In the winter of 1944 at Christmastime, American soldiers led by Will Knott (Ethan Hawke) are assigned to capture a small squad of German soldiers posted in France’s Ardennes forest. Tired of war, the Americans have already lost half their division and discover that their German enemy is equally unwilling to fight. With Jewish soldier Stan Shutzer (Arye Gross) interpreting, the Germans and Americans agree on a plan that will let the former surrender without violence — but then, tragedy strikes. Not suitable for children.
“A Midnight Clear” recalls the often told story about a Christmas Eve in the trenches during World War I. At midnight, so the story goes, Allied and German soldiers met in the middle of no man’s land to sing carols and toast each other’s health. “A Midnight Clear” expresses something of the same longing, but without the greeting-card sentiment. – New York Times
We can see at once that this is a war movie – we know from the costumes it is World War II – but somehow the film is able to suggest some hidden purpose, and we know it will not simply tell a war story. It is Christmas season of 1944, late in the war. Germany has obviously lost. One of the Americans speculates that perhaps the Germans intend to surrender to them. There are other hints: Christmas carols drifting on the wind. A snowball fight. Eventually it becomes clear that the Germans – as young and inexperienced as the Americans – want to give up the fight. And here the story again stops following the usual war movie lines, and takes its own way. – Roger Ebert
The performances are uniformly excellent as the film moves inexorably towards bloody confrontation and spiritual reckoning. – Time Out
Sensitive, bright and supremely moral…shows how courage itself can be a kind of insanity. – LA Times
A movie to seek out and treasure. – Time Magazine
Starring Peter Berg, Kevin Dillon, Ethan Hawke, Gary Sinise, Arye Gross.
Note: The film is a screen adaptation of William Wharton’s 1982 novel of war remembered as “surreal muddle.” This one is not for everyone: expect adult themes, strong language, violence and disturbing images in this tragic film about the humanity of the soldiers, on both sides, and the complexities of war.