I was thrilled when the movie began. I had no idea it was made by Ealing Studios, but I always felt impressed by their every film. They just seemed to make the most out of even the simplest stories.
This film is about a group of British soldiers spending the war in a prisoner of war camp. "The Captive Heart" stretches from 1940 through the war to the return of the prisoners to their homes.Often, the story is punctuated with flashback scenes--showing the soldiers in mostly happier days with loved ones. In addition to the many little vignettes is an odd (and rather difficult to believe) story involving Michael Redgrave. It seems he's a Czech who's escaped from a concentration camp and is re-captured by the Germans. However, not wanting to be returned to a hellish place like Dachau, he assumes the identity of a dead British soldier--and is sent to the camp along with the real British prisoners. This story and how it all plays out is very interesting. I don't want to say more, as it would spoil the story.
The film has very nice acting and a reasonably engaging story. My only major complaint is that because the film takes place over such a long time period, the film is a bit episodic and shallow at times. But it's still a well made and engaging film from start to finish.
This film is about a group of British soldiers spending the war in a prisoner of war camp. "The Captive Heart" stretches from 1940 through the war to the return of the prisoners to their homes.Often, the story is punctuated with flashback scenes--showing the soldiers in mostly happier days with loved ones. In addition to the many little vignettes is an odd (and rather difficult to believe) story involving Michael Redgrave. It seems he's a Czech who's escaped from a concentration camp and is re-captured by the Germans. However, not wanting to be returned to a hellish place like Dachau, he assumes the identity of a dead British soldier--and is sent to the camp along with the real British prisoners. This story and how it all plays out is very interesting. I don't want to say more, as it would spoil the story.
The film has very nice acting and a reasonably engaging story. My only major complaint is that because the film takes place over such a long time period, the film is a bit episodic and shallow at times. But it's still a well made and engaging film from start to finish.