Danish Soldier Torn Between Duty and Family in ‘A War’

Sandra Miska

The cost of war is explored in “A War,” a military drama from Denmark and current nominee for this year’s Best Foreign Language Film Oscar. Pilou Asbaek, an actor who is not yet well known to American audiences but is set to play a key role in the upcoming season of “Game of Thrones,” stars as company commander Claus Pedersen. Stationed in Afghanistan with him are several other soldiers under his command who not only depend on him but also like and respect him.

Pedersen has his duty to his soldiers and his country and also to the local civilians whom he strives to safeguard. Unfortunately, he can’t save them all and is forced to make tough calls on a daily basis. His hardest decision comes after he and his men come under heavy crossfire and he must act quickly to protect them. Pedersen calls for the bombing of a house that he believes contains members of the Taliban. Unfortunately, the result of his call is the death of 11 civilians, including eight children.

Meanwhile, back on the homefront, Pedersen’s wife Maria (Tuva Novotny) struggles to care for their three young children on her own. In many ways, her daily life is not unlike that of her husband’s. Although she may not have to deal with landmines and the Taliban, stressful parent-teacher conferences, kids asking for Daddy and trips to the E.R. take their toll on her both emotionally and physically.

Pedersen’s return home to Denmark should be the end of family’s troubles but instead they’re just beginning as he must answer for his actions in Afghanistan in a court of law. If he is convicted of the murder of the 11 innocents he faces a prison term of several years. The second half on the film, which takes place entirely in Denmark, is just as full of tension as the scenes in Afghanistan as Pedersen has to prove that his actions were justified and that he had the authorization and evidence he needed to order the bombing.

While Claus Pedersen wrestles with his conscience, Maria puts pressure on him to avoid prison at any cost, even if it means lying under oath. Horrified at the prospect of years of single motherhood while her husband is incarcerated, in one of the film’s most powerful scenes, Maria urges Claus to put the eight dead children out of his head and focus on the living ones he has at home.

“A War” is the third feature written and directed by Tobias Lindholm who names an  influence as Dogme 95, an avant-garde filmmaker movement founded by his mentor Thomas Vinterberg and Lars von Trier. Though not as extreme, Lindholm strives to make his films as realistic as possible, even using real soldiers and refugees in “A War.” His decisions pay off as the war front scenes are gritty and evoke another director from whom Lindholm drew inspiration, Kathryn Bigelow.

Asbaek and Novotny have great chemistry that heightens the drama. Asbaek and Lindholm, who have collaborated together twice before do an excellent job of making Claus Pedersen a complex, sympathetic character. Lindholm also manages to closely examine the conflict in Afghanistan without being heavy-handed.

“A War” opens in select theaters Feb. 12.