Perth Voice Interactive

BEFORE IT ENDS is based on Denmark’s occupation by Nazi Germany in 1940, despite the country having declared its neutrality.

The occupation lasted five years until Germany admitted defeat as the Allies and Soviets surrounded Berlin.

In the final months of the war several hundred thousand German refugees fleeing the advancing Soviets ended up in Denmark. 

The story portrays the influx of German civilian refugees, mostly malnourished women and children who arrived exhausted and seriously ill. 

The Danes had been told by the occupying Germans they would have to accept around 250 refugees, but the numbers arriving by train were more like 250,000, creating a dilemma as to where to house them. 

The newcomers create a dilemma for headmaster Jakob and his wife Lisa, as they are forced to close their school and church to house them. 

Jakob recognises the influx as another violent German occupation, while Lisa sees the people as victims of circumstances and tries to assist them.

It explores the tension between moral duty (helping refugees) and the deep-seated resentment towards someone from an increasingly malevolent invader.

Although it appears to go against the efforts of the Danish resistance, when disease starts ravaging the German refugees Jakob feels forced to help them.

The aftermath leaves his family experiencing the wrath of their community.

This moral dilemma is viscerally felt as you watch the unfolding situation; should they help the refugees, who are victims of war themselves, or turn a blind eye and leave them to their fate?

Director Anders Wolter’s subtle storytelling leaves you feeling empathy for both sides, as the story tells the tale of a family under pressure and this expose of forgiveness, justice and humanity.

I had not heard of many stories about Denmark during the war, so it was quite interesting to discover this fascinating insight into the death throes of WWII, where Germans became refugees of their own doing. 

3/5 chickens

by PAULA HOLLAND