A Danish war drama streaming on Netflix has been hailed as an 'exceptional masterpiece', with some viewers declaring it the best war film ever made. The Bombardment, also known as The Shadow in My Eye, has achieved a flawless 100% critics' approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, alongside a 90% audience score, cementing its reputation as a modern classic.
The film is rooted in a heartbreaking true event from the Second World War: Operation Carthage, a British Royal Air Force raid on 21 March 1945 that accidentally bombed the French-Danish Jeanne d'Arc School in Copenhagen. The tragedy claimed 123 civilian lives, including 87 schoolchildren and 18 adults.
Written and directed by Ole Bornedal, the 2021 production premiered in Denmark before Netflix acquired distribution rights in March 2022. The plot follows several Copenhagen residents whose fates collide when the bombing mission tragically goes awry. The cast includes Alex Høgh Andersen, Fanny Bornedal, Danica Curcic, Alban Lendorf, Caspar Phillipson, Patricia Schumann, Morten Suurballe, James Tarpey and Susse Wold.
Critics have been effusive in their praise. One review called it "haunting and visceral", while another described it as "an important story and unapologetic portrayal of the brutality of war". Audiences have echoed those sentiments, with viewers on social media and IMDB using words like "masterpiece" and "brilliant". One stunned viewer admitted: "By the end of the movie I was an emotional mess, I was literally sobbing."
While the film is not for the faint of heart, its unflinching depiction of war and its devastating human cost has resonated widely. As one viewer put it: "I was glued to the screen from the start. I will be watching this one again." For those seeking a powerful, historically grounded war drama, The Bombardment offers an experience that lingers long after the credits roll.
