Flame & Citron | Ole Christian Madsen, 2008
Messrs. Flammen and Citronen are two well-known Danish folk heroes who fought and died in the second World War for the Holger Danske resistance group. Flammen, or Flame – so called for his shock of auburn hair – and Citronen, or Citron, whose nickname was obtained during his years sabotaging the German vehicles of Copenhagen’s Citroën factories. These men were two of the more active resistance fighters during this period and worked closely together assassinating various Nazi targets. Flame & Citron tells their fatal tale of spiralling violence, unceasing paranoia and the ever-present threat of War. As a shiny product of Denmark’s burgeoning film industry, Flame & Citron cost around $10 million to make and is thus one of the more expensive Danish-language films made to date. In the lush visuals and authenticity of War-torn Europe, it is easy to see where this money has gone. Unlike most big budget action films there is a certain attention to detail here, least not in director Ole Christian Madsen’s wonderful eye for stunning photography. A task he was no doubt helped in by the work of his longstanding cinematographer Jørgen Johansson. Despite what most of its promotional material may have you think, Flame & Citron is a wartime drama with a difference. The choice to focus upon these two embattled central characters brings forth a certain Noirish quality. A feeling only enhanced further when considering the moral struggle that each must overcome, as they experience the suffocating claustrophobia that comes with being wanted men in a War-stricken town.
While the film includes two impressive performances from Thure Lindhart and Mads Mikkelsen (widely known for his recent villainous outing in Casino Royale) as Flame and Citron respectively, the pair have a difficult time creating much chemistry. Their characters move as one through the tree-lined streets, bomb-stained alleyways and smoky hotel lobbies of Copenhagen but lack the kind of interaction that the film screams out for. Without such companionship their final burial alongside one another feels a lesser moment than it perhaps should have been. Each, however, does an excellent job displaying their characters’ inner angst and muted pride in the range of bubbling emotions we bear witness to. As the questionable actions of Flame and Citron threaten to permanently erase any kind of moral compass each may once have owned, they are forced to consider whether they are indeed fighting for the good. Once again it must be mentioned just how jaw-droppingly beautiful Flame & Citron is at points. Each shot is like a painting, though during those moments when the plot becomes a little too heavy the film threatens to become little more than that. However, thanks to some confident direction and extraordinary acting from all involved, its initial vision is maintained rather well. A vision that ultimately offers up an intriguing wartime tale, mixing drama and action with a deftness rarely seen today.
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