THE EXCEPTION
Belgium, 2017, 107 minutes, Colour.
Lily James, Jai Courtney, Christopher Plummer, Janet Mc Teer, Ben Daniels, Eddie Marsan.
Directed by David Leveaux.
The title for this drama, quite worth seeing, is not at all exceptional. However, the title of the novel on which it is based, The Kaiser’s Last Kiss, is more evocative.
There always seems to be an audience for British films or films from the continent which deal with World War II. Some are based on fact. The screenplay here is based on a novel but grounded in fact.
The setting is Holland in 1940. The Nazis have just invaded Belgium and Holland. One of the principal residents of Holland is the former Kaiser, Friedrich Wilhelm, living in exile after his resignation in 1918 in a mansion in the Dutch countryside, living with his wife and an entourage. He keeps out of the way, working on the property, proud of his collection of military uniforms, feeding the ducks. He is still ideological, fixed in rather aristocratic ways (after all he was one of the many grandchildren of Queen Victoria), longing for a restoration of the monarchy.
In Berlin, a young officer, Captain Brandt, wounded in battle, reacting against an officer who had massacred many people in a village, now has a desk job but is assigned to be head of security for the Kaiser and his wife. On arrival in the town, he encounters the local security officials, the officer who manages the Royal household, the Dutch staff, including a very attractive maid.
This is a fictional story about the Kaiser and his wife but it some commentators have indicate close relationships to facts.
The Kaiser is elderly and portrayed excellently by Christopher Plummer. Janet Mc Teer is certainly very good as his wife, more ambitious than her husband, with connections in Berlin, machinating behind the scenes so that the couple will be restored to their status by Hitler.
The captain does not seem at first a particularly interesting character. He is initially seen back in Berlin with a prostitute. He is immediately seductive of the maid. He is played by Australian Jai Courtney. She is played by Lily James.
There are power struggles in the mansion, the Princess rather haughty in her manner and proud of her household, Sigurd (Ben Daniels) is the proper officer who protects the couple, making sure that the Kaiser is not indiscreet in any outbursts, especially about the Third Reich.
There is news of a British spy in the village and audiences do not have to be particularly astute to realise that it will obviously be Mierke, the maid. While she is in a relationship with Captain Brandt, she steals off to the village to meet the pastor who sends messages to Britain and receives instructions. And the captain follows into the town.
He begins to doubt his loyalties in his relationship with Mierke but there is to be a significant event. Himmler announces that he is to visit the Kaiser and his wife and dine with them. Eddie Marsan and has only a few sequences as Himmler but makes the most of them and the sinister dialogue, especially a dinner table anecdote about experiments on young children and poisoning them. The Kaiser and his wife are in fact quite repelled. Captain Brandt then questions his loyalty to his country – with the Kaiser advising him to ask what his country really is.
The possibilities raised for the Kaiser and his wife to go back to Berlin – but Himmler throws doubt on the idea. The security agents track down the radio signal and so, as you might imagine, the finale of the film is how to get the spy out of the mansion, out of danger after the pastor has been arrested and tortured. What is the Kaiser’s attitude towards the maid and her behaviour? What will Captain Brandt do?
And so, there is action adventure, symbolic of the microcosm of the film and World War II focused on small Dutch village and the Kaiser’s mansion.
This film, and its cast, should appeal to those who enjoy World War II stories, fact or fiction.
1. A World War II story? The blend of fact and fiction?
2. The film’s title and the focus on Brandt? The novel, The Kaiser’s Last Kiss, focusing on the Kaiser?
3. Berlin, Hitler and the Nazis? The Berlin offices? The contrast with Holland, the country estate, the mansion, the forest, the town, the pastor and his radio, the presence of the SS? The mansion, the interiors, the hut? The musical score?
4. The screenplay and its reliance on facts about the Kaiser and his wife, his role during World War I, dismissed after the war, his life in exile, his ideology, his family, his appearance, grandson of Queen Victoria, his age, exile, the Nazis? His hopes for reinstatement? The visit of Himmler? The spies and the contact with Britain?
5. The introduction to Brandt, age, loyalties, soldier, being wounded? His office? Being appointed to protect the Kaiser in newly-invaded Holland? His arrival, the encounter with the SS in the town, clashes? The introduction to the Kaiser, the household?
6. Brandt and his relationships, with the prostitute, in his office, in the town, the encounters with Dexter and security, the information that there was a spy in the town? Work, getting used to the job? The attraction to Mierke, sexual encounter, his coming into the house from the hut? Mierke’s room, his going, the encounters? His detecting the oil in the guns?
7. Dexter, his personality, security, arrogance, his background, the equality of the Third Reich? The pastor, his radio, and Mierke’s visits? Brandt following? The search of the rooms for security, his searching, to save her? The two of them caught in the room, the reaction of the Kaiser’s wife, her hostility? The Kaiser and his being more lenient, talking with Mierke ? The explanation of the subpoenas and children?
8. The announcement of Himmler’s visit, the secrecy, Dexter making Brandt swear? Yet the Kaiser’s wife, the phone call, everybody knowing? The detail of the preparation?
9. The Kaiser as a character, his past, World War I, the loss, exiled, living in Holland, his work, the uniforms, feeding the ducks, love for his wife, relying on Sirgud, an old school German, and Sirgud having to check any outbursts? The discussions with Brandt about management? The Kaiser’s ideology, restoration, aristocratic perspectives?
10. The arrival of Himmler, his appearance, reputation? The Kaiser’s wife coming to visit Himmler, seeing the sex companion, offering the bribe? At the dinner, the promise that the Kaiser and his wife would return, his story about the children and the poison experiments and they are deaths? His going to Brandt, explaining that the arrangement was merely to find out those loyal to the Kaiser? This to be kept secret? The Kaiser’s wife, her excitement, with the maid, thinking about new wardrobe, packing? The Kaiser not wanting to leave, her supporting him, staying?
11. The arrest of the pastor, his being tortured, over time, revelation about Mierke? The phone call naming her?
12. Brandt’s crisis, loyalty, the Kaiser asking which country he was loyal to? Giving the information to Sirgud? Mierke, his love, the Kaiser and his help?
13. The plan, the Kaiser in the garden, his collapse, calling the ambulance? The Kaiser and the message via Mierke from Churchill, his turning it down? Brandt driving the vehicle, shooting Dexter, the escape, Mierke going through the woods? The Kaiser happy about her escape?
14. Berlin, planes flying over, Brandt at his desk? In London, pregnant? Her sending the copy of Nietschze and the message?
15. An entertaining World War II fact and fiction story?
