Flame & Citron

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Flame & Citron

Released Jul 31, 2009

2h 12m

History

Drama

War

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

86%

Tomatometer

70 Reviews

82%

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5,000+ Ratings

Copenhagen 1944. Denmark is occupied by Nazi Germany. While the Danish population hopes for a swift end to the war, freedom fighters Bent Faurschou-Hviid (23), alias Flame (THURE LINDHARDT), and Jørgen Haagen Schmith (33), alias Citron (MADS MIKKELSEN), secretly put their lives at stake fighting for the Resistance. The fearless and uncompromising Flame is a dedicated anti-fascist who dreams of the day when their group will reassemble and openly launch an armed counterattack at the occupying power. The more sensitive family man Citron primarily works as a driver for Flame, but now finds himself becoming more deeply involved in clandestine activities. When their immediate superior, Aksel Winther, orders them into action against two German Abwehr officers, events start to get out of hand. Flame confronts the talented and intelligent Colonel Gilbert (HANNS ZISCHLER) and for the first time hesitates to carry out his orders to kill. Something feels terribly wrong. Furthermore, when suspicion turns to his girlfriend, the beautiful and mysterious courier, Ketty (STINE STENGADE), Flame begins to spot the outline of a dangerous hidden agenda. Can Ketty be trusted? Can Winther? And who really works for whom? While their doubts gnaw at them, Flame and Citron come to feel that they are on shaky ground. Desperate, disillusioned and with a sense of having been betrayed by their superiors, they decide only to trust each other and concentrate their efforts on getting to the much hated and feared chief of the Gestapo, Hoffmann (CHRISTIAN BERKEL).

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Critics Consensus

The true story of the Danish resistance in WW2, though lengthy and sprawling, is gripping and competently made.

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Jonathan F. Richards

Film.com

Madsen has acknowledged a strong debt to Pierre Melville's 1969 classic Army of Shadows. This one deserves a seat at the same table.

Jan 15, 2010

Full Review

Michael O'Sullivan

Washington Post

It's fast-paced, stylish and thrilling. But it also raises one tough question.

Rated: 3/4

Dec 17, 2009

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John Hartl

Seattle Times

It winds its way through a tricky, fact-based plot that's sometimes reminiscent of film noir. At the center is a bewitching femme fatale whose allegiances and motives are less than clear.

Rated: 3.5/4

Dec 17, 2009

Full Review

Kaleem Aftab

The List

The film is too staid and over-conscious of its own importance to be entertaining. Give me The Great Escape any day of the week.

Rated: 2/5

Nov 4, 2018

Full Review

Kelly Vance

East Bay Express

A hard jewel of righteous political fury.

Aug 29, 2011

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Sarah Boslaugh

Playback:stl

...a film noir set in wartime where there's moral ambiguity almost everywhere you look as well as large measures of heroism, treachery and ordinary human failings.

Rated: 8/10

Dec 18, 2009

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Gareth v

A gripping, intelligent take on wartime resistance, with enough grit and intrigue to stand apart from standard WWII dramas.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/11/25

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Stephen C

2 hours and 12 minutes based on a true story!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! All ages admitted.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/02/25

Full Review

R 9

Very interesting story! 'Flame & Citron' is a film certainly worthy of your time. It does probably overrun a little with a 130 minute run time and could pick up the pace here and there, though overall this historical drama from 2008 makes for intruiging viewing. It's very well made. I had no knowledge of the real life of those portrayed, so it's good to learn of their World War II involvement; albeit with the usual stretched truth/fictionalization/whatever that films tend to do. The titular characters are played by Thure Lindhardt and Mads Mikkelsen, both give super performances as the former particularly impresses.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/07/23

Full Review

isla s

This is quite a gripping film - its gritty and dark, with interesting characters and a good, solid performance from Mads Mikkelsen. As a war based drama its quite good, with interesting plot development and a good amount of tension throughout. I can't comment on how historically accurate it may, or may not, be of course but its certainly quite a watchable film. I thought the cast did well - you can see the anger and hurt in their facial expressions at times, that made it seem more tense and gripping. I found myself guessing what the next plot twist may be - trying to second guess the narrative. I would recommend this film, yes.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Ned P

Pretty good World War II thriller, but curiously flat in some places. The plot could have been a little more coherent.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

12/02/18

Full Review

Audience Member

Well made, but hard to get through.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/16/23

Full Review

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Ole Christian Madsen

Director

Thure Lindhardt

Flammen

Mads Mikkelsen

Citronen

Stine Stengade

Ketty Selmer

Peter Mygind

Aksel Winther

Mille Lehfeldt

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Synopsis

Copenhagen 1944. Denmark is occupied by Nazi Germany. While the Danish population hopes for a swift end to the war, freedom fighters Bent Faurschou-Hviid (23), alias Flame (THURE LINDHARDT), and Jørgen Haagen Schmith (33), alias Citron (MADS MIKKELSEN), secretly put their lives at stake fighting for the Resistance. The fearless and uncompromising Flame is a dedicated anti-fascist who dreams of the day when their group will reassemble and openly launch an armed counterattack at the occupying power. The more sensitive family man Citron primarily works as a driver for Flame, but now finds himself becoming more deeply involved in clandestine activities. When their immediate superior, Aksel Winther, orders them into action against two German Abwehr officers, events start to get out of hand. Flame confronts the talented and intelligent Colonel Gilbert (HANNS ZISCHLER) and for the first time hesitates to carry out his orders to kill. Something feels terribly wrong. Furthermore, when suspicion turns to his girlfriend, the beautiful and mysterious courier, Ketty (STINE STENGADE), Flame begins to spot the outline of a dangerous hidden agenda. Can Ketty be trusted? Can Winther? And who really works for whom? While their doubts gnaw at them, Flame and Citron come to feel that they are on shaky ground. Desperate, disillusioned and with a sense of having been betrayed by their superiors, they decide only to trust each other and concentrate their efforts on getting to the much hated and feared chief of the Gestapo, Hoffmann (CHRISTIAN BERKEL).

Director: Ole Christian Madsen
Producer: Lars Bredo Rahbek
Screenwriter: Lars Andersen, Ole Christian Madsen
Distributor: IFC Films
Production Co: Nimbus Film ApS
Genre: History, Drama, War, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: Danish
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 31, 2009, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 19, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $145.1K
Runtime: 2h 12m