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The Crossing
2020
Director
Johanne Helgeland
Runtime
96 minutes
Average Rating
No ratings yetSynopsis
One day, just before Christmas in 1942, Gerda's and Otto's parents are arrested for being part of the Norwegian resistance movement during the Second World War, leaving the siblings on their own. Following the arrest, they discover two Jewish children, Sarah and Daniel, hidden in a secret cupboard in their basement at home. It is now up to Gerda and Otto to finish what their parents started: To help Sarah and Daniel flee from the Nazis cross the border to neutral Sweden and reunite them with their parents.
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Diversity & Representation
Overall Score
Good
Category Breakdown
LGBTQ+ Representation
The film lacks explicit depictions of LGBTQ+ identities or non-heteronormative dynamics. The story focuses on the survival of siblings and Jewish children rather than romantic subplots.
Gender Representation
Gerda serves as a primary driver of the plot, subverting wartime tropes by taking on high-stakes leadership. Her agency challenges traditional hierarchies that often relegate women to secondary roles.
Racial & Ethnic Diversity
The narrative centers on Jewish children, Sarah and Daniel, within a Norwegian setting. This integration makes the protection of ethnic others the central engine of the story.
Religious & Cultural Diversity
The film critiques centralized authority by portraying the Nazi regime as a corrupt force. It prioritizes individual conscience and humanitarianism over state-mandated laws or patriotism.
Disability Representation
There are no visible or specific depictions of physical or neurodivergent disabilities within the narrative.
Strengths
- Centers the agency of female protagonists in high-stakes leadership roles.
- Integrates Jewish characters as central drivers of the narrative mission.
- Prioritizes humanitarian ethics and individual conscience over institutional loyalty.
Areas for Improvement
- Lacks explicit representation of LGBTQ+ identities or relationship dynamics.
- Provides no visible depictions of physical or neurodivergent disabilities.
AI Analysis
The Crossing shifts the focus of wartime heroism from military combatants to civilian actors and marginalized individuals. By centering the mission on protecting Jewish children, the film highlights cross-cultural solidarity and the agency of those often sidelined in historical epics. The film succeeds in empowering female leadership through Gerda, moving beyond domestic tropes to present a character navigating complex moral landscapes. This provides a progressive reading of historical conflict through a humanitarian lens. However, the narrative lacks representation for LGBTQ+ identities and does not feature characters with disabilities. The focus remains strictly on the immediate survival of the central sibling and ethnic minority units.
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