Customer Reviews

Flame And Citron [DVD] [2008]

5 star:		(36)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I found this movie to be gripping from start to finish - something which I find quite rare in WWII movies made in recent years. In the process I learnt quite a lot about the Danish resistance movement and the rather "different" occupation that the Danes had under the Nazis. The movie shows how traumatic it must be to kill an enemy in cold blood - even traitors/collaborators! There is also the doubts that a wartime assassin must have when he/she kills a civilian on the instructions of a "higher authority" - is the person really a collaborator etc?
I see that the film is based on historical fact - always a big "plus" in my books. Definitely a worthwhile watch!

Denmark's supposedly most expensive film to date proves to be a surprisingly interesting, complex, and in places even an exciting proposition. Based on the true story of two resistance fighters in Copenhagen in 1944 during the German occupation, we are introduced to Flame (committed and idealistic young killer of all things Nazi) and his driver, Citron, whose increasing involvement with the dirty end of the business mirrors the final collapse of his family life. They get their orders, they go and kill their targets. However, as the film progresses, the unthinkable happens - they begin to question the targets - is their handler doing the right thing? Is Flame's girlfriend being completely honest? Things begin to go horribly wrong, and Flame and Citron decide they need to follow their own path, choosing their own targets. Far from being a standard whitewashed history as told by the winners of war, this movie has no compunction about showing something rotten in the state of Denmark - and in so doing, allows a more complex look at what it takes to step up to a man or woman in their house or in the street, hold a gun to their head and pull the trigger, than has been seen in a long time.
It's a tad long, and yet is at times so complex you sometimes find yourself wondering what might have been left on the cutting room floor that might have filled in a few questions. Keeping track of who is who is challenging at times as the different resistance factions are not fully explained, and certain minor characters roles in the chain of command are not always clear.. but it's worth the concentration. Certainly the acting from the leads, as well as many of the secondary roles, is outstanding - we really do feel we scratch beneath the surface of the men - particularly Mads Mikkelson's Citron. Morality of war sometimes has more to it than just the war - and here we occasionally find the allies deep in moral ambiguity and corruption, and yet the Gestapo chief is the one with a decent side to him, respectfully covering the bodies of his enemies.
In short, this is well worth watching - a riveting story, a thriller, a tragic tale of war, a drama.. all in one. At times paradoxically beautifully shot, and full of detail, this might have achieved 5 star status with just a little more judicious editing. But that's a small quibble from the year's best war drama so far.

This is an excellent film about a Resistance to the Nazis during their occupation of Denmark.
It contains a very powerful message that not all Danes were collaborators or "Quislings".
Mads Mikkelsen and Thure Lindhardt are superb as Bent Flame and Jorgen Citron.
Mikkelsen can always be associated as playing "Le Chiffre" in James Bond 007 - Casino Royale but his performance in this film outshines 007!
Look out for Christian Berkel as the Gestapo Chief, Hoffmann.
One of the endings is particulary moving and very sad when an agent fights to the very last and never surrenders despite all the odds against him.
For those of you who love Scandinavian movies and stories be they true or not, Hollywood couldn't produce a movie like this!
I saw this movie in the cinema and decided I would buy it because it is so unique.

The European Resistance genre is catered for better than you might at first imagine. Looking for a subtitled film that sets plucky French, Dutch or Danish people against the third Reich, then recent years have given you `Female Agents', `Black Books' and now `Flame and Citron'. `F and C' is based on two real freedom fighters of that name who rose to fame (infamy) in the underground Danish movement. Played by Thure Lindhardt and Mads Mikkelsen the two characters start off as a small cog in the wheel, but end up being a symbol of the country's fight from within. Unlike with the other two films mentioned earlier, `F and C' is as much an art drama as it is action movie. There are moments of violence and action, but they come in-between longs scenes of anguish and silence.

At times the film seems trapped between the two worlds of art and action, with director Ole Christian Madsen being unable to decide what he wants to do. The BluRay makes the period setting look fantastic and the warm summers and cold winters shine from the screen. However, the format also highlights some of the poorer direction in the film as Madsen uses strange angles and zooms during important scenes. You are just getting in to the psyche of one of the characters and then Madsen moves the camera oddly in - the film feels like a mix of Merchant & Ivory with a kitchen sink drama.

The artistic choices that Madsen makes during the film detract from two outstanding central performances. Lindhardt and Mikkelsen tell Flame and Citron's stories well, and the fact that the story is based on truth should be enough for the viewer, without Madsen's bizarre tricks. In the end the film is a curio that will be a little slow and a little odd for mainstream film lovers, but art film lovers will like it. I for one found it compelling enough, but a little dry for my tastes.

The BluRay contains some interesting extras on the real history behind the film for those that want to know more about the reality of the story.

This film was totally different from what I had expected. It starts with plenty of action and excitement but then evolves into something far more substantial as the story of the ambiguous, dark underbelly of the Danish resistance unfolds. Part of the interest for me was that the history of the Danish reistsance is so unknown with most film-makers seeming to opt for their French counerparts. Here the motives of those directing the assassins Flame and Citron appear to be for their own individual gain although the script is clever in that there are no real heroes and the protagonists clearly discover that they are merely pawns in a more complicated game before the film reaches it's dramatic climax. Ultimately the exploits of Flame and Citron start to unravel and their endeavours to assinate the head of the Gestapo in Copenhagen has shocking consequences. Indeed, the film finishes with no clear conclusions and instead we are made to realise just how dirty the business of war is. Until I saw this film, I never fully appreciated just how sympathetic some Danes were to the Nazi regime.

