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‘Amrum’ Review: Fatih Akin’s Understated Coming-of-Age Tale Is Generous, Classical and Soul-Stirring
Set on a picturesque windswept German island in the waning days of World War II, the Cannes premiere 'Amrum' walks an impossible moral line.
But as “Amrum” progresses in its patient, perceptive rhythm on the eponymous, majestically windswept German island, it becomes clear that the film isn’t looking for sympathy for the devil — that’d be an oversimplification of the purpose at the heart of Akin’s graceful and profound drama. Under his direction, “Amrum” wants us to engage with the possibility that at such a young age, the film’s central character Nanning (superbly portrayed by impressive newcomer Jasper Billerbeck) is pretty much like any kid, and partly the unfortunate product of toxic brainwashing. Out of deep love and a sense of duty for his mother, Hille’s hunger and sadness propels Nanning to go on an epic, fable-like journey across the island to obtain these impossible goods: some flour from the chemist who might be keeping it as medicine, a little sugar from his grandfather, and so on.
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