The Shadow in My Eye

The Shadow in My Eye

Year: 2021

Runtime: 107 mins

Language: Danish

Director: Ole Bornedal

Echo Score: 78
HistoryDramaWarWar and historical adventureNazis and World War II

During a British Royal Air Force mission on March 21st, 1945, intended to bomb Gestapo headquarters in Copenhagen, a tragic error occurred. Some of the bombers mistakenly targeted a school, resulting in the devastating loss of over 120 lives. The horrific incident primarily affected children, with 86 losing their lives in the bombing.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – The Shadow in My Eye (2021)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Shadow in My Eye (2021). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1945

The events take place in the final year of World War II, when Denmark is under occupation. The period is defined by secret resistance activities, looming Allied bombings, and the struggle to maintain normal life amid danger. The RAF operation and the shelling incident anchor the narrative in this late-war moment.

Location

Copenhagen, Shellhus, Institut Jeanne d'Arc

The story unfolds across the Danish capital, Copenhagen, during the German occupation in the mid-1940s. Key locations include the Shellhus, the Gestapo headquarters, and the Institut Jeanne d'Arc, a Catholic school run by nuns. These places anchor the film's tension between wartime authority, resistance, and everyday life.

🏙️ City 🇩🇰 Occupied Denmark ⚔️ War

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 10:12

Main Characters – The Shadow in My Eye (2021)

Meet the key characters of The Shadow in My Eye (2021), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Henry (Bertram Bisgaard Enevoldsen)

A teenage boy traumatized by the 1945 strafing who temporarily loses his ability to speak. He grapples with fear of open skies and isolation, but gradually regains his voice and becomes a quiet beacon of hope for others affected by the bombing.

🧠 Trauma 🗣️ Recovery 🧒 Child

Eva (Ella Josephine Lund Nilsson)

A student who forms a friendship with Rigmor and experiences wartime fear and resilience at the school. She faces tension at home and must contend with the danger around her, ultimately returning to her family during the upheaval.

🧒 Child 💬 Relationships 🏫 School

Rigmor (Ester Birch)

Rigmor is a classmate who endures the war’s pressures alongside Eva. She helps Henry, navigates the dangers of the air raid, and shares in the emotional strain of losing and rescuing loved ones.

🧒 Child 🤝 Friendship 🏫 School

Sister Teresa (Fanny Leander Bornedal)

A novice wrestling with faith who engages in a forbidden relationship with Frederik and teaches Eva and Rigmor's class. She faces internal and external pressures, culminating in a clash with Sister Hanna over her role and choices.

🙏 Faith 💔 Forbidden Relationship 🕊️ Religion

Frederik (Alex Høgh Andersen)

A HIPO officer who becomes entangled with Teresa, signaling the moral ambiguities of collaboration amid occupation. He faces a decision to desert, influenced by his involvement with Teresa and the war's pressures.

🧭 War 🤝 Relationships 🗺️ Occupation

Sister Hanna (Inge Sofie Skovbo)

The head of the Institut Jeanne d'Arc who confronts Teresa and contemplates expulsion, representing authority and moral order inside the school during wartime.

👩‍🏫 Authority 🕊️ Faith 👼 Nuns

Eva's Father (Kristian Ibler)

Eva's father who argues with his daughter and later searches for her, illustrating familial strain and concern during the occupation's turmoil.

👨 Parent 🧭 Family 💬 Conflict

Eva's Mother (Malene Beltoft Olsen)

Eva's mother who witnesses the impact of war on family life and grapples with fear and reconciliation as she waits for news about her daughter.

👩 Parent 🧭 Family 🗯️ Anxiety

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 10:12

Major Themes – The Shadow in My Eye (2021)

Explore the central themes of The Shadow in My Eye (2021), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🧠 Trauma & Healing

Henry's trauma after the strafing incident leaves him mute and withdrawn, illustrating how war violence scars civilians. The narrative follows his gradual return to speech as he helps in rescue efforts, underscoring resilience and recovery under pressure.

🕊️ Faith & Doubt

Sister Teresa's crisis of faith and her forbidden relationship with Frederik probe the conflict between belief and reality under occupation. The story contrasts religious devotion with moral compromise, culminating in confrontation with authority within the cloistered setting.

⚔️ War & Civilians

The air raid exposes the human cost of strategic bombing and the chaos it sows in everyday lives. The film explores the ethical ambiguity of war, the impact on families waiting for news, and the courage shown by civilians and rescuers alike.

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 10:12

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The Shadow in My Eye Summary

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The Shadow in My Eye Summary

The Shadow in My Eye Timeline

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The Shadow in My Eye Timeline

The Shadow in My Eye Spoiler-Free Summary

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The Shadow in My Eye Spoiler-Free Summary

More About The Shadow in My Eye

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