The whole film is beautifully shot and the story much more fascinating and sophisticated than your average war film. A tad overlong, I thoroughly enjoyed this effort and was not offput by the subtitles as the plot was so engrossing. I loved the old cars too. There is plenty in this film to satisfy those wanting action as well as something a little more intelligent than the usual Hollywood offering. Subtitled films can be a bit daunting for some but in this instance, I became too fascinated by the story to worry about watching something in a language I didn't understand. Definately worth seeking out.

Firstly this film is in Danish, but I love this as it adds to the realism of the dark times it depicts. Its not all action as the cover picture might suggest, but it portrays the german occupation of Denmark, and the courage of those danes who stood up to the occupation of their country, and ultimately sacrificed themselves. The acting is brilliant, depicting emotions and feelings of these heroes under conditions I struggle to imagine. Until I saw this film I was completely ignorant of the german occupation of Denmark, so thank you for educating me.

When I purchased this film I had no idea what was in store. I am not the worlds greatest historian, and am not sure if this film portrays the Danish occupation with any accuracy, but what you get here is a tense and at times pulsating account of what it must really feel like for one human being to murder another in cold blood supposedly for the greater good. The plot is at times confusing and difficult to follow, especially with Flame's love interest but does just enough to keep you involved. The star of the show for me is Mikkelson's Citron, who struggles both to follow his orders, and keep his family and relationship together whilst forever living in the shadow of his more celebrated colleague Flame.
You can feel the frustration of both men being 'tethered' by the chain of command, when all they can focus on is the prize, killing the head of the SS (Hoffmann) and the confusion that abounds when they are not sure who is issuing their orders, and giving them their targets.

The ending brilliantly shows how both men viewed themselves in the bigger picture, Citron, determined to make up for his failures by seemingly taking on the entire German Army and taking as many of them with him as possible, and conversely Flame, aware of his 'hero' status and not wanting to be captured by the SS and displayed as a trophy by the ruthless Hoffmann.

It was touching in the extreme when Hoffmann orders his his SS thugs to leave the men's bodies alone as a mark of respect to their contribution to the ongoing 'charade' between both sides.

If you are looking for a gung ho action movie, then you will find no joy here, however I would highly recommend this film to anyone looking for a 'different' perspective on WW2, and the occupation of the Nordic countries by the Nazi regime, you will not be disappointed.

What I liked most about this movie was it travelled in shades of gray. The two Danish resistance fighters Flame & Citron are worthy of a good story - they did excist and Flame was quite famous but even so you are left unsure of how useful their actions were, even if it would seem clear who the enemy was.

In this way I thought the movie added something new to my experience and lifted it up a notch.

In other parts it was a tad a collection of what has come before and it deviates from the real life story in a way that is not needed, bigger bangs do not neccessarily make a better story and real life is often more interesting but the movie trails of to cater to imagined needs of the audience.

Attention to detail is good and the part about the Danish Police being rounded up (thousands of Danish Policemen were rounded up and sent to concentration camps) is certainly well deserved.

In all a movie treading known ground but with a fresh enough take to make it well worth your while.

True account of two young Danish men fighting violently against the Nazi occupation of Denmark during WW2 and punishing Danes guilty of the worst collaboration. Rather dark film with an undercurrent of betrayal and treachery running through it. Will not spoil it by giving away the ending. Tightly directed by Ole Christian Madsen it is the most expensive film ever produced in Denmark. First rate performances by the two lead actors, Danish Shakesperian actor Thure Lindhart (Flame) and the excellent Mads Mikkelsen (Citroen) now making a headlining career in Hollywood, deservedly so.
This movie caused quite a stir when released in Denmark, reminding Danes of the rather large amount of active collaboration with the Nazi's during the occupation and the fact that no Danish Nazis were bought to justice after the war and succesive Governments have been happy to forget and sweep this under the carpet for the last 60 odd years. I believe that as a result of this film the Danish school history curriculum has been changed to include a more honest account of what really happened during these dark times.
Not a happy or 'nice' film by any stretch of the imagination but a film well worth the investment and worthy of a place in any serious collection.

Without repeating the above reviewers comments this is a superb film for those who like drama and plot and have a penchant for World War II films. The cinematography is visually aesthetically pleasing and throws a welcome relief against the darkness of the plot. Flame and Citron are Danish Resistance fighters, legendary in Danish history and were after a great deal of sabotage and assassinations, killed for their heroics. The acting is gritty and taut, the tension at times palpable. There is a moral dimension to this film which is a welcome feature often lacking in many War films, and it makes these two characters more complex and more real. Denmark emerges as a fascinating small theatre of War, on the outside stable, with a violent bubbling undercurrent of fierce determination to resist occupation. There is intrigue and betrayal and a plot that revolves around several shady figures. Violence is almost casual and debonair in its execution. Flam and Citron a stylish pair of Heroic killers, killing in righteous anger one might say, do it in the most audacious and casually brazen way. A super film, lets hope Denmark produces more such films!