This is the sort of film we need more of, especially in a see of manblaming metooboohoo movies (which are all massive flops at the cinema, it seems, and lose millions). I am rather sick of new films exploring what it means to be a woman and avoid most movies like that, but not female lead films like GRETA or THE BUTTERFLY ROOM which are great.
We need MANY MORE films like this focused on what MEN AND BOYS are.
This explores male friendship, the need (from evolution) for males to prove themselves and get status. It does that so well. And is true to life - many such groups, political or social, are homosocial at least. The Nazis always were from when they started in early 1920s, all about males together frolicking in forests in a state of Nature (as Himmler said). Worship of the muscular male form was very fascist and very communist too.
Ernst Rohm killed in 1934 Night of the Long Knives is mentioned here - he was openly homosexual and Hitler was no homophobe at all and did not seem to care at all (maybe because his great hero was Frederick the Great, openly homosexual). Adolf himself was more asexual BUT he had a very close brother/friend in WWI called Schmitt which has led to speculation. Rohm was murdered because he posed a threat to Hitler';s leadership - and Hitler wanted to make the Nazis respectable, so got rid of the stormtroopers Rohm led.
Not sure I believe the ending (no spoilers) but...
The Danish director went on to direct ACROSS THE WATERS with one of the same actors, about Jew escaping Denmark - that was great too. As is LAND OF MINE another top Danish film.
4 stars.