While epic, beautiful and engaging, it also feels somewhat hollow in emotion and depth, with the story far too big for the runtime. This results in an abrupt conclusion that leaves the audience cold and confused, as the narrative complexity suddenly stops with little warning. Into the Darkness is available to rent or buy from March 5.
With a runtime of 156 minutes, covering multiple years, there is no denying that Into the Darkness is epic in its construction or that Anders Refn’s sweeping tale of family life in Denmark as the Nazis invaded is lovingly crafted. But while epic, beautiful and engaging, it also feels somewhat hollow in emotion and depth, with the story far too big for the runtime. This results in an abrupt conclusion that leaves the audience cold and confused, as the narrative complexity suddenly stops with little warning.
Karl (Jesper Christensen) is a factory owner in a quiet corner of Denmark. For Karl, Hitler’s emerging Third Reich and his invasion of neighbours are worries that are distant from his daily life and business. However, the War is about to consume Denmark and his secure, wealthy family life as his 25th wedding anniversary celebrations with his wife, Eva (Bodil Jørgensen), are plunged into darkness.
As the Nazis sweep into town, promising prosperity, security and partnership, Karl and Eva’s family is torn in two, with their eldest son Aksel (Mads Reuther) committing himself to the anti-Nazi underground fight. In contrast, Karl’s son from his first marriage (Gustav Dyekjær Giese) joins the Danish army to fight side by side with the German troops. Meanwhile, the couple’s youngest daughter, Helene (Sara Viktoria Bjerregaard), is swept off her feet by a German U-boat officer.
Into the Darkness is, in essence, similar to the German mini-series Generation War, as it explores the individual lives, friendship circles and family of those divided by war. Like Generation War, it occasionally gets lost in the multiple stories it attempts to tell, but unlike Generation War, which embraced an episodic format, Into the Darkness tries to shoehorn everything into a feature film. Ultimately, this means that many of the fascinating stories surrounding our characters, including the turbulence of Danish society, lack the time or space to explore the urgent historical discussions raised.
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