The Crossing – Flukten over borders (2020)

Directed by: Johanne Helgeland | 96 minutes | drama, family, war | Actors: Anna Sofie Skarholt, Bo Lindquist-Ellingsen, Samson Steine, Bianca Ghilardi-Hellsten, Henrik Siger Woldene, Luke Neite, Julius Robin Weigel, Kari Simonsen, Morten Svartveit, Thea Borring Lande, Silje Breivik, Frode Winther, Svein Roger Karlsen, Trond Høvik, Jonas Kippersund

‘The Crossing’ (‘Flukten over borders’) is a Norwegian youth film set in the Second World War. It’s December 1942. Ten-year-old Gerda indulges in her fantasy world and sneaks out to play one of the three musketeers from the book she loves to read. When she discovers that her older brother Otto is also doing something secretly, she is shocked. Otto turns out to attend a local youth gathering, where pictures of Hitler hang on the wall and is told that there is no place for Jews in Norway. Gerda has the genes of her parents, who are in the resistance (something the children don’t know yet) and can’t understand why Otto chooses this. However, she promises to keep it a secret, in exchange for his portion of cocoa drink.

But everything is different. The cocoa drink appears to have disappeared and that night an unexpected visitor arrives. Gerda and Otto’s parents are pulled out of bed and arrested on suspicion of housing Jews. During the search, however, the authorities find nothing, but Gerda’s father urges her – just before he leaves – not to forget to take the Christmas presents from the cellar and take them to their aunt.

It is no surprise that there are indeed two Jewish children in the basement. They are Daniel and his younger sister Sarah. When Daniel indicates that he wants to leave almost immediately after their discovery, the brave Gerda offers to accompany them. ‘The Crossing’ then follows the four children on their journey to the Swedish border. Along the way they meet hostile and helpful people, but of course also people who only pretend to be trusted.

Gerda is the main character and luckily the young actress is at the same time cute and energetic, who skilfully leads us through the somewhat predictable story. The film is of course mainly intended for a young audience, who will probably be surprised who can or cannot be counted on in the seemingly impossible mission. With that childish look, ‘The Crossing’ produces quite a bit of nail-biting tension, especially at the end, when the four children have almost reached the goal, but the pursuers are close behind them. Excellent film for children who are interested in something different than the usual children’s films about sports competitions, talent shows or megalomaniac villains who want to conquer the world. Oh wait.