The Fog of Battle is a Heavy Burden in ‘A War’

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CHICAGO – Humanity and war simply do no mix. You could have the biggest guns, the most powerful bombs and the greatest army, but you’re also going to eliminate innocent lives, and affect those soldiers who do the killing. This topic is pungently realized in the Danish film “A War.”

In the traditional of military films like Stanley Kubrick’s “Paths of Glory,” this film is about a military incident and subsequent trial. The difference is it also shows the trials of the home front, as a soldier’s wife keeps the household while the hubby is tending the troops. In modern warfare – the Danish platoon is in Afghanistan – calls to loved ones may be available, but the connection still is difficult to make. This is vital to the path of the main soldier and his story, and the fog of war, with the karma ambiguity that still occurs whenever anyone is the harm’s way of the battlefield. ”A War” is nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar at the upcoming 2016 Academy Awards.

A troop commander for a Danish platoon in Afghanistan, Claus Pedersen (Pilou Asbaek) is heartbroken when a soldier dies under his leadership. For his own punishment, he decides to go out with the men on patrol. While under fire from the Taliban, he makes a decision for an airstrike. As a result, 11 civilians are killed, and Claus is brought to trial back home.

Pilou Asbaek
Claus (Pilou Asbaek) in Battle in ‘A War’
Photo credit: Magnolia Films

Meanwhile, the commander’s wife Maria (Tuva Novotny) is holding down the household, with three children to take care of – their only connection is an occasional satellite phone call. Claus then abruptly comes home after the airstrike incident, only to tell her of the military trial. The fate of both home and battlefield is played out in a courtroom, and affects a family.

Also in the tradition of great war films, there is a moral ambiguity in “A War” that questions human interaction with battle. Emotions and loyalty often muddy decision making, and the command choices that Claus makes occur in complete chaos. There is a bitter aftertaste to the whole proceedings, especially the wringer he goes through in preparing for trial. This is a soldier’s story, and seeks an understanding for that warrior and his options. 



The home front is also well represented, which is unusual for any film that is set mostly on a battlefront. The home scenes are effective, especially as it becomes apparent that Maria is as brave as her husband, and accepts her assignment with calm, until an inevitable breakdown happens. The is particularly brought to light when Claus comes home for the trial, and that homecoming is immediately tempered by what hangs in the balance. 


Writer/director Tobias Lindholm has a sure touch with both the war and home fronts, and uses each as a contrast to the other. This is an anti-war film, in the sense that what is assigned of soldiers never merges with what actually happens under fire, and that is combined with the emotional trauma of seeing friends and innocents die for what becomes no reason. The soldiers, including Claus, have a refreshing ordinariness to their demeanor, for example a soldier named ‘Butcher’ is nicknamed as such because he comes from a family of butchers. This creates more empathy when considering the callousness of the war incidents.

Pilou Asbaek, Tuva Novotny
Claus Comes Home to Maria (Tuva Novotny) in ‘A War’
Photo credit: Magnolia Films

The trial also has some distinctions from other, similar films (and the themes in this film have been seen in others of its genre). The prosecutor is a hard driving young woman, and the defense lawyer of Claus is a tired bureaucrat. The result of all has as much to do with soldiers and their current status in society, than any type of justice. It’s interesting to see it played out among our war adventures of today, and is a contrast between the romantic perceptions of historical war versus the reality of modern perpetual war.

We love the troops as we sacrifice them. We celebrate the bravery of the wives at home, until they are left with damaged goods. We rally round the flag as we go “over there,” until it goes on for so long that we forget about it. War, huh, good god-ya-all, what is it good for? Etc.

“A War” continues its limited release in Chicago on February 26th, see local listings for theaters and show times. Featuring Pilou Asbaek, Tuva Novony and Alex Hogh Andersen. Written and directed by Tobias Lindholm. Rated “R”

HollywoodChicago.com senior staff writer Patrick McDonald

By PATRICK McDONALD
Writer, Editorial Coordinator
HollywoodChicago.com
pat@hollywoodchicago.com

© 2016 Patrick McDonald, HollywoodChicago.com

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