NZIFF Film Review: "Land of Mine" ("Unter dem Sand") (2015).

"They survived World War II. Now they have to survive the clearing." This is Land of Mine (Unter dem Sand). This Danish-German historical drama war film written and directed by Martin Zandvliet. The film follows a group of German prisoners of war who are forced to dig up millions of Nazi land mines with their bare hands along the coast of the North Sea in Denmark.

It is believed that more than 2,000 German soldiers were forced to remove mines, and nearly half of them lost their lives or limbs. In July 2014, principal photography commenced, and wrapped in August. Filming took place at the historically authentic locations, including in Oksbøllejren and areas in Varde. The use of the historical beaches led to the discovery of a real mine during the production. Prior to filming, the actors were trained in mine clearance 'anno 1945' at the Military Training Compound 'Oksbøl'. During training they found a 'live' mine. It had been there for seventy-plus years - and was in fine working condition. The mine was removed and disarmed by the danish de-mining experts.

The film stars Roland Møller, Mikkel Boe Følsgaard, Laura Bro, Louis Hofmann, and Joel Basman. The cast here, especially the young ones, are superb at conveying the young, world-weary minds pummelled, or blown to pieces, by the horrors of seeing their fellow soldiers die by either war or land mines.

This striking, slow-building drama from Zandvliet uses graphic imagery in order to reflect the horrors of the soldiers against the land mines in an unfamiliar landscape. If everything the soldiers left to dig up the land mines have been taught this. A beautifully crafted film, it may be, but it is by no means a bourgeois film. It is a rebuke to expected notions of World War II, as well as a formidable work in its own right. Zandvliet's film proceeds like a long-ago pseudo dark-hued documentary drama grounded in real-life 20th-century horrors. The sins of the Fatherland sent German soldiers to dig up death in Zandvliet's vividly rendered and terrifying drama. With a soldier's perspective on war, the film deserves comparisons with Platoon (1986), and with young German soldiers as its protagonists, it stands virtually alone. The film is not a pretty story, but it is a good and sadly believable one. Zandvliet's tough, moving film is shot with great intimacy, driving home the idea that great horrors are ultimately a personal responsibility. Zandvliet has created a moving, intriguing and complex film, which provides one of the most intelligent and honest approaches to both Nazism and the aftermath of World War II seen on screen in recent years. A raw, urgent yet contemplative tone infuses every moment and, courtesy of cinematographer Camilla Hjelm Knudsen, Zandvliet uses the country's vast, devastated landscape to stunning effect. The film's textures and colours evoke equal parts wonder and horror. Remarkable, raw, and disorienting, it never bothers to tell you what it can instead show.

Simon says Land of Mine (Under dem Sand) receives:

Also, see my NZIFF review for Swiss Army Man.