Watch The Aftermath

The Aftermath is a movie from 2019 that takes place in the aftermath of World War II in Hamburg, Germany. The movie focuses on the story of Rachael Morgan (played by Keira Knightley), a British woman who travels to Germany to reunite with her husband Lewis (played by Jason Clarke), a British colonel in charge of rebuilding the city. Rachael is shocked by the devastation caused by the war but is even more stunned when she learns that she and her husband will be sharing their home with its previous owners - a German widower named Stefan (played by Alexander Skarsgård) and his troubled daughter Freda (played by Flora Thiemann).

The movie is a romantic drama that explores themes of love, loss, grief, and forgiveness. It is an emotional rollercoaster that makes you question yourself on what the movie is trying to say. Director James Kent does an incredible job of conveying the physical and emotional devastation of the war while also depicting the conflicted feelings of the characters.

One of the movie's central characters is Rachael, who is struggling to come to terms with the death of her son during the war. Her pain is palpable, and Keira Knightley's acting is powerful, effortlessly conveying the pain and sense of hopelessness that Rachael feels. Through her interactions with Stefan, Rachael begins to find some solace, and their relationship gradually deepens.

Stefan, on the other hand, is also struggling to deal with his own loss. His wife died in the Allied bombing of Hamburg, leaving him to raise his daughter alone. Despite being on opposite sides of the war, Rachael and Stefan's shared grief brings them together, and they begin to explore their feelings for each other in a delicate and nuanced manner.

The movie also explores the political implications of the aftermath of the war. The British forces are in Hamburg to oversee the city's reconstruction, but the tension between the Germans and the British is palpable. The presence of British soldiers in the city is a constant reminder of the trauma of the war, and their attempts to enforce their authority often lead to violence and hostility.

In the midst of all this, Rachael and Stefan's love story becomes a symbol of hope and reconciliation. As they navigate their own grief and loss, their relationship forces them to confront the bigger picture and what it means for their respective countries to move forward from the war.

The movie's four leads (Keira Knightley, Alexander Skarsgård, Jason Clarke, and Flora Thiemann) all deliver excellent performances, and the chemistry between them is palpable. The Aftermath is a beautifully shot movie with stunning visuals that convey the destruction of Hamburg in a hauntingly realistic manner.

The pacing of the movie is slightly slow but purposeful, allowing the characters and their relationships to develop in a natural manner. The score by Martin Phipps and Stefan Gregory is another highlight, perfectly complementing the emotional tone of the movie.

The Aftermath is a powerful, emotionally resonant movie that explores complex themes of love, loss, and grief amidst the ruins of war. It is a must-watch for those interested in romantic dramas or history buffs alike.

The Aftermath is a 2019 war movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 48 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.4 and a MetaScore of 43.