In addition to "the Germans don’t dig, should the Danes dig?"

Ward 2022-01-09 08:03:13

A few hours ago, after watching the film in the archive, I saw a lot and heard a lot. In fact, I couldn't help asking myself: "These landmines are not allowed to be dug by the Germans. Should the Danes dig them?" If you think about it carefully, you will find that this question is really meaningless. What the film will discuss is "who should dig landmines"? Obviously not. After World War II, about two thousand Germans dug landmines along the coast of Denmark, most of them young people, and half of them were killed or seriously injured in this task. This is a fact of history. The historical sensitivity of war and the complexity of human nature in war have made this problem unsolvable and will never be solved. Therefore, what the film shows and discusses, as the director said, is the proposition of how people will survive after the war, in the post-war era. The characters in the film are separated from the grand national identity and become a certain kind of individuals. So as to show more humanity. Their stories, at least let the audience perceive whether the two sides of the war will win or lose. Individuals always work hard to survive, whether physically or mentally. There have never been many film and television works in China that complain about war and yearn for peace. It seems to be how cruel the enemy is and how strong our army is. In the end, all the hardships came and the red flags spread high, and the audience breathed a sigh of relief. While demonstrating the cruelty of the war, he never forgets to instill the abomination of the enemy. Rather than reflect on the war itself, it may be more to buy the seeds of hatred. Films with alternative perspectives such as "Autumn Sun", "The Devil Is Coming" and "Nanjing" are still very few. And "Minefields" undoubtedly provides another perspective to show the post-war era. A group of young German boys are dismantling landmines bought by their fathers one by one by the sea. The reason for this dilemma is not in Denmark, but in the war itself. The film does not make in-depth judgments of right and wrong on both sides, but presents a difficult situation. A dilemma caused by the war itself, not by a certain party in the war, or by a certain individual. Therefore, after watching the film, the audience can finally reflect on the war and yearn for peace instead of hatred. Of course, I am also very curious about the box office and audience acceptance of the film in Denmark. Unfortunately, the question could not be asked. Perhaps the integration of Europe and Germany's positive actions after the Second World War can weaken the historic national estrangement created by the war. The current situation in China cannot be generalized to it, so I have no intention of comparing it with domestic anti-Japanese films. Imagine that if similar films appear in China in today's context, it would be difficult for me to agree emotionally. For this film, I don't intend to sympathize with someone, but think deeply about the perspective it provides to look at war. Really use individual identities to examine and reflect on wars. Proceed from the war itself to oppose the war.

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Extended Reading
  • Lesly 2022-03-20 09:02:21

    Why should we be so cruel to the "enemy"?

  • Chadrick 2022-04-24 07:01:17

    We gave Japanese prisoners of war the best rice and white noodles, but the Danish dog abused the prisoners. The generosity and fraternity of the Chinese nation taught them a good lesson...

Land of Mine quotes

  • Lt. Ebbe Jensen: If they are old enough to go to war, they are old enough to clean up.

  • closing title card: After the war, more than 2000 German prisoners were forced to remove over 1.5 million landmines from Denmark's west coast.

    closing title card: Nearly half of them were killed or severely wounded.

    closing title card: Many were barely more than children.