(spoiler free)
Already delighting audiences with wonderful period drama ‘Colette’ earlier in the year, Keira Knightly is back again with another only weeks after its release. ‘The Aftermath’ is a post-war drama based on Rhidian Brook’s 2013 novel of the same name. It’s set in Hamburg as a British Colonel, Lewis (Jason Clarke) and his wife, Rachel (Knightly) are assigned to live in the German city amidst the post-war reconstruction. They occupy the house of German architect, Stefan (Alexander Skarsgård) but agree to let him and his family remain with them instead of being transferred to a camp.
‘The Aftermath’ begins in a way that you would expect of a historical drama looking at this period. It highlights the relations between the Allied troops who now occupy Germany, and the German citizens, specifically here, of Hamburg. This is an interesting time period to set the narrative as it brings to the forefront many issues and storylines that get forgotten in most war time films which conclude with the Allied victory and go no further. However, don’t let this intriguing beginning fool you as ‘The Aftermath’ isn’t really at all interested in the history of this period as it’s far too preoccupied delving into its abundance of melodrama instead. It’s like a soap opera with a budget as our three main characters interact simply against the backdrop of this setting rather than fully infiltrating themselves into it. Despite its decision to shift the focus away from the historical elements the melodrama that takes its place, whilst obviously less poignant and profound, is still shamefully entertaining and propels the story through the runtime at an enjoyable pace.
The performances of the cast aren’t to be sneered at either, especially Knightly who excellently showcases her dramatic ability once again here. The main cast’s portrayals of their characters are good and they compellingly carry the drama of the picture. There are a number of more sombre plot threads running through this narrative and it’s here that we see the cast excel, however the lack of development means that the emotion they convey will not connect with audiences, more than likely leaving them as cold as the snowy setting the characters reside in. The problem is it’s hard to root for any of these characters. The film is full of moral ambiguity and often characters fall down on what many will see as the wrong side of these ethical dilemmas. This in itself isn’t a criticism, it actually helps make the melodrama more entertaining. However, what it does mean is that when the film expects viewers to be effected by these more emotive moments it’s harder for it to achieve this desired response.
Being aware of what kind of film ‘The Aftermath’ is before buying a ticket will serve audiences very well. Those looking for a historical war drama may well be disappointed when in reality they’re presented with this Mills & Boon style melodramatic romance instead. Unfortunately though it doesn’t quite work as either of the genres that it pulls from despite the best efforts of the cast. There’s enjoyment to be had here for sure but the narrative and setting don’t align in a fitting way and the lack of any real character or storyline to fully engage with results in the films failure to ever entirely captivate its audience.
Written by Hamish Calvert
Rating – 5/10
Question: What is your favourite Jason Clarke film?
(Leave your answers in the comments section below!)
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Thanks to Movie House Cinemas for screening access
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