Film No. 51. BEFORE IT ENDS (NAR BEFRIELSEN KOMMER). Palace, Aust. Scandinavian Film Fest (2024). 4th August.

 

Film No. 51 (2024) August 4th.  1:20 PM  LUNA CINEMA, Cinema 1,  Leederville.

"The deal is simple: we mind our business and the Germans take care of their own" (The town's negotiator explains to a gathering of locals how repatriation will take place).

WINNER: Best Nordic Film (Anders Walter) Santa Barbara Int. Film Fest.    NOMINEE: Audience Award (Anders Walter) Danish Film Awards 2024.

When the war (WWII) ended in 1945, how did previously German occupied countries like Norway cope? Well, BEFORE IT ENDS (BIE) tells a tale about different behaviours confronting good people, and the testing of their moral grounding. 

Let's just say there was a small high school like Ryslinge Folk (Denmark) run by eminently competent headmaster, Jacob, (Pilou Asbaek) in mid 1945. There are many German refugees in Denmark, who need to be housed. The high school is the obvious roof under which the refugees could be housed, and the German forces insist on this. Jacob has no choice and must agree, but unknown to him, many of the refugees are very unwell and dying from diphtheria. Inspired by actual events, Jacob, through the eyes of son Soren (Lasse Peter Larsen) makes decisions - some forced, to help "the enemy". The melodrama does sit comfortably with us, and our hope is that Soren will come to understand and agree with the decisions his parents have made.   

There is much to learn about the role Scandinavian countries played in WWII. Film forms a conduit for that understanding. Drama's like, BIE and KONVOI, (a part of this festival), spark our inquisitive nature in learning more.  10GUMS.