It’s somewhat remarkable that 70 years after the Nazi surrender there are still compelling stories to tell set during World War II. The fact the horrific conflict has become a contemporary equivalent of the Greek myths in today’s narrative culture is a subject for another day, but it is somewhat shocking that the true events at the heart of Sean Ellis’ “Anthropoid,” is the first attempt to tell the defining story of the Czech resistance in over four decades.
In December 1941, Jozef Gabčík (an on the verge of something Cillian Murphy) and Jan Kubiš (Jamie Dornan, proving he’s more than Christian Grey) parachuted just outside Prague, Czechoslovakia. The two members of a British Special Operations unit (Gabčík was a Slovak exile, Kubis a Czech) were on a top-secret mission codenamed Anthropoid (hence the film’s title) to assassinate the de facto Nazi dictator of the region, Reinhard Heydrich, infamously known as The Butcher of Prague. Working with the Czech underground, they developed a number of scenarios but eventually planned an attack that took place within the city limits on May 27, 1942. The results of their assassination attempt had dramatic ramifications for the country during its Nazi occupation and became a rallying cry for resistance efforts across Europe. On the surface it’s not that difficult a tale to tell, but Ellis unfortunately struggles to make the first half of the film as effective as the second.
“Anthropoid” spends a great deal of time with Gabčík and Kubiš as they nervously wait for the go ahead to complete their mission while they live with a family who is only partially aware of what is going on. As the weeks pass, the spies fall for two lovely co-conspirators (Charlotte Le Bon and Anna Geislerová) and the audience is made keenly are of Kubiš’ almost inconceivable nerves when dealing with a firearm (a too obvious foretelling of potential trouble later on). Murphy’s Gabčík is also a powder keg of anger that seems annoyed by the monotony of their lengthy wait and, frankly, the audience can sympathize.
As the story trudges on we’re introduced us to local resistance fighters such as Jan Zelenka-Hajský (Toby Jones being wonderfully adept at playing Toby Jones), but Ellis simply can’t bring much tension to this portion of the film. There are perhaps too many real-life characters that need to be introduced and little for them to do but debate strategy as they await the mission.
If Ellis and co-screenwriter Anthony Frewin’s attention to historical detail hinders “Anthropoid” initially, it breathes life into what turns into an action packed and inherently cinematic second half. Following the assassination attempt, Gabčík, Kubiš and their collaborators find themselves on the run as the Nazis scour the countryside brutally killing innocents in an attempt to coerce our heroes into surrendering. Realizing the ramifications of that choice would completely negate the Nazis weakness they have exposed, they quickly find shelter in an Eastern Orthodox church as Zelenka-Hajský works on a plan to get them out of Prague. Time is not at their disposal, however, and the Nazis diabolically use any means necessary to determine their location. That sets the stage for a climactic David vs. Goliath battle that seems too scripted to believe even though it’s incredibly accurate to the real showdown (save yourself reading the Wikipedia entry until after you’ve seen the picture).
Ellis, a short film Oscar nominee whose previous big screen efforts include the 2008 horror film “The Broken” and 2013’s “Metro Manilla,” shows great skill here in choreographing the attack on Heydric and the defense of the church. What these resistance fighters were able to do was truly inspiring and Ellis, who up until this point has mistakenly used minimal score, collaborates with composer Robin Foster for an emotional finale that packs a punch. In different hands this particular sequence could have succumbed to predictable cliché, but “Anthropoid” surprises by giving these heroes a genuine and heartbreaking send off. For some, that alone might make the long wait to get there worthwhile. [B]
“Anthropoid” opens in the U.S. on August 12. Click here for our full coverage from the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.
