'Land of Mine' by Martin Pieter Zandvliet: A very different perspective of WW2

Often enough, when it comes to war films, we don't see the perspective of both sides. There's only a true good side, and the opposition: the Axis forces. A side that is often perceived as inherently evil. Incapable of being human for the actions of the few.

Land of Mine displays the hardships of those who were impacted the most during WW2: the youth. Those thrown into an event far bigger than they could possibly imagine. One where they're given orders, and face the consequences of following them.

Following a group of young German soldiers, the film shows how such young men became prisoners of war and forced to dig up Nazi land mines with just their hands on the beaches of Denmark. A dangerous, unfathomable task for any person, but one they were forced into. It remains relatively historically accurate, and as a result, harrowing.

Land of Mine isn't a film trying to sympathise with Axis forces, nor is it a film that's pushing a specific side's argument. The bias is there, but it's an anti-war bias, showing us the ways in which both sides lose their humanity and force the other to do things with a barbaric nature.

The film shows the ways in which young men were taught and forced the dismember land mines across the beaches, and how even those forcing them to do so felt empathy towards them. How even our enemies can be met with the same kindness as we meet our closest allies, particularly when they're mere puppets in a greater scheme.

The camera work isn't nothing particularly spectacular in Land of Mine, neither is the acting. For the most part, a lot of the film is just watching these young men at work. Watching them subjected to this horror each day. There's not particularly strong artistic vision, because one isn't necessary. There's not deeper narrative for the characters, as the narrative is merely survival.

We see how being a prisoner of war that digs up land mines is an existence that is often met with a saddening end. How even once your time is up, you're not free. You're never done with, you're an expendable asset. Regardless of the side you're on, it's never kind. War is a prisoner to all.