I was not sure what to expect of this and it does indeed fall part-way between a European film and a Hollywood movie.
Constantly shifting sands of suspicion keep the drama tense - and I was never sure what would happen next. Some parts were a genuine surprise.
The focus on Denmark is interesting. Watch LAND OF MINE to see another Danish WWII-set drama.
4 stars
In my opinion the synopsis of this movie fails to do it justice. Cliché type comments such as 'thrilling drama', 'darkest hour' and 'hot on their heels' cheapen a movie that has more serious intent. Across the Water is a very good movie with an excellent cast (especially Danica Curcic) who do not overplay their characters in this disturbing story. World War 2 movies, or any war movies, often tend to build up 'heroes and villains' in a two dimensional way serving 'drama' and, dare I say, 'entertainment'. Across the Water sensitively portrays what happened to the Danish Jewish population when, after a period of toleration, the Nazis decided to begin persecution. The movie is not afraid to show that some Danes could either be opportunist mercenaries or Nazi collaborators. At the very end of the movie a note in the finishing titles tells us that 95% of the Danish Jewish population were successfully smuggled out of Denmark to safety. That was with the humanitarian assistance of Danish people. For me, the significance of this movie is not only the tragic story of Jewish persecution during WW2 but also bringing forward a reminder of how ethnic persecution continues to this very day right across the world. Refugees fleeing persecution face continuous suffering be it from mercenary gangsters or a politics and media which for whatever reason demonises and robs refugees of identity. The movie has some harrowing scenes; the separation of the fleeing family in the forest and the casual violence of the Nazis. The movie asks serious questions about ethnic persecution and its toleration. Across the Water is perhaps not a movie for entertainment but for me it is certainly a movie that I will remember. Highly recommended.