War films rarely achieve the ‘haunting’ or ‘visceral’ impact of Ole Bornedal’s The Bombardment.
Four years after its cinema debut in 2021, the 1hr 47min epic, bolstered by its outstanding cast, is now streaming on Netflix.
The film, alternatively titled The Shadow in My Eye, explores the catastrophic aftermath of military operations gone awry in Denmark during WW2.
Drawing from the true events surrounding Operation Carthage, executed by the Royal Air Force (RAF) in Copenhagen in 1945, civilian lives hang in the balance whilst military officials grapple with the repercussions.
Hailed by critics as a “cinematic masterpiece”, the storyline focuses on an RAF strike intended to destroy Gestapo headquarters in the city, yet horrifically a Catholic school became the target by mistake.
This tragedy resulted in the deaths of more than 120 individuals, including 86 children, with the devastating impact of such an incident brilliantly depicted by a cast featuring Betram Bisgaard, Ester Birch, Ella Josephine Lund Nilsson, and Malena Lucia Lodahl amongst others.
The official synopsis states: “The fates of several Copenhagen residents collide when a WWII bombing mission accidentally targets a school full of children.”
Don’t simply take our word for it – review platform Rotten Tomatoes has awarded it a flawless 100% critics’ rating whilst also achieving impressive audience approval (90%).
One critic said: “Haunting and visceral, Ole Bornedal’s beautifully shot film stays in your mind well after it’s over,” while another added: “This film forces us to confront the full agony that results from any loss of human life.
“One of the most amazing visual and narrative events I have seen on screen,” says an audience review, and a second continued: “Absolutely fantastic, heart breaking, intense all wrapped in one”.
The praise doesn’t stop there, with Patriot of the A posting on Rotten Tomatoes: “Gut wrenching, but if you’re willing to leave your comfort zone it is a moving experience. War doesn’t get much nastier.”
You can decide for yourself whether it’s worth watching.
The Bombardment is currently streaming on Netflix.