Moving from previous documentary features to a WWII historical, Norwegian director Daniel Fahre tackles this locally famous war incident to good effect without overstating the case. Keyed to the 1940 defense of Oscarsborg Fortress, an old structure meant to serve as a waterway buffer 30 minutes from the seat of government and the King in Oslo. The fort underfunded and undermanned (largely with untrained recruits) in spite of pleas from aging fort commander Colonel Birger Eriksen (Bjørn Sundquist). With the Norwegian military on high alert from nearby German/British naval activity and a large warship of unknown origin approaching, Norway’s neutrality & independence is on the line. And no one can make out the markings or even an accurate distance to aim the fort’s two poorly maintained cannons. Ordered to hold out as long as possible, the Colonel is running on instinct. Something he’ll need to call on again when further attacks and a demand to surrender follow. Told in flashback from a 1946 military investigation that's shot in b&w, the after-the-fact procedure is either mere face-saving or historical rewrite.* Fahre works very close, presumably to save on the budget, but there’s enough large-scale battle sequences and explosions to get the situations across. (Though too much ‘70s style rough hand-held camera work not a help.) But the military dilemma and critical need for fast decisions register strongly.
SCREWY THOUGHT OF THE DAY: *As they say in the Navy: Even if the Captain’s on the crapper when the fuck up happened, he’s still responsible for everything that happens on his ship.
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