Synopsis:
Company commander Claus M. Pedersen (Pilou Asbaek) and his men are stationed in an Afghan province. Meanwhile back in Denmark Claus’ wife Maria (Tuva Novotny) is trying to hold everyday life together with a husband at war and three children missing their father. During a routine mission, the soldiers are caught in heavy crossfire and in order to save his men, Claus makes a decision that has grave consequences for him – and his family back home.
What We Thought:
A War gives you a great dynamic you don’t see in most war/military movies. The juxtaposition between battleground and home front really works.
In the beginning of the film you see Claus in Afghanistan fighting with his group. A soldier is killed and you get that realistic feel of today’s warfare. At the same time we are seeing what’s going on at home. His wife and kids are trying to live their daily lives while he’s thousands of miles away.
It’s that back and forth I really liked in the beginning. You get a personal feel of war. Most war movies only show you the battles and the horror of fighting. This shows you what’s happening when our men and women are away as well. You don’t always get that family side in the same story.
Then he comes home and you see yet another element of soldier life we don’t always see, the re-adjustment period. The film works on so many levels and you really get an understanding of the military life if you aren’t familiar with it already.
The Blu-ray looks very good. The muted/brown colors of battle look great. The every day colors of “normal” life look great as well. Audio is top notch with easy to hear dialogue and effects. The bonus features include interviews, behind the scenes and more.
A War is different type of war movie and I really enjoyed it. I know many military men and women and I think they’d appreciate what this shows. If you don’t want to watch non-stop violence and want to see the human side of things, definitely seek this out. Because of all that, it is…
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Bonus Features:
- Interview With Writer/Director Tobias Lindholm
- Behind the Scenes of A War
- Interview With Colonel Arnold Strong
- Los Angeles Film Screening Reactions
- Theatrical Trailer
Cast & Crew:
- Charlotte Munck
- Tuva Novotny
- Pilou Asbaek
- Soren Malling
- Dar Salim
Recommended If You Like:
- Son of Saul
- The Hurt Locker
- War movies
The Nerds Templar 