Amrum opens on the roar of the ocean waves on a small island as warplanes roar over the heads of two young boys working on a farm. The boys comment on the activity of the planes as if they’re experts on their movements and routines, but that’s the last we’ll see of the war machine. This is not a typical war film, but rather one that follows a child’s quest to understand his family’s place in history.
The boy at the center is Nanning, who at first glance doesn’t seem much different from any other young kid on the island. He works at a local farm, taking pride in his salary of milk and potatoes. He plays with his cousin Hermann, even offering him his family’s copy of Moby Dick when he realizes he shares a name with the author. But after a couple of cold encounters with locals, it becomes clear that Nanning is far from the average boy. We get glimpses of his father’s Nazi affiliations, soon realizing he’s a powerful figure in the party. His mother reports a local farmer to the Nazi authorities for telling her son that the war would be over soon. And Nanning is a member of the Hitler Youth, even donning his uniform for visits to his party-affiliated uncle’s house across the channel. He doesn’t fully understand the implications of Hitler’s death in the waning days of the war, but he sees his mother slip into a deep depression, abstaining from meals. So Nanning sets out on a quest to find white bread, butter, and honey in hopes of boosting her spirits.
“…a child’s quest to understand his family’s place in history…”
The film works so well because of the development and portrayal of Nanning. He’s such a compelling character, slowly uncovering his family’s moral failings as the film progresses. He displays an inherent empathy for the world around him. When in need of eggs, he has to steal some from a goose that has just laid them. He realizes he’s stealing a mother’s children and is compelled to leave one behind for her to hatch. He’s hesitant to kill a rabbit that his family needs for meat. He even saves his own bully from drowning. He’s shocked to find out that his father could’ve helped his uncle, who fell in love with a Jewish woman later sent to a concentration camp. Nanning is visited by that uncle in a dream and says to him, “What my parents did isn’t my fault.” The uncle replies that it may not be his fault, but he’s still connected to it. His parents’ legacy is one he’s attached to and will have to reckon with for the rest of his life. Jasper Billerbeck expertly brings these tangled emotions to life in a refined performance typical of a much more experienced actor. He has the wide-eyed curiosity of a youngster, but that innocence is sucked away as the realities of his situation creep further into focus.
As the film ends, you realize why Nanning is crafted in such an intricate and personal way. The film is somewhat autobiographical, recounting writer Hark Bohm’s real experience growing up on the island during the war. As Nanning leaves Amrun with his family, he’s met with one last gesture of kindness from a local. Perhaps that’s Bohm’s way of thanking them for opening his eyes all those years ago.
"…not a typical war film..."
