Everyday Activist - Anthropoid

Posted on Monday, September 05, 2016 at 05:00 PM

Anthropoid

Movie Review by Everyday Activist X CalgaryMovies.com

I know normally I write about movies you have a chance to see, but I had a hard time deciding whether or not to write about it since it’s not a documentary. By the time I decided to write this it had already left theatres. Maybe another screening will happen around Remembrance Day, since it’s about the Anthropoid operation in World War II. The goal of the operative was to kill Hitler’s third in command while he was in Czechoslovakia. I’m surprised the release date wasn’t closer to November 11th, when everyone is thinking about sacrifices made during the war.

In our sterilized version of history taught in school, we learned that when Germany wanted Czechoslovakia, the Allies, not wanting to go back to war, gave it to them. What we didn’t learn is about the resistance operatives within the occupied country and how many people were systematically eliminated if they were suspected to be non-compliant with German rule. Hitler’s 3rd in command, Reinhard Heydrich, was in Czechoslovakia when Operation Anthropoid was deployed specifically to assassinate him. The movie goes into fine details of civilian life under occupation and those still with the bravery to support a military mission against the brutality.

Lately, I’ve been immersed in military reading and movies as I’m writing a book called Super Soldier. Sebastian Junger’s work about Tim Hetherington and even Tim’s work about conflict had me watching Anthropoid through a completely different lens. I have no doubt that director Sean Ellis was influenced by them as well. Watching how the soldiers treated each other during the operation and right up until their last moments, emphasises Junger’s assertion that men go to war partly because, even within the ridged system of the military structure, they are free from many societal pressures. They are allowed to support and care for other men. Knowing this type of culture makes the betrayal that happens within the film that much harder to accept.

I loved all nuances and details including how they managed to photograph the route and keep tabs on the target’s movements to carry out a successful mission. The standoff in the church highlighted exactly how elite this team was. A handful of soldiers were able to hold off the German Army for 6 hours. I would definitely enjoy watching the film again if it does come back for Remembrance Day.

Calgary Showtimes: Anthropoid >