X
- 2016
- R
- Sony Pictures Classics
- 1 h 40 m
- 2016
- R
- Sony Pictures Classics
- 1 h 40 m
Summary As World War Two comes to an end, a group of German POWs, boys rather than men, are captured by the Danish army and forced to engage in a deadly task – to defuse and clear land mines from the Danish coastline. With little or no training, the boys soon discover that the war is far from over. Inspired by real events, Land of Mine exposes t...
Directed By: Martin Zandvliet
Written By: Martin Zandvliet
- 2016
- R
- Sony Pictures Classics
- 1 h 40 m
- 2016
- R
- Sony Pictures Classics
- 1 h 40 m
Land of Mine
75
7.6
Where to Watch
Summary As World War Two comes to an end, a group of German POWs, boys rather than men, are captured by the Danish army and forced to engage in a deadly task – to defuse and clear land mines from the Danish coastline. With little or no training, the boys soon discover that the war is far from over. Inspired by real events, Land of Mine exposes t...
Directed By: Martin Zandvliet
Written By: Martin Zandvliet
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 26 Critic Reviews
75
85% Positive
22 Reviews
22 Reviews
15% Mixed
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 26 Critic Reviews
75
85% Positive
22 Reviews
22 Reviews
15% Mixed
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Both grimly naturalistic and infused with classical values at their most thoughtfully composed, Land of Mine is epic but deeply intimate; elegant but tough.
Zandvliet is a relatively young and inexperienced director, but his spare use of music and widescreen images is assured and even inspired.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 56 User Ratings
7.6
80% Positive
45 Ratings
45 Ratings
16% Mixed
9 Ratings
9 Ratings
4% Negative
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 56 User Ratings
7.6
80% Positive
45 Ratings
45 Ratings
16% Mixed
9 Ratings
9 Ratings
4% Negative
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
This movie is based on historic facts when after the end of the Second World War thousands of German POW, many of them teenage boys, were used by Danish Army to defuse and clean up millions of land mines installed by Germans earlier on Danish beaches.
The film is authentic, honest and brutal, hard to watch at times. Great performances across the board.
It was nominated for Oscar in the category of Best Foreign movie but did not win. In my opinion, it is much better than the Iranian movie “The Salesman” that won it.
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So, yes, Land of Mine is a World War II movie -- but it's not likely a World War II movie you've seen before.
Zandvliet’s script and direction avoid milking an innately loaded situation for excess melodrama or pathos, sticking to a discreet economy of approach that accumulates considerable power.
The cheesiest thing about it is the punny English-language title with which it’s been saddled. Otherwise, Land Of Mine is tough and admirably grim, turning a harrowing history lesson into a study in how the battles of wartime don’t always cease with the ceasefire.
One appreciates the desire of the filmmaker to let the audience fill in the back story, but Rasmussen’s behavior reflects badly on the Danish and heightens sympathy for the POWs.
Land of Mine is essentially bomb porn.
Solid WW2 movie about a subject matter that has never gotten the "Hollywood" treatment. (and in this case was nominated for Best Foreign Film Oscar.) It was very worthy of the nomination and was pretty well done. The lead actor is especially good as the Sgt. in charge of the **** the balance between befriending them, and instituting justice by making them perform their task. (of clearing planted mines from Dutch land.) If you like war movies at **** will most likely enjoy this film.
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Land of Mine is a refreshingly original and compelling post-war picture. As a result of the director filming much of the movie during the day’s Golden Hour, the film vividly presents a striking portraiture of serenity and beauty periodically **** by horrific explosions.
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Teen POWs in the post WWII Denmark.
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 ****. 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 **** Germans. This is definitely one of the best films of the year. Highly recommended.
8/10
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This is a very interesting movie. Going into the movie I wasn't expecting much, but after even just thirty minutes, one can see the shine that this movie has. It's a story about brotherhood, friendship, and justice, that continuously makes you feel for the characters involved in it. The acting is good for the ages of the characters, and the resolution is satisfying. Definitely check this one out when there's nothing else to watch.
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Production Company
Nordisk Film,
Amusement Park Films,
Majgaard,
K5 International,
K5 Film,
Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen (ZDF),
Goethe Filmproduktion,
Erfttal Film
Release Date Dec 9, 2016
Duration 1 h 40 m
Rating R
Tagline They survived World War II. Now they have to survive the clearing.
Website
http://hitler-wasuremono.jp/
Awards
Academy Awards, USA
• 1 Nomination
Danish Film Awards (Robert)
• 6 Wins & 14 Nominations
Jameson CineFest - Miskolc International Film Festival
• 3 Wins & 4 Nominations
