It's hard to find a film that accurately depicts how the youth of Germany reacted to the Nazi movement during World War II. While this particular movie may not be the best at portraying the way things were, it does a wildly entertaining, bang-up job of showing what one sector of that world may have looked like: the swing kids. With their controversial music and underground dance parties, the kids felt as if they could rebel without really rebelling. Here, we focus on three young boys with unkempt hair and an initial inability to conform: Thomas (Christian Bale), Peter (Robert Sean Leonard), and Arvid (Frank Whaley, who tragically has obtained perhaps one or two roles worth of noting since). Thomas and Peter are coerced into joining the Hitler Youth, while Arvid lags behind, finding himself torn between supporting his friends and sticking to the music. Conflicts of interest arise, violence and hatred becomes more and more widespread, and friends and family alike are split up over the issue of who's right and who's safe. Although the narrative and editing styles are fairly average, and no real new ground is broken, this is a genuinely fine film in teaching diversity, individuality, and holding to one's scruples. The performances turned in by the three leads, Kenneth Branagh, and Noah Wyle are remarkable, and it is worth a watch, perhaps a few.
Review of Swing Kids
