immediate critical acclaim upon its release in 2015 and in fact was nominated for the 2016 Best Foreign Language Movie Oscar, yes, LAST year's Oscars. I have no idea why this movie is just now opening up in US theaters, but better late than never I suppose. The Saturday matinée screening where I saw this at in Ft. Myers was attended very nicely, much to my surprise. If you are interested in a slice of WW II history that you may not be familiar with, I urge you to check this out, be it in theater, or later on Amazon Instant Video on eventually on DVD/Blu-ray. "Land of Mine" is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Couple of comments: this is a high-profile (more on that later) and expensive (for European standards) production that brings to the big screen a post WWI episode not well known by the public at large (in the movie's end titles, we learn that more than 2,000 German soldiers were involved in this enormous mining clearance project). The movie's underlying tension (namely, at any time one of those landmines may detonate when making a minor error) rarely lets up, keeping us at the edge of our seat. On top of that, there are several outright brutal scenes involving Sgt. Rasmussen's attitude towards the boy soldiers (it somehow reminded me of the first half hour of Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket). All that said, while one certainly may have empathy for the boy soldiers as a group, I found it difficult to have the same emotional investment for the individual boys, as frankly they all seemed interchangeable to me within the movie's context. But in the end, this is an eye-opening movie on many levels. Danish actor Roland Møller in the role of Sgt. Rasmussen is nothing short of extraordinary.
"Land of Mine" received immediate critical acclaim upon its release in 2015 and in fact was nominated for the 2016 Best Foreign Language Movie Oscar, yes, LAST year's Oscars. I have no idea why this movie is just now opening up in US theaters, but better late than never I suppose. The Saturday matinée screening where I saw this at in Ft. Myers was attended very nicely, much to my surprise. If you are interested in a slice of WW II history that you may not be familiar with, I urge you to check this out, be it in theater, or later on Amazon Instant Video on eventually on DVD/Blu-ray. "Land of Mine" is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Nice Germans, mellow Danes
Karl Self13 March 2016
Last week I saw the 2016 edition of "The Diary Of Anne Frank", which is probably the best-known story about WWII (still a good film, BTW). "Under sandet" takes on one of those gazillion stories of the era which hardly anyone has heard about. During the war, the Germans laid a record number of mines on the Danish Western shore. After the war, the Danes had the fairly obvious idea of letting German POWs clear those mines.
The movie shows what must be a battle-hardened elite Danish soldier (I assume -- the movie never tells us anything about him except that he's fond of his dog) leading a small assignment of German soldiers in cleaning beaches. As it turns out, the supposed "supermen" are boys in uniform. Inevitably, defusions go wrong, sh*t gets blown up, and our tough-as-nails Sergeant eventually grows fond of the boys.
The movie shows what must be a battle-hardened elite Danish soldier (I assume -- the movie never tells us anything about him except that he's fond of his dog) leading a small assignment of German soldiers in cleaning beaches. As it turns out, the supposed "supermen" are boys in uniform. Inevitably, defusions go wrong, sh*t gets blown up, and our tough-as-nails Sergeant eventually grows fond of the boys.
Excellent movie
alex-ras4 December 2015
What an excellent movie! Good actors, wonderful scenes, great plot. The Movie brings the feels to the audience so you can feel with them. Every second is as exciting as the second before. Maybe one of the best films in Denmark. Especially Leon Seidel plays his role perfect in every way. And all other Boys and Guys and Women are necessary and play an important role for the film. Martin Zandvliet created an film for the past and the future which entertains and teaches everyone. The film includes a dark past of Denmark. Young Boys are forced to disarm mines and this will be a deadly experience. If you watch Land of Mine you will not regret it. Thanks to everyone.
good film but a bit too heavy
digdog-785-7175381 October 2017
Warning: Spoilers
I found this by complete accident on youtube, and was enthralled by the first scene, enough to continue and watch the entire 2 hours.
Apparently, when WW2 ended, a small-ish number of German Prisoners Of War were kept by Denmark for the sole job of removing landmines, mostly as a punishment for their previous occupation of their land. The job involved laying on your belly and tapping the ground with a spike, to find a mine, and then manually disarming it. Not an easy job, and in fact about half of those put to it, either died or suffered grevious wounds.
On top of all that, most of these POWs were teenagers, mostly last- minute conscripts from the Hitler Youth, forced into the war as a last ditch effort to try to win against the allies.
Land of Mine is a 2015 film (of which i completely ignored the existence until just now) entirely in German, although subtitles are available, detailing the fate of one group of said children, and of their Danish instructor/warden, as they learn the dangerous job of hand-disarming live explosives, all the while trying to figure out why they are there.
Now, Land of Mine is a masterfully well made film; the acting is excellent, the production is likewise top notch, and the soundtrack particularly moving; but ..
It's long. It's dark. It's more than a bit depressing.
This is not an easy film to watch. It will force you to ponder the horrors of war, without ever giving you a rest, a hero to admire, a victory to share. Here, war is about loss, not victory.
I am not sure i can recommend this film. But if you have a friend or two who think war is cool because you shoot bad guys, then show them this film, it will change their mind.
my vote will be only 7/10. it's good, but it's hard.
Apparently, when WW2 ended, a small-ish number of German Prisoners Of War were kept by Denmark for the sole job of removing landmines, mostly as a punishment for their previous occupation of their land. The job involved laying on your belly and tapping the ground with a spike, to find a mine, and then manually disarming it. Not an easy job, and in fact about half of those put to it, either died or suffered grevious wounds.
On top of all that, most of these POWs were teenagers, mostly last- minute conscripts from the Hitler Youth, forced into the war as a last ditch effort to try to win against the allies.
Land of Mine is a 2015 film (of which i completely ignored the existence until just now) entirely in German, although subtitles are available, detailing the fate of one group of said children, and of their Danish instructor/warden, as they learn the dangerous job of hand-disarming live explosives, all the while trying to figure out why they are there.
Now, Land of Mine is a masterfully well made film; the acting is excellent, the production is likewise top notch, and the soundtrack particularly moving; but ..
It's long. It's dark. It's more than a bit depressing.
This is not an easy film to watch. It will force you to ponder the horrors of war, without ever giving you a rest, a hero to admire, a victory to share. Here, war is about loss, not victory.
I am not sure i can recommend this film. But if you have a friend or two who think war is cool because you shoot bad guys, then show them this film, it will change their mind.
my vote will be only 7/10. it's good, but it's hard.
Sentimental and apologetic
florian-karpfinger-114 September 2021
This is a terrible falsification and one simplification of war. Indeed it has a high production value and good actors but it has very little to do with reality. It always makes for a good story which makes the humane come out in the enemy but reality is that war is de-humanizing. All stories which try to tell the opposite are just sentimental lies. And this Film is a shameful example of this.
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