From the wreckage of Allied-bombed Hamburg comes the post-World War II romantic triangle “The Aftermath,” and suddenly the problems of three little people amount to a hill of blah in this handsomely mounted, but hopelessly machine-pressed game of who are sacrificing more to escape the rubble of shattered desire and lingering grief.
Director James Kent’s adaptation of Rhidian Brook’s 2014 novel — about a ghost-like Germany, a broken British marriage, and the healing powers of a passionate thaw — has the unfortunate quality of a hot-blooded soap grafted onto rather than merged with a historical-political drama. The result exhibits little feel for how each genre’s particular needs might interfere with the other’s, or how the film’s trio of capable actors (Keira Knightley, Alexander Skarsgård, and Jason Clarke) might be properly utilized.
When one considers the cinematic legacy of post-war Germany sagas alive to the colorful simmer of one-time enemies in close quarters — Billy Wilder’s “A Foreign Affair,” Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s “The Marriage of Maria Braun,” Christian Petzold’s “Phoenix” — it makes the dashed potential of “The Aftermath” all the more frustrating.
Early on, there’s promise in the thick, snowy air of polite discomfort coursing through Brook’s scenario. Arriving in Hamburg five months after the Allied victory, Rachael Morgan (Knightley) is eager to be reunited with husband Lewis (Clarke), a conscientious British colonel overseeing a defeated, devastated city’s reconstruction. With the tragic loss of their son during a London bombing raid still a fresh memory, Rachael finds it disconcerting that in requisitioning a grand estate on the banks of the Elbe for them to live in, the charitably-minded Lewis insists its owner-architect, Stefan Lubert (Skarsgård), a war widower, and his aggrieved teenaged daughter, Freda (Flora Thiemann), remain as tenants, albeit in the attic.
Rachael does her stiff-upper-lip best to play nice around the gracious if glum Stefan, but she’s suspicious, quick to believe the gossip from a fellow military wife (Kate Phillips, “Peaky Blinders”) that any outline of a removed painting in a German house — like the one prominently featured in the Luberts’ — surely must have held a portrait of Hitler.
But as with conquered cities, dividing a house into foreign zones, no matter how well-intentioned, can turn boundaries into alluring points of trespass. With the intimacy-challenged Lewis routinely called away, almost overeager to play do-gooder for a displaced populace, Rachael is left to find a connection with the sensitive, artistic German upstairs who mourns like her and who looks good chopping wood. (Yes, there’s actually a scene in which she stares at him from a window.) And Stefan, having noticed the chill between his new landlords, is only too happy to address his own loneliness by breaking the growing sexual tension.
Fair enough, as potboilers go. Why, then, does “The Aftermath” always blandly signal its every development, rather than put you in sync with its characters’ percolating feelings? The screenplay, credited to Joe Shrapnel and Anna Waterhouse (“Race”), and author Brook, is too bogged down with uninspired dialogue (“What is it you want from me?”) and clichéd set-ups (bandaging a wound, really?). Subsequently, the heart can never truly race for either the adultery or a flabby side story involving a guerrilla insurgency among displaced Nazi youth, a plot element that seems to exist only to make up in contrived endangerment what the main love story lacks in sexual peril.
But even outside the gravitas-challenged drama, director Kent — who tackled matters of heart related to the Great War in the better “Testament of Youth” — can’t find a way to showcase the Lubert estate as a visually evocative representation of the characters’ emotional states beyond Sonja Klaus’s (“Taboo”) tasteful old world-meets-modern production design. When you throw in pacing that offers no surprises, the well-appointed cinematography from Franz Lustig (“How I Live Now”) suffers as a result; no shadow-filled indoor scene or weather-driven outdoor shot feels wrong but put together, they don’t add up to a cinematic vision of any meaningful intensity.
