Plot
In post-World War II Denmark, the Danish government puts their hated German prisoners of war to work clearing the 1.5 million landmines from the western beaches of the country. At one such beach, Sgt. Carl Leopold Rasmussen finds himself in charge of one such labor unit and finds they are largely all inexperienced boys. As the boys struggle to complete and survive their dangerous work, Sgt. Rasmussen's hate for Germans gradually cools as he grows to understand the horrific situation these child soldiers are in even as the mines claim more and more victims. Eventually, the boys and the Sergeant must decide what can be done in a situation that would be later be denounced by later generations as the worst war crime committed by the Danish government in its history.
Written by
Martin Zandvliet
Directed by
Martin Zandvliet
Crew
Production Countries
Denmark, Germany
Production Companies
Goethe Filmproduktion, Erfttal Film, ZDF, K5 Film, K5 International, Majgaard, Amusement Park Films, Nordisk Film
Languages
Deutsch, English, Dansk
Awards
Nominated for 1 Oscar. 33 wins & 27 nominations total