The Arctic Convoy

     You will often hear the cry for more original stories in the film lover’s world, and lucky for us, we have a pool of those stories sitting in the history books. One such source is World War II, from which we have already seen many stories of heroism and defiance, but I can assure you, there are many more that have yet to be told. The Arctic Convoy tells one such story, about how ordinary sailors faced superior German forces on their perilous mission.

It’s the summer of 1941 and Hitler is pretty much unstoppable. Now that the Soviet Union has been invaded, cargo ships from Norway and Europe are being sent with a small number of British escorts, as they try to avoid German U-boats and planes. There are thirty-eight ships to start with, and one of those ships has Captain Skar (Anders Baasmo) at the helm, a veteran of such missions. With him is his new first mate, Mørk (Tobias Santelmann), who, after losing his own ship, is weary of their place in the war. Things start off pretty normal, but with the British escorts, the Germans are having a hard time hitting their targets. That changes when the British are called off, leaving the convoy to defend themselves, making them pretty much sitting ducks to the Germans. To help continue the mission, the ships break off in separate directions, but German planes and subs are taking the ships out one by one. Whatever the plan is, the only question is whether it will be the right one for the ship and its crew to survive.

Written by Christian Siebenherz, Harald Rosenløw-Eeg, and Lars Gudmestad, The Arctic Convoy is not a fast-paced action film, but instead a look at a group of people under extreme stress in an intense situation. The film acts as the perfect reminder of men’s capacity for unity, while conveying wider lessons on the sacrifices of war’s. The Arctic Convoy also serves as a great way to shed light on the oft-forgotten men who battled lethal odds to aid in the Allies’ fight against Germany.

The Arctic Convoy isn’t always smooth sailing, but after a measured and patient start, the film’s second and third acts deliver plenty of tension that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Most of that tension is due to external forces, but there are also confrontations between officers thrown in for good measure. Those disputes work, mainly because Baasmo and Santelmann both play their parts and play off each other perfectly. As for the rest of the cast, some stand out for moments, but most of them fade into the background and let the two leads cook. The Arctic Convoy does not reach masterpiece levels, but it does deliver a story that is steady, appealing to both history enthusiasts and fans of adventures on the sea. The set pieces feel authentic, as well as the performances, all of which adds to the realism, making you feel like you are aboard this vessel with these tired and scared men. This is an excellent way to honor the sailors who gave their lives, and it also happens to be a pretty good movie.