The cast is ultimately let down, too, by the lack of directorial verve. Knightley and Skarsgård are a serviceable pair of circle-then-pounce lovers, but their opposites-attracting coupling is hardly cathartic. And in the wake of costume-drama queen Knightley’s revelatory turn shaking up a marriage with wit and spice in last year’s “Colette,” the part of Rachael here is something of a cookie-cutter comedown. Clarke, meanwhile, struggles with a typically thankless role and isn’t done any favors with how his feelings breakthrough is handled in the final act — like the ticking of a box for the remaining emotional strands.
World War II remains such a tempting milieu for filmmakers interested in the classic pleasures of a grandly scaled, era-specific entertainment — whether history-driven (“Dunkirk,” “Darkest Hour”) or spectacle-infused (“Allied,” “Hacksaw Ridge”) — that you wonder if soft entries like “The Aftermath” are merely satisfied to be the B team: atmospheric but not immersive, attractively cast but unmessy, and fine with touching on a moment in time instead of dealing with it. In its aim to primarily push the buttons of romance fans, “The Aftermath” comes off, regrettably, like a period widget.
97 Sundance Portraits From TheWrap at Acura Studios With Keira Knightley, Robert Pattinson and More (Photos)
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Actress Chloë Sevigny, "Lizzie"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
"Lizzie" writer Bryce Kass, actor Denis O'Hare, director Craig William Macneill and actress Chloë Sevigny
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
"Believer" director Don Argott with subjects Tyler Glenn and Dan Reynolds
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
"What They Had" stars Taissa Farmiga, Michael Shannon, writer-director Elizabeth Chomko, Blythe Danner and Hilary Swank
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Actor Michael Shannon, "What They Had"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Meg McGarry, Flynn McGarry, Cameron Yates and Laura Coxson, "Chef Flynn"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Flynn McGarry, "Chef Flynn"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Director Jesse Peretz, "Juliet, Naked"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Actor Chris-O'Dowd, "Juliet, Naked"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Director Eugene Jarecki, "The King"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
"An Evening With Beverly Luff Lin" director Jim Hosking with stars Aubrey Plaza, Matt Berry, Craig Robinson, and Jemaine Clement
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
"Private Life" stars Kayli Carter and Kathryn Hahn with writer-director Tamara Jenkins
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Actress Kayli Carter, "Private Life"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
"Private Life" producer, Ali Abouomar
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
"Eighth Grade" writer-director Bo Burnham and star Elsie Fisher
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Actress Kiersey Clemons, "Hearts Beat Loud"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
"Arizona" director Jonathan Watson with stars Luke Wilson, Elizabeth Gillies, Danny McBride, Lolli Sorenson, Kaitlin Olsen and Rosemarie Dewitt
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Actress Elizabeth Gillies, "Arizona"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
"Dead Pigs" director Cathy Yan with stars Li Meng, Zazie Beetz and David Rhysdahl
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Director Cathy Yan, "Dead Pigs"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Actress Zazie Beetz, "Dead Pigs"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Writer-actor Rafael Casal, director Carlos López Estrada, writer-actor Daveed Diggs, actors Janina Gavankar, Justin Chu Cory and Jasmine Cephas Jones, "Blindspotting"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Jason Ritter, "The Tale"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Actor Common, "The Tale"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Isabella Amara, "The Tale"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Writer-director-star Carlson Young, "The Blazing World"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Robert Pattinson and Mia Wasikowska, "Damsel"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Actor Robert Pattinson, "Damsel"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Actress Mia Wasikowska, "Damsel"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Director Silas Howard, "A Kid Like Jake"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Jim Parsons, "A Kid Like Jake"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Actress Priyanka Chopra, "A Kid Like Jake"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Claire Danes, "A Kid Like Jake"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Actress Octavia Spencer, "A Kid Like Jake"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Actors Jeffrey Wright, Kelvin Harrison Jr., and director Anthony Mandler, "Monster"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Dominic West and Kiera Knightly, "Colette"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Actress Kiera Knightly, "Colette"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Actor John Cho, "Search"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
"The Kindergarten Teacher" director, Sara Colangelo and actress, Maggie Gyllenhaal
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
"The Kindergarten Teacher" actress, Maggie Gyllenhaal
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
"The Kindergarten Teacher" actress, Anna Baryshnikov
