Although this is a film that is spoiled from the get-go (shocker - the Second World War happened), Munich manages to create some real tension, mainly through the quality of its performances...
Director: Christian Schwochow
Starring: George MacKay, Jannis Niewöhner, Jeremy Irons
Running time: 123 minutes
Munich: The Edge of War will leave the audience on the edge of their seats throughout its two hour runtime, despite being a tale that they already know the ending of. Its tension is weaved throughout the many scenes of political meetings, ensuring that there is never a dull moment. Its top cast all turn in an excellent and memorable performances during a plot which focuses on the negotiation and signing of the Munich Agreement, which allowed Hitler to take the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia.
The British side, headed by Neville Chamberlain (Jeremy Irons) and his private secretary Hugh Legat (George MacKay), is characterised by naivety. Chamberlain is committed so heavily to peace that he will do anything to prevent the outbreak of war, even against the advice of his own delegation.
The film attempts to defend Chamberlain’s actions in several ways, but they are mostly unconvincing. Its first approach succeeds because of Irons’ performance, which makes the audience understand Chamberlain; they want him to succeed, even though they know he won’t. This isn’t replicated afterwards, however. A weak piece of dialogue attempts to convey that Chamberlain understood the true nature of his situation, and the end credits make a bold and controversial claim that is ultimately untrue.
Despite its flaws, though, Munich is still well worth a watch
MacKay stars as Hugh Legat, a private secretary to Chamberlain. He’s been thrust into this world of espionage, something which, it is made very clear, he understands nothing about. He is also naive about the full gravity of the situation he finds himself in, until he is shown the horrifying truth.
Opposite him is Paul von Hartmann, played by Jannis Niewöhner. The opening scene sets him up as a hard-partying Oxford student, and someone who will go even harder when it comes to political debates. This contrasts with how the audience sees him for the majority of the film, which can be confusing at first. Why his character has changed isn’t revealed until much later on, which is a shame because, had the film shown this key scene earlier, it would have strengthened his overall motivations. This aside, Niewöhner gives a strong performance, his desperation clearly building throughout the film.
Ulrich Matthes, however, is miscast as Hitler. He is played as almost a comic book villain, played in an over-the-top fashion. Luckily, very little time is spent with the character, else it would take the audience out of the tense nature of the film - it’s a portrayal that doesn’t fit the seriousness of the rest of the movie, nor the performances of the other characters.
Despite its flaws, though, Munich is still well worth a watch, leaving the audience feeling tense and with a sense of heaviness even after it is finished…
Did you know? George MacKay learned German for his role as Hugh Legat.
Munich: The Edge of War is now available on Netflix
We have a favour to ask
LeftLion is Nottingham’s meeting point for information about what’s going on in our city, from the established organisations to the grassroots. We want to keep what we do free to all to access, but increasingly we are relying on revenue from our readers to continue. Can you spare a few quid each month to support us?
