By José Alberto Hermosillo
Until now, “War Sailor,” known as “Krigsseileren,” has been the most expensive production ever made in Norway. The film attempts to set the record straight by portraying the sailors’ WWII struggle as heroic.
Still, those in charge see the sailors and veterans as a public burden, as criminals and deserters who deserve to be forgotten and dismissed without the benefits of the law that thank them for their service.
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| “War Sailor” lobby at a Beverly Hills screening. Photo by José Alberto Hermosillo. Copyright © Festival in LA |
During WWII, over 30,000 Norwegian and 10,000 American sailors took part in the war on the Scandinavian Peninsula and in the North Sea.
The film “War Sailor” courageously and truthfully depicts those sailors’ direct participation in those epic battles, the devastating effects on their lives, and the consequences of their absence for their families back home.
The film links the sailors’ past pain to their present, showing how those traumatic experiences were passed down through generations.
When WWII broke out, they found themselves fighting on the front lines, wearing civilian clothes, unarmed, and leading a starving crew after their merchant ship was attacked by German submarines. Their journey continues from their rescue through their attempts to rebuild their lives separately, and it shows how their families suffer from their absence and the trauma of PTSD.
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| Marie Wilmann, “War Sailor.” Photo by José Alberto Hermosillo. Copyright © Festival in LA |
Researching this epic film was a massive undertaking. Norwegian writer/director Gunnar Vikene (“Here is Harold”) based his original screenplay on true events, interviews, and numerous visits to museums and Norway’s National Archives. He then shifted his focus to explore the sailors’ emotional, physical, and financial struggles.
For this film, the director’s biggest influence was the contemporary Oscar-winning short documentary “The White Helmets,” a gripping real-life chronicle of UN responders saving lives in Syria. Norwegians initially knew little about the significance of that war, but newly arrived Syrian immigrants helped educate locals about their harrowing experiences in their troubled homeland.
At the Oslo premiere, some attendees disputed the film’s portrayal of the truth and clashed with its narrative. The filmmakers spoke extensively with war veterans about how the war affected them and their families. Ironically, when they received a medal, they also received a bill for it. Norwegians also had to pay extra taxes on food and supplies.
After the war, sailors returned home with bills to pay and struggled with alcoholism and addiction to medications and other drugs. Norwegian veterans never received proper recognition or compensation for their service. Many sailors came from different countries, including the United States.
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| Pål Sverre Hegen & Marie Wilmann, “War Sailor.” Photo by José Alberto Hermosillo. Copyright © Festival in LA |
According to the actors, producing the film during the pandemic was even more challenging and costly because some cast and crew members contracted COVID-19. As a result, they had to halt production for days until everyone was safe.
“War Sailor” is the most prominent Norwegian production filmed across Malta, Germany, and Norway.
“War Sailor” is Norway’s Best International Feature Film entry for the 95th Academy Awards. It is now streaming on Netflix as a three-episode miniseries. It's worth watching for those who want to learn more about the war and the repercussions at home for those unsung heroes.
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| Pål Sverre Hegen & Marie Wilmann, “War Sailor.” Critic José Alberto Hermosillo. Copyright © Festival in LA |
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