LAST FRONT, THE
(director/writer: Julien Hayet-Kerknawl; screenwriter: Kate Wood; cinematographer: Xavier Van D’huynslager; editors: Dieter Allaerts, David Verdurme; music: Frederik Van de Moortel; cast: Iain Glen (Leonard Lambert), Sasha Luss (Louise), Joe Anderson (Laurentz), Koen De Bouw (Dr. Janssen), David Calder (Father Michael), James Downie (Adrien), Emma Dupont (Johanna), Julian Kostov (Thomas Bosmans), Philippe Brenninkmeyer (Maximilian Von Rauch), Kevin Murphy (Fergal), Leander Vyvey (Peer Schultz); Runtime: 98; MPAA Rating: NR; producers: Virginie Hayet, Martin Dewitte; Enigma releasing; 2024-Belgium-in English)
“A no-nonsense fictitious war film based on history.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
Belgian filmmaker Julien Hayet-Kerknawl’s debut feature is a WW I melodrama that pits the good guy Belgian country villagers in Flanders against the atrocious German invaders. It takes place at the onset of the war, in August 1914, a war that will go on for four more years (history refers to it as “the war to end all wars”). Julien co-writes it with Kate Wood as a no-nonsense fictitious war film based on history.
The invading German army led by a crazed Lt. Laurentz (Joe Anderson) over-react when a scared village adolescent shoots an invading soldier and in retaliation the Germans raid homes and execute by firing squad those captured. Laurent’s commander father Maximilian (Philippe Brenninkmeyer) arrives too late to stop the war crime-like executions, but still allows his unfit son to lead the Kaiser’s army as it marches onto France.
In the next town, two local fathers disapprove of the romance of their children, Adrien (James Downie) and Louise (Sasha Luss), because of class differences. Leonard Lambert (Iain Glen, Scottish actor) is the widowed farmer, the father of Adrien, while Dr. Janssen (Koen De Bouw) is the wealthy one.
Everyone forgets about their family conflict for the moment and unite when the psycho Laurentz marches into their town and starts intimidating the citizens and going sadist on them. The locals call for Lambert to lead a resistance movement, and he obliges them.
Things move along at a quick and tragic pace until the climax,
Though marred by stilted dialogue and too much plot exposition, the film however pushes back with stunning visuals of nature, a solid moving emotional performance by Iain Glen, and a credible belief that love from the young generation can override the wounds of the old generation. Also holding the belief that the traditional older German soldier would follow a civilized code for soldiering when dealing with the enemy, while the younger officer may be more willing to act like a barbaric criminal.
REVIEWED ON 9/6/2024 GRADE: B-
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