Into the White Blu-ray review

Actors: Florian Lukas, Rupert Grint

Director: Petter Næss

Format: Blu-ray, Closed-captioned, Dolby, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen

Language: English

Subtitles: English, Spanish

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: R

Studio: Magnolia Home Entertainment

Release Date: June 25, 2013

Run Time: 104 minutes

 

 

        Just hearing the premise for Into the White is enough to guess the entire film. There is little that isn’t predictable about this World War II melodrama, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t any good. Into the White may be a bit safe in its content, but the actors are compelling enough to allow us to forgive the predictability for its likeability. 

 

        Based on a true story, Into the White follows the events which occur when two enemy fighter planes are shot down in the remote mountains of Norway. Both British and German crew members seek refuge in a remote hunting cabin, able to survive the harsh weather in hopes of returning to the war. At first they are distrustful of each other, taking turns retaining power in a constant struggle which changes nothing other than the person whose responsibility it becomes to feed to the withering group. Eventually both the Germans and British learn to become friends, though this is only accomplished completely once the Nazi spirit is denounced to a certain degree.

 

        There are many inconsistencies in Into the White, including the point of view. We join the story with the Germans, following them to the cabin where much of the film takes place, and yet the film shifts over to the British perspective at the end. There is also a bit of melodrama which is almost too much for the film to hold, despite a solid cast that includes the three German soldiers (Stig Henrik Hoff, David Kross and Florian Lukas) and two British (Lachlan Nieboer and Rupert Grint). There are only a few scenes with additional characters, making much of the film about these five.

 

        The Blu-ray includes a television featurette about the film, as well as a trailer. There are only a few scenes of action, but the scenery alone is enhanced by the high definition of the Blu-ray disc.

       

Entertainment Value: 7/10

Quality of Filmmaking: 6/10

Historical Significance: 6/10

Disc Features: 4/10