A Danish war film, The Bombardment, has been praised as a 'cinematic masterpiece' and is now streaming on Netflix. Directed by Ole Bornedal, the 1hr 47min epic explores the catastrophic aftermath of a WWII bombing mission in Copenhagen.
The film, also known as The Shadow in My Eye, is based on the true events of Operation Carthage, a Royal Air Force strike intended to destroy Gestapo headquarters in 1945. However, a Catholic school was mistakenly targeted, resulting in over 120 deaths, including 86 children.
The cast features Betram Bisgaard, Ester Birch, Ella Josephine Lund Nilsson, and Malena Lucia Lodahl. The official synopsis states: 'The fates of several Copenhagen residents collide when a WWII bombing mission accidentally targets a school full of children.'
Critics have awarded the film a flawless 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with audiences rating it 90%. One critic described it as 'haunting and visceral', adding that it 'stays in your mind well after it's over'. Another said the film 'forces us to confront the full agony that results from any loss of human life'.
Viewers have also praised the film, with one calling it 'one of the most amazing visual and narrative events I have seen on screen'. Another said it is 'gut wrenching, but if you're willing to leave your comfort zone it is a moving experience'.
