Watch The Relief of Belsen

The Relief of Belsen, a 2007 war film, tells the true story of the rescue mission which happened towards the end of the Second World War. The movie stars Iain Glen, Nigel Lindsay, and Jemma Redgrave. The movie follows the events that happened in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, in Northern Germany. The camp was overcrowded with prisoners, and it became a symbol of the horror and the brutality of the Nazi regime. The situation became worse towards the end of the war, as the Allied Forces advanced into Germany, and the Germans forced more prisoners into the camp.

The movie opens with the arrival of Sergeant Mike Lewis (Iain Glen) and his colleague Corporal William Kirk (Nigel Lindsay), two British military doctors, who have been sent to the camp to provide medical assistance to the prisoners. They are confronted with a horrific sight. The prisoners are starving, emaciated, and suffering from diseases such as dysentery and typhoid fever. They have been reduced to living skeletons, and it is apparent that they have been subjected to unimaginable cruelty, starvation, and torture.

The two doctors, along with their assistant, nurse Jean McFarlane (Jemma Redgrave), set about caring for the sick and dying prisoners. They are tireless in their efforts, working around the clock to alleviate the suffering of the prisoners, who have no food, medicines, or blankets.

The Relief of Belsen is a moving and visceral account of what happened at the concentration camp. The movie is not for the faint-hearted, as it does not shy away from the atrocities committed by the Nazis. However, it is a testament to the strength and resilience of the human spirit, as it shows how the doctors and nurses worked with the few resources they had, to save as many lives as possible.

As the war draws to a close, the Allied Forces move closer to the camp. The Germans, realizing that the end is near, abandon the camp, leaving the prisoners to die. The doctors are left with a huge task on their hands, as the number of patients increases exponentially.

The arrival of the British troops brings some relief to the situation. Blankets, food, and medical supplies arrive in large quantities. The doctors and nurses work with renewed vigor, but the situation remains desperate. Many prisoners die, despite the efforts of the doctors and nurses.

The movie does not shy away from the fact that many of the prisoners were beyond help. The relief effort is a race against time, as the doctors and nurses try to save as many lives as possible before it is too late. The scenes of the dying prisoners are particularly poignant, as they provide an element of humanity to the horror of the concentration camp.

The Relief of Belsen is a well-made movie, with strong performances from the actors. Iain Glen is particularly good as the Sergeant who is haunted by what he has witnessed. Nigel Lindsay is also excellent as the Corporal who provides some much-needed humor to the proceedings. Jemma Redgrave delivers a nuanced performance as the nurse who remains stoic in the face of extreme suffering.

The direction by Justin Hardy is assured, and the cinematography by Rob Hardy is suitably bleak and desolate. The movie captures the horror of the concentration camp, without ever becoming exploitative. The music by John Harle is effective in creating an atmosphere of dread and foreboding.

In conclusion, The Relief of Belsen is a powerful movie that provides an insight into one of the darkest periods in human history. It is a tribute to the courage and compassion of the doctors and nurses who risked their lives to save others. The movie is a timely reminder of the importance of never forgetting the atrocities committed by the Nazis, and the need to prevent such horrors from ever happening again.