The Bombardment (2022) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The film takes place primarily in Copenhagen, Denmark, during World War II. Key locations include the Shell House, which served as the Gestapo headquarters in occupied Copenhagen, and the rural region of Jutland, which provides a peaceful contrast to the war-torn city.

• copenhagen
• shell house
• gestapo headquarters
• jutland
• denmark
• world war 2

The story is set in February 1945, during the final months of World War II. This was a critical period when the war was nearing its end and the Danish Resistance Movement was increasingly active against Nazi occupation.

• february 1945
• world war 2
• 1940s
• danish resistance
• Nazi occupation

The Shell House is the Gestapo headquarters in Copenhagen during Nazi occupation of Denmark. It serves as a symbol of the oppressive regime and is the target of the Royal Air Force mission that sets the film's central tragedy in motion.

• shell house
• gestapo
• copenhagen
• headquarters
• Nazi occupation

The two central themes are hope and resilience, and the juxtaposition of war with childhood innocence. The film explores how characters navigate trauma and find strength through companionship, while also highlighting the profound impact of war on children and their lost innocence.

• hope
• resilience
• war and innocence
• childhood trauma
• World War 2 themes

The film portrays children like Henry, Eva, and Rigmor facing the realities of war, contrasting their natural curiosity and youthful spirit with sudden violence, fear, and loss. This theme examines how conflict shatters childhood innocence while also revealing the resilience of the younger generation.

• children
• innocence
• war trauma
• childhood lost
• civilian casualties

Hope and resilience are embodied primarily through Henry's journey from silence to recovery, supported by his cousin Rigmor and friend Eva. Characters like Sister Teresa and the conflicted Frederik also demonstrate the human capacity to maintain hope even in the face of danger and moral conflict.

• hope
• resilience
• healing
• recovery
• survival
• resistance

Henry is a young boy who becomes deeply traumatized after witnessing an explosion, which causes him to develop a phobia of open spaces and renders him mute. His character represents the psychological impact of war on children and their journey toward healing through the support of loved ones.

• henry
• trauma
• muteness
• phobia
• child character
• psychological impact

Rigmor is Henry's vibrant and optimistic cousin who contrasts with his silence and trauma. Her resilient spirit and unwavering support help Henry confront his fears, symbolizing the healing power of companionship and friendship during wartime.

• rigmor
• cousin
• support
• hope
• friendship
• companion

Frederik is a Gestapo officer who experiences a moral struggle throughout the film. His forbidden romance with Sister Teresa adds complexity to his character as he grapples with his role in the war, ultimately revealing the impact of war on personal identity and conscience.

• frederik
• gestapo officer
• moral conflict
• romance
• sister teresa
• conscience

Eva is a curious and spirited girl who befriends Henry and Rigmor. Her character represents the inherent curiosity of childhood, juxtaposed with the harsh realities of war surrounding her. She embodies both innocence and bravery in the face of trauma.

• eva
• child character
• curiosity
• bravery
• friendship

The film highlights the devastating consequences of wartime errors and miscalculations, showing how a tragic mistake, planes mistakenly bombing a French school instead of the Gestapo headquarters, results in the deaths of innocent children and civilians, underscoring the human cost of war.

• mistake
• bombing error
• civilian casualties
• war cost
• tragic consequences

The film is set in Nazi-occupied Denmark during February 1945, depicting the struggles and sacrifices of civilians under occupation. The Danish Resistance Movement was active during this period, and the story reflects the tension between resistance efforts and the occupying forces.

• nazi occupation
• denmark
• resistance movement
• historical
• 1945