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The Shadow in My Eye
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Wikipedia article
'The Shadow in My Eye' (Danish: 'Skyggen i mit je)', also known as 'The Bombardment', is a Danish feature film from 2021 written and directed by Ole Bornedal. The film deals with, among other things, Operation Carthage carried out by the Royal Air Force (RAF) in Copenhagen, Denmark during the Second World War, where one of the planes crashed near Institut Jeanne d'Arc, causing the school to be misidentified as the target and also bombarded.
Plot
In 1945, a Royal Air Force (RAF) de Havilland Mosquito strafes a car carrying several bridesmaids while flying over German-occupied Denmark, mistaking it for a German staff vehicle. The RAF pilots Pete and Andy learn about the accidental killing of civilians from the Danish Special Operation Executive agent Major Truelson.
A teenage boy named Henry is traumatized by the strafing incident and loses his ability to speak. His parents send him to Copenhagen with the hope of improving his mental health. While living in Copenhagen, Henry boards with his cousin Rigmor and her family. Henry also becomes acquainted with Rigmor's friend Eva. Rigmor and Eva attend the 'Institut Jeanne d'Arc', a French-language Roman Catholic school run by nuns led by Sister Hanna. Rigmor and Eva help Henry to overcome his trauma including his fear of walking under open skies.
Meanwhile, a young novice named Sister Teresa struggles with her faith in God. In an attempt to prove God's existence, Teresa strikes an illicit romantic relationship with a HIPO officer named Frederik, who works for the German occupation authorities. Teresa also teaches Eva and Rigmor's class.
At the request of the Danish resistance, the Royal Air Force agrees to bomb the 'Shellhus', the Gestapo headquarters in Copenhagen with the goal of freeing imprisoned resistance members and destroying Gestapo documents. The planned Operation Carthage is complicated by the Germans imprisoning several Danish resistance hostages under the roof of the 'Shellhus'. The air raid consists of several de Havilland Mosquito fighter-bombers from the RAF, the Royal Australian Air Force, and the Royal New Zealand Air Force, which are escorted by RAF P-51 Mustangs.
On the day of Operation Carthage, Eva argues with her parents over not finishing a bowl of porridge. While Eva and Rigmor attend a class, Sister Hanna confronts Teresa over her relationship with Frederik and announces plans to expel her from their order. During the air raid, Peter and Andy's Mosquito fighter-bomber hits a searchlight tower, causing it to crash near the 'Institut Jeanne d'Arc'. Other Mosquito fighter-bombers mistake the school for the target and bomb the building, killing and wounding numerous students and teachers. However, other RAF bombers succeed in targeting the 'Shellhus', damaging the building and destroying Gestapo documents. In the ensuing chaos, several Danish resistance prisoners take the opportunity to escape.
During the air raid, Henry gradually regains his ability to speak and assists firefighters with identifying the bodies of the wounded. Rigmor and Teresa are trapped under the rubble amidst rising water from damaged pipes and sewers. Frederik attempts to rescue Teresa from the rubble, but she jumps into the water in an attempt to save Rigmor. However, she dislodges some rubble in the process and the two are crushed to death. Eva's parents are distraught when they are unable to find their daughter, with her father regretting arguing with her. When Henry suggests that Eva may have gone home, Eva's mother finds her daughter at home eating the cold porridge.
Cast
* Fanny Bornedal, Teresa, novice
* Alex Hgh Andersen, Frederik, HIPO officer
* Danica Curcic, Rigmor's mother
* Bertram Bisgaard, Henry
* Ester Birch, Rigmor
* Ella Nilsson, Eva
* Malena Lucia Lodahl, Greta
* Alban Lendorf, Peter
* Inge Sofie Skovbo, Sister Hanna
* James Tarpey, Andy
* Malene Beltoft Olsen, Eva's mother
* Mads Riisom, Rigmors father
* Joen Hjerslev, Jailor
* Jens Stter-Lassen, Jailor
* Kristian Ibler, Eva's father
* Mathias Flint, Executioner
* Maria Rossing, Henry's mother
* Patricia Schumann, Director
* Casper Kjr Jensen, Svend Nielsen
* Nicklas Sderberg Lundstrm, Truelsen
* Rikke Louise Andersson, Frederik's mother
* Susse Wold, Prioress
* Caspar Phillipson, Embry
* Malthe Miehe-Renard, Ambulance doctor
* Ida Procter, Jenny
* Morten Suurballe, Lge
Post production
On November 12, 2021, it was announced that producer Miso Film would be changing the film. They would remove a scene where a named British pilot fires at a civilian vehicle. The pilot took part in the bombing and died when his plane crashed, but the scene of the shooting is fiction. Miso Film decided to change the scene after complaints from the pilot's family that the pilot was being portrayed as a murderer. According to film expert Peter Schepelern, it is unique for a film to be changed after its premiere because of complaints about the portrayal of historical figures.
Distribution
'The Shadow in My Eye' was distributed in Denmark in October 2021. Netflix acquired the international distribution rights for the movie, which was released under the name 'The Bombardment', in late March 2022.
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