The Bombardment, a Danish-language war film streaming on Netflix, has been hailed as a "masterpiece" by viewers who have compared its "heartbreaking" and "fantastic" portrayal of a Second World War tragedy to Schindler's List. The film holds a flawless 100% rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.
A True Story Behind the Film
The Bombardment, also known as The Shadow in My Eye and Skyggen i mit øje, is a 2021 film written and directed by Ole Bornedal. It focuses on Operation Carthage, an air raid carried out by the Royal Air Force (RAF) in Copenhagen during the Second World War, in which a school packed with children was tragically misidentified as a target and bombed.
The film's official plot states: "The fates of several Copenhagen residents collide when a WWII bombing mission accidentally targets a school full of children." Audiences have said the film will "stay in your mind well after it's over," with its grounding in little-known real events making it more hard-hitting than other war films of its kind.
Cast and Critical Reception
The Bombardment stars Alex Høgh Andersen, Fanny Bornedal, Ella Josephine Lund Nilsson, Ester Birch, Danica uri, Susse Wold, Bertram Bisgaard Enevoldsen, Malena Lucia Lodahl, Alban Lendorf, Caspar Phillipson, and Patricia Schumann alongside a larger ensemble cast.
The film landed on Netflix in March 2022 and has since garnered rave reviews. One critic said: "By showing us the people caught at the crossroads of beginnings and endings, this film becomes a timely nod to a difficult truth." Another reviewer stated: "While The Bombardment struggles to figure how to lay the foundation for the larger narrative of the film...this terrible tragedy is not for the faint of heart, but the story deserves to be told, and the impact of the lives lost should never be forgotten."
Viewer Reactions and Comparisons
Viewers have been similarly transfixed, with one fan comparing it to Schindler's List: "Wow......just Wow. I hope this won some really high award in Europe because it blew me away. What's worse, is that this is a true story. This was as intense as Schindler's List. This is a very serious film about a horrendous mistake when Britain bombed a Gestapo building in Denmark, but mostly hit a large school instead."
Another viewer said: "Absolutely fantastic, heart breaking, intense all wrapped in one, amazing directing and even at the ending, moments stay in you're mind. Great actors/actresses. Well portrayed 5 stars." Meanwhile, one fan called it a "masterpiece": "Masterpiece. Very sad to see, but this was done so well. Acting on the spot, cinematography brilliant, you get sucked into the action and just brilliant. Very very tragic story, be warned this is hard to swallow..."
Another viewer said: "The Bombardment is a cinematic tour de force. It's an emotional journey that simultaneously disturbs and inspires, showcasing the strength and resilience of the human spirit amidst the chaos of war. This film is more than just entertainment; it's an important exploration of humanity in its darkest and brightest moments." The Bombardment is currently available to stream on Netflix.
