Movie summary of Flame & Citron by Michael The Moviegoer.
FLAME & CITRON = ***1/2
“The Danes Also Hated The Nazis”
For the past half-century filmmakers from many countries have been telling the stories of World War II. In landmark films such as “Schindler’s List” and “The Pianist”. In little-known gems such as Germany’s “Rosenstrasse” and The Czech Republic’s “Divided We Fall”. And even in mainstream popcorn movies like last year’s “Valkyrie”. Just when you think you’ve seen enough WWII films to last a lifetime along comes a country not often associated with such films. Denmark! And the new Danish film “Flame & Citron” is worthy of joining the list of the best WWII films ever made.
Rarely does a foreign-language film pack this much potential for U.S. box office success. American audiences will certainly recognize one of the film’s stars. Mads Mikkelsen, who plays Citron, is best known for his fantastic performance in 2006’s James Bond hit “Casino Royale”. His partner Flame is played by Thure Lindhardt in this true story of the Danish WWII heroes who were the leaders of the Danish anti-Nazi resistance.
The story unfolds like classic film noir during the German invasion of Copenhagen in 1940. Flame and Citron are determined to hunt down and kill the Nazis who are occupying their city. But they’re not simple Rambo-like vigilantes. They’re much more like Eric Bana’s team in “Munich”. Their natural vulnerability helps build the suspense. They are portrayed as real, complex and flawed human beings. In a scene at target practice, Citron picks up a machine gun and starts spraying bullets. Flame calmly tells him that shooting a single bullet at a time is more efficient. Try telling that to Rambo!
Director Ole Christian Madsen has finally given Denmark a cinematic voice with regard to WWII. “Flame & Citron” entertains as well as educates. I had never heard of these brave, courageous heroes before. And now I know I will never forget them. It’s almost a cliché to say that there’s no one they can trust, but rarely does an espionage film give us the feeling of tip-toeing over a mine-field.
DVD Double-Feature: For another film about Nazis in Copenhagen, I have to think way back to 1961 when Hollywood (of all places) made “The Counterfeit Traitor” starring William Holden in a brave performance (for the time) of an American businessman caught up in a WWII espionage plot set mostly across Scandinavian countries. Directed by George Seaton, with rare on-location scenes, Paramount’s “The Counterfeit Traitor” is now available on DVD.
Michael The Moviegoer
