Introduction

A tense German-Danish melodrama based on actual events about the fate of a soldier back from the war. The First World War, South Jutland is part of the German Reich.

Also known as I Krig & Kaerlighed (original title), War & Love (literal English title, UK), A War Within (worldwide English title), and In Love and War (UK and US).

Refer to In Love and War (1958), (1987), (1996), (2001), and (2011).

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Outline

When Esben flees the trenches of WWI, after three years at the front, it is so he can return to his beloved wife Kirstine and son Karl. But everything at home has changed – A charming German Officer, Gerhard, has done everything he can to win Kirstine’s heart and replace Esbens role as Karls father. As Esben’s family tries to adjust to his return from the front, the bonds of love and loyalty are stretched to the breaking point in this taut and profoundly moving film. From his hideout, Esben becomes a witness to a horrific nightmare watching his family slowly disappear in front of him as he fights for their love and survival and as he tries desperately to save his family. IN LOVE and WAR is an epic romantic drama, based on a true story.

Cast

• Tom Wlaschiha … Gerhard.
• Natalie Madueño … Marie.
• Thure Lindhardt … Hansen.
• Ulrich Thomsen … Müller.
• Karel Dobrý … Doctor.
• Rosalinde Mynster … Kirstine.
• Sebastian Jessen … Esben.
• Mads Hjulmand … Soldier.
• Morten Brovn Jørgensen … Jes.
• Hedi Kriegeskotte … Ingeborg Schmidt.
• Morten Holst … Prison Guard.
• Alexander Wüst … Oberholz.
• Werner Wölbern … Schuster.
• Veit Stübner … Wilhelm Schmidt.
• Kristo Ferkic … Werner.
• Jakob Agermose Pedersen … Tobias.
• Tommaso Cacciapuoti … German pilot.
• Aksel Sass Homann … Karl (as Aksel Homann).
• Anton Faber … Sergei.
• Robert Landeværn Ryholt … Deacon.
• Julie Baastrup … Gala Guest (uncredited).

Trivia

• The lighthouse that Esben visits while trying to flee is located off the coast of Als not far from Fynshav.
  • From there it would have been just a short boat trip across the Lillebælt to Funen, Denmark.
• On the emperors birthday, Kirstine and Gerhard dances to «Le Cygne» by Camille Saint-Saëns.
  • Music by a French composer is very unlikely to be played to celebrate the German emperor’s birthday during WW1.

Production & Filming Details

• Director(s):
  • Kasper Torsting.
• Producer(s):
  • Signe Emilie Bjørke … development producer.
  • Ronnie Fridthjof … producer.
  • Christian Friedrichs … co-producer.
  • Jan Philip Lange … line producer: Germany.
  • Veronika Lencova … line producer: Czech Republic.
  • Rick McCallum … executive producer.
  • Kerstin Ramcke … co-producer.
  • Andrea Schütte … co-producer: Germany.
  • Martin Sebik … co-producer.
  • Stephanie Wiese … associate producer.
  • Tina Winholt … line producer.
• Writer(s):
  • Ronnie Fridthjof.
  • Kasper Torsting.
• Music:
  • Robin Hoffmann.
• Cinematography:
  • Jesper Tøffner.
• Editor(s):
  • Simon Borch.
  • Søren B. Ebbe.
• Production:
  • Fridthjof Film.
  • Film United.
  • Tamtam Film.
  • Nordfilm.
  • Det Danske Filminstitut (support).
  • Danmarks Radio (DR) (support).
  • Fabrikant Mads Clausens Fond.
  • Nordisk Film & TV Fond.
  • FilmFyn.
  • Sønderborg Kommune.
  • Tønder Kommune.
  • Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR).
  • Filmförderung Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein.
  • Nordmedia (support).
  • Czech Film Fund (support).
  • TV2 Norge (support).
  • Creative Europe MEDIA (support).
• Distributor(s):
  • United International Pictures (UIP) (2018) (Denmark) (theatrical).
  • Lighthouse Home Entertainment (2020) (Germany) (Blu-ray).
  • Lighthouse Home Entertainment (2020) (Germany) (DVD).
• Release Date: 01 October 2018 (Hamburg Film Festival, Germany).
• Rating: Unknown.
• Running Time: 135 minutes.
• Country: Denmark and Germany.
• Language: Danish, German and English (subtitles).

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