NARVIK: HITLER'S FIRST DEFEAT: KAMPEN OM NARVIK

Norway, 2022, 109 minutes, Colour.

Kristine Hartgen, Carl Martin Eggesbe, Stig Henrik Hoff, Christoph Bach, Billy Campbell.

Directed by Erik Skjoldbjaerg.

The 21^st-century opportunity to see something of World War II from a Norwegian perspective.

Over the decades, that been quite a number of films about war action in Norway, the spectacle of The Heroes of Telemark in the 1960s, and, over the decades, a number of films and episodes from Norwegian filmmakers. This is a Norwegian contribution.

The film will be of great interest for those not familiar with these World War II stories, and those not familiar with Norway’s involvement, the initial neutrality, Sweden shipping I and or through Norway to the Port of Narvik, the Germans wanting the iron ore, the British wanting it, the clashes between Germans and British navies, the mining of the Port, the bombardments, the presence of German troops, the neutrality compromised and Norway involved in the war.

The film has several chapters – opening with information about the situation in 1940 and the iron ore, then the introduction of a personal story with which the audience can identify, seeing the events through their experiences. While we are introduced to a young soldier who takes leave to see his wife and young son, the initial chapter focuses on the wife, working in a cafe in Narvik, its being occupied by the German consul and the troops, her skill in languages, both German and English, her being a translator as well as helping the British Consul to hide in a hut in the hills with his radio contact to England. However, civilians are urged to escape and they trek through the snow, along the bridge which is about to be blown up (the team led by the husband) to thwart German advance. The wife and her son have to return to Narvik.

The second chapter focuses on the husband, caught after the dynamiting of the bridge, he and his friends prisoners of war, trudging with supplies through the snow, then invasion by French and Polish troops, their participating and freed, joining a troop which is to mount an attack on the Canon, held in a tunnel, the husband finding a way to destroy the Canon, stopped these bombardments on the town and the Bay, raising the flag on the mountain top.

In the next section, the citizens of Narvik have to take shelter with from the bombardments, the little boy is injured, his wound becoming infected, and the mother asking the consul for a doctor and giving information on the whereabouts of the British. She is then shunned as traitor, complicated when her husband returns, his dilemma about his love for his family and his loyalties.

At the end, information is given about the fate of Narvik, its being destroyed by the German bombardments, and a number of black and white photos showing the reality from 1940.

1. 21^st-century perspective on always neutrality than involvement in World War II?
2. Audience knowledge of Norway’s World War II history? From utility, to attack, occupation?
3. The recreation of the town of Narvik, the harbour, streets and buildings, homes, the hotel and interiors? The snow and ice locations? The prisoners of war camp? The Cameron and the attack, the terrain? Musical score?
4. The structure of the film, indication of time over two months or more, April-May 1940? The introduction and explanation, the war situation and iron ore and the port, Sweden, the family, the focus on Ingrid and her story, the focus on Gunnar and his being a prisoner, the attack and fighting?
5. The information about Sweden, supplying iron ore, for the Nazis, the British stands, the ships, conflicts, mining the harbour, bombardments? The Germans and British in Narvik? The British having to hide? The radio communications? The Germans, taking over the city, dominating the media?
6. The focus on the Tofte family, Gunnar, soldier, leave with his wife, birthday, toy train, his son, his father? Getting back late? The troops coming into the town, the confrontation with the Germans, guns on each side, the Major and his intervention, surrender, marching the troops back, over the railway bridge? The decision to blow the bridge? Gunnar and his expertise, the civilians on the train, the timing, the tunnel, the civilians coming back out, being shepherded across the bridge? Ingrid and her son, hiding, captured? The blowing of the bridge? Gunnar climbing the tower, jumping, the three being arrested, prisoners of war?
7. The focus on Ingrid, her work at the hotel, languages, German and English, translating for the German consul, his attraction towards her, sympathy? The running of the hotel? Working with Polly? Working with Bjorg? The British Consul, his request for concealment, Ingrid sending Bjorg to hide them in the heart? Her continuing her work? The translations? Concern about her husband, asking the Consul for information? His later showing of the list and Gunnar’s name being crossed off? With her son, with her father, their home?
8. The bombardment, the boy being injured, the people in the shelter? The boy and his nightmares? Bleeding? His infection, Ingrid asking the Consul for the doctor, her giving the information about the British, the doctor healing her son? People’s attitudes about her collaboration? Bjorg and her criticism, Ingrid saying she had not implicated Bjorg?
9. The prisoners of war, the sleds in the snow, the arrival of the French and the Polish, the attack, Gunnar and his involvement, shooting? The combined forces, the Major, the cannon blasting the ships in the bay, the ascent of the mountain, the return, Gunnar and his alternate route, the attack, shootings, the grenade and the destruction of the cannon? The rejoicing, the raising of the Norwegian flag, singing?
10. The Germans, the evacuation, the mayor, the German consul inviting Ingrid to come to Germany with him? Her refusal? Getting her son, packing, the refugees, the denunciations? Gunnar and his return, her telling him the truth, his dismay? Change of heart, on the fishing boats with his family, the evacuation?
11. Further information about the war? And the black-and-white photos of the destruction of Narvik?