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Musician Aloe Blacc, "America's Musical Journey"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Director Jessica Sanders, "End of the Line"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Forest Whitaker, "Burden"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Garrett Hedlund, "Burden"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Director Talal Derki, "Of Fathers and Sons"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Director, Boots Riley, "Sorry to Bother You"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Lakeith Stanfield, "Sorry to Bother You"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Armie Hammer, "Sorry to Bother You"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Actor Jason Segel, "Come Sunday"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Actress Condola Rashad, "Come Sunday"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Director Stephen Maing, "Crime and Punishment"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
The young women of the "Skate Kitchen" skate collective, with director Crystal Moselle and co-star Jaden Smith, "Skate Kitchen"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Jaden Smith, "Skate Kitchen"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Actor Charlie Sexton, director Ethan Hawke, actress Alia Shawkat, actor Josh Hamilton, and acorr Ben Dickey, "Blaze"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Director Ethan Hawke, “Blaze"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Actress Alia Shawkat, “Blaze"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Actor Ben Dickey, “Blaze"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Charlie Sexton, “Blaze"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
"The Devil You Know" director Stephanie Soechtig and her four subjects
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Director Stephanie Soechtig, "The Devil You Know"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Actress Hari Nef, writer-director Sam Levinson and actors Colman Domingo and Bill Skårsgard, "Assassination Nation"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Bill Skårsgard, "Assassination Nation"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Writer-director Sam Levinson, "Assassination Nation"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Actor Coleman Damingo, "Assassination Nation"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Actress Helena Howard, "Madeline's Madeline"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Chris McGurk, CEO of Cinedigm
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Director David Wain, actors Domhnall Gleeson, Tom Lennon, and Emmy Rossum, "A Futile and Stupid Gesture"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Emmy Rossum, "A Futile and Stupid Gesture"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Domhnall Gleeson, "A Futile and Stupid Gesture"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Director Brad Anderson, "Beirut"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Raul Castillo, Jeremiah Zagar, Sheila Vand, and Justin Torres, "We the Animals"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Author Justin Torres, "We the Animals"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Actress Sheila Vand, "We the Animals"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Actor Raul Castillo, "We the Animals"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Actors Maia Mitchell and Cami Marrone with writer-director Augustine Frizzell, “Never Goin’ Back”
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Cami Morrone, “Never Goin’ Back”
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Actress Augustine Frizzell, "Never Goin' Back"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Actress Maia Mitchell, "Never Goin' Back"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Director Jack Henry Robbins and producer Tim Robbins, "Painting With Joan"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Co-writer and star Franchesca Ramsey, "Franchesca"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Producer Trey Ellis, "King in the Wilderness"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Actors Valter Skarsgard, Lucian Charles Collier, Sky Ferreira, Jack Kilmer, director Jonas Akerlund, Wilson Gonzalez, and Rory Culkin, "Lords of Chaos"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Actor Valter Skarsgard, "Lords of Chaos"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Rory Culkin, "Lords of Chaos"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
"Lords of Chaos" star Wilson Gonzalez
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Director and co-writer Jonas Akerlund, "Lords of Chaos"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Jack Kilmer, "Lords of Chaos"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Joan Jett, "Bad Reputation"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Director and co-writer Daryl Wein, "White Rabbit"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Actor Graham Verchere, actor Rich Sommer, co-directors Francois Simard, Anouk Whissell and Yoann-Karl Whissell, writers Matt Leslie and Stephen J. Smith, actress Tiera Skovbye, and actor Caleb Emery, "Summer of '84"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Caleb Emery, "Summer of '84"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Actress Tiera Skovbye, "Summer of '84"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Actor Luis Gerardo Mendez, "Time Share"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Actor Matthew Lillard, "Halfway There"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Sarah Shahi, "Halfway There"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
1 of 97
Sundance 2018: Hilary Swank, Forest Whitaker and Armie Hammer among the stars shot by photographer Irvin Rivera in Park City
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
