Greg W
Good solid movie! Enjoyed watching it and the characters evolve. American occupation of Germany after WWII was not easy for anyone. I am older and enjoyed the movie. Probably not good for younger audience!
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
02/15/24
Full Review
An
Good movie with a great scenario and a lot of romance IMO, but I felt something it was missing.
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
10/02/23
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Audience Member
No doubting that this is a beautiful period drama, with stunning visuals and a great cast. The story is ambling and I guess slightly poetic, but it doesn't really grab you
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
01/25/23
Full Review
Audience Member
The Aftermath (2019) is a beautiful, poignant period film set in the aftermath of the Second World War in war ravaged Hamburg, Germany circa 1945 following the defeat and collapse of Nazi Germany. The film is directed by James Kent and the screenplay is based on the book of the same name by novelist Rhidian Brook.
It features a stellar cast including Alexander Skarsgard, one of Hollywood's most sexiest and handsome leading men playing Stefan Lubert, a German architect and widower, and Kiera Knightley, one of the world's most beautiful women playing Rachael Morgan, Captain Lewis Morgan's neglected wife and a bereaved mother. The talented and multi-faceted actor Jason Clarke plays Captain Lewis Morgan, and Flora Thiemann stars as Stefan's troubled daughter Freda.
Captain Lewis Morgan and his wife Rachael are re-united in Hamburg, Germany, following the war, and rather live on their own, share their new domicile with its previous occupants, Stefan Lubert and his teenage daughter Freda, which shines a light on the complex relationship and socio-political dynamics between victor and vanquished. The perspective of victor and vanquished are encapsulated in the roles of Stefan Lubert, Freda Lubert, Rachael Morgan, and Captain Lewis Morgan.
I am immensely fond of melodramas and the narrative of the film delivers in droves. The motif of grief and nostalgia weaves itself through the film giving it depth and structure as does situating marital infidelity in a war ravaged setting. It was mesmerizing to watch the social awkwardness and distaste between Rachael and Stefan give way to a passionate love in the aftermath of war set in the requisitioned beautiful mansion in its idyllic setting and landscaped grounds haunted by the past and the spirit of Claudia Lubert.
Of course, the storyline is helped immensely by having two remarkable actors with stunning good looks who play the lead roles. Knightley is mesmerizing to watch. As Rachael, she is more than the grieving mother and her stunning good looks, charm and demure sexuality give her character the classic characteristics of a femme fatale. Skarsgard's charm, sensitivity and masculinity luminate his role and heightens his vulnerability as the grieving widower, dispossessed man of stature, and father of a disturbed teenager. Why wouldn't Rachael and Stefan be drawn to each other living in close quarters in spite of their enmity? Despite everything, it's a story of two people starved for and in need of a little tenderness and love, and the film delivers it in spades. The film, I found, engages one's emotions on many levels in particular, emotionally and intellectually. Rachael's flashbacks are beautifully crafted evoking the anguish and despair of a grieving mother. The egregious, insulting and demeaning bias of the British towards the Germans weaves itself through the film casting aspersions on their moral authority. Are all Germans to blame for the atrocities committed by the Nazi state? Kudos to the director for bringing to cinematic light a film that captures a complex reality and relationship between victor and vanquished and its aftermath.
The director has woven together many visual elements to create a fascinating and intriguing film set against the devastation of the Second World War where grief and enmity meets passion and betrayal in a charged atmosphere of 'death and destruction', and 'revenge and redemption'. Knightley gives a compelling and powerful performance as the neglected wife, playing second fiddle to the war, and the grief-stricken mother. She is beautifully directed and shot, and brings a gravitas and vulnerability to her role that is bitter-sweet and heartbreaking. Her performance is nuanced, complex and multi-faceted rendering a sympathetic and relatable character. The scene she shares with Freda and Stefan at the piano will have you reach for kleenex and perhaps, you might shed a tear or two for their desperation.
If you enjoy melodramas or love period pieces, or a fan of Keira Knightley and Alexander Skarsgard, do see the film.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
01/24/23
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Robert M
Interesting historical setting, and we'll acted.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
01/01/22
Full Review
michelle h
I don't understand the negative reviews of this film and especially not the ones that describe it simply as "soapy", "tawdry" and having no real merit, or being a parody. Yes, the graphic sex scenes distract from the storyline somewhat, but I think the filmmakers did a great job setting the tone of the piece and the actors were excellent in this film set in a post-war WW2 city. In fact, for me, the themes of how war literally breaks families apart and causes lasting fear, loss, resentment and disillusionment really came through. Every one of the main characters were seeking ways to mourn what they lost: loved ones as well as their homes. But, at the time, being able to express all these emotions was not conventional. Far from it. People were expected to "carry on" through the pain and not complain. And that is what each character tried to do, of course it all comes to a head at some point... All the while, the film is set against the backdrop of West Hamburg Germany, a city reeling after having been literally blown to bits. Tens of thousands of people were missing, orphans roamed the streets and anarchy was being held off by promises that if they just "carried on", things would get better. It was a brilliant story created as a book and the film did well to carry on its legacy, IMO.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
03/30/23
Full Review
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