Anthropoid
Directed by Sean Ellis
- history
- thriller
- war
The story
In December 1941, Czech soldiers Jozef Gabčík and Jan Kubiš parachute into their occupied homeland to assassinate Nazi officer Reinhard Heydrich.
What it’s like
Cold, desaturated winter light on wet Prague streets, with grey-blue skies, damp stone, and interiors lit by weak lamps and drawn curtains, gives the film a constant chill. Its camera mostly stays close and steady, favouring tight two-shots and waiting silences over sweeping movement, so the tension builds through patience and glances rather than spectacle. Dialogue carries quiet dread, and the score is restrained, letting footsteps, breath, and the hush of a stalled tram do much of the work. The violence is sudden and brief but sharp, and the closing stretch is grim, with the consequences of the central act weighing heavily. The emotional register is sombre and tightly held, with an undercurrent of love and loyalty among the characters. It suits a late-night viewing where you want a slow-burning, sober wartime thriller, and it will appeal to viewers drawn to historical drama, resistance stories, and films that prize mood and restraint over action.
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