‘Anthropoid’ review: “Some of the most thrilling moments in cinema this year.”

Anthropoid review: A thrilling and powerful war film that doesn’t shy away from difficult themes such as the repercussions of heroics.

Anthropoid review by Luke Ryan Baldock.

Sean Ellis arrived 10 years ago with the wonderful little film Cashback, a feature based on his own award winning short which was both smart and original. Anthropoid, his fourth feature, couldn’t be further from his humble beginnings, yet clearly shows a man with a firm grip on all things cinematic. Telling the true tale of World War II’s most important assassination, it is also a fresh look at events that is neither too afraid to question morality and heroism in war, nor too quaint to make some of its sequences, for lack of a better word, entertaining.

Set in 1942, we follow two parachutists who return to Czechoslovakia after the controversial Munich Agreement, who have orders to assassinate Hitler’s third in command Reinhard Heydrich.  Jan Kubis (Jamie Dornan) and Josef Gabcik (Cillian Murphy), are the men tasked with the impossible, and must make contact with the few remaining Czech rebels including Uncle Hajsky (Toby Jones), and the reluctant Ladislav Vanek (Marcin Dorocinski). It’s clear the rebels are ill-prepared and the country is feeling the pressure with big rewards and decorations for those who give information to the Nazis making it less and less likely that the assassination will go smoothly.

Tension is the name of the game in this incredibly horrific film. Even those that have read up on their history will feel their pulses pumping and their hearts stopping, perhaps even simultaneously if that’s biologically possible. With a generous gradual build, we are introduced to the characters, making this world important event all the more personal. Generic Hollywood style sequences are given disturbing fresh blood, such as scenes where usually a character would be reaching for a pistol, are scenes of characters reaching for the cyanide capsules. Audiences will reluctantly have to face themselves once they realise they’ve been internally cheering for characters to commit suicide rather than be taken prisoner. Such techniques are just one way the film captures complex feelings during war.

Performance wise the film is also strong. Murphy is the brash and angry member of the team, while Dorman successfully throws off the shackles of Christian Grey by becoming the emotional centre. His character is one who starts to fall in love with the idea of a simple life in Czechoslovakia, even if that means under German rule. Both of these characters highlight the film’s main strength, and that’s its bravery in its themes of questioning the heroics of war.

Anthropoid certainly celebrates bravery and heroism, but it also highlights some uncomfortable truths. People should know that as a result of Heydrich’s assassination, 5,000 innocent Czechoslovakians were slaughtered in retaliation. Such warnings are given throughout the film, questioning if taking the life of Heydrich is really worth it. The film doesn’t presume to have an answer though, and as such the audience can make their own judgements. Usually such films are filled with flag waving and inspirational speeches that avoid any talk of the aftermath, here it is all too real, and it’s all the better for it.

Come the final act, the film has been a strong romance, a brilliant mission ensemble, a complex ethical debate, and a chilling horror film that shows us some Nazi torture in the most grisly fashion. But it doesn’t stop there, the climax sees a phenomenal action set-piece in a church, with some of the most thrilling moments in cinema this year. Reminiscent of The Wild Bunch, the film ends on level of excitement that perfectly contradicts with the difficult morality tale. Excruciatingly tense, honestly brutal, and disturbingly exciting, Anthropoid offers up a thrilling and powerful war film that doesn’t shy away from difficult themes such as the repercussions of heroics.

Anthropoid review by Luke Ryan Baldock, September 2016

Anthropoid is released in cinemas from September 9th.