A gripping World War 2 drama has been called a “masterpiece” by viewers, but many people have still never heard of it. Released in 2022, Narvik is a Norwegian film that tells the little-known story of a key battle during the early days of the war, and it’s quietly built a strong following.
Set in 1940, the film follows a young soldier named Gunnar and his wife Ingrid as their town becomes the focus of a bitter fight between German forces and Allied troops. The battle over Narvik’s iron ore supply would go on to play a massive role in the wider war, but it remains a subject rarely shown on screen.
Directed by Erik Skjoldbjærg, the film has been praised for its “realism, emotional weight, and historical accuracy”.
According to MovieWeb, Narvik is one of the most underrated World War 2 films of recent years, with the experts describing it as “a terrific war movie rooted in a powerful true story”.
Viewers have also been full of praise. One person wrote: “Narvik is a thrilling, crowd-pleasing war picture.
“It deserves all the love that All Quiet on the Western Front has gotten and then some.”
Another added: “From the moment I first set eyes on Narvik, I was immediately swept up in a world where every decision feels like a life-or-death dilemma. The setting itself holds an almost tangible power.”
Several reviews also highlighted how the film brings to life the harsh winter conditions, the difficult moral choices people had to make, and the emotional cost of war.
One viewer said: “This is an excellent movie for the genre. It stays true to the actual history of this part of WW2.
“It’s the very best WW2 movie experience my wife and I have had in our many years watching films.”
Another person added: “An excellent war film, rooted in strongly drawn characters and an authentic sense of time and place.
“The action sequences are gripping without glamourising violence. I’d even go as far as to call it a masterpiece.”
On Rotten Tomatoes, Narvik holds a perfect 100% critic score at the time of writing. It’s also available to stream on Netflix.