The war miniseries War Sailor debuts on Netflix.
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The war miniseries War Sailor debuts on Netflix and does so with the power of an explosive mine. As on a ship at the mercy of the waves, War Sailor transports us into the tragedy of war, in no uncertain terms. Witnessing the disintegration of family intimacy and human individuality, of men who have become soldiers without ever having decided to, we are dragged by the three episodes of the miniseries War Sailor into the ruthless climax of violence and death of the Second World War.
What is the War Sailor miniseries debuting on Netflix this month about? Here is the plot
Norway, 1939, seven months before the German occupation: Alfred Garnes (Kristoffer Joner) - a loving family man - is looking for a job opportunity and his lifelong friend Sigbjorn (Pal Sverre Hagen) serves him on a plate l opportunity to embark on a merchant ship bound for New York, where he will be able to serve as a cook. At the news of his imminent departure, Alfred's wife, Cecilia (Ine Marie Wilmann), does nothing but support her husband, despite the reluctance of the children (especially little Maggie, anxious about the risk that her father is about to run, in times of war) and encourages him to embark on the journey without which the family would no longer have sufficient resources to get by. Norway, in fact, has not yet been occupied by the enemy, but the war waged on the front lines by the German army is making Europe a barren and desolate land. Alfred will learn about this reality at his expense.
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From the Oscars red carpet to episodic streaming: Here's why the Norwegian film War Sailor became a miniseries
War Sailor is partly already known to the public: the Norwegian film directed by Gunnar Vikene, in fact, after garnering awards and praise at various international festivals, was also nominated in the Best International Film category (albeit overshadowed by the acclaimed Nothing New on the Western Front) at the last Academy Awards.
Yet, Vikene's footage was so full-bodied, interesting, and well done that Netflix had no doubts: and here comes the extended cut, in the guise of a miniseries, of War Sailor, which debuts on April 2, 2023, on the streaming platform.
It is a script that is inspired by a true story and which the director said he felt after he and his daughter, in 2015, had seen on the screen the harrowing images of the child victims of the war in Syria. His artistic sensitivity was so impressive that he wanted to tell on the big screen all the pain and devastation that every war brings, bringing to light the story of about 30,000 Norwegian civilian sailors who fell victims of the Second World War conflict despite themselves, while serving on domestic merchant ships.
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War Sailor: conclusion and final evaluation
The Netflix miniseries War Sailor takes up the same scenes, those excluded from the editing of the feature film, of the film of the same name for which it shines with the same power of more than accurate photography and the touching and engaging interpretation of the cast, as well as the intense direction that explores a multitude of themes and sub-themes without ever appearing superficial and disinterested, but always participating in the human emotions that explode in times of war, metaphorically, contrasting with the desire to escape and the shame of not being heroes. The miniseries, as well as the film, accompanied by a soundtrack that marries effectively with the ascending and dizzying climax also given by the well-paced editing, speaks of family love, brotherly love, patriotic love, and, last but not least, love for oneself yourself and love for life, that same life to which it is impossible not to want to cling with all one's strength.