★★★★★

Starring: #RyanHayes, #BenjaminSchnau and #DeanRidge

Kamerad, a short film based on a true story. Set during the onset of World War 1 in 1918, this is a harrowing story that highlights the brutalities of war and the humanity within man. Trapped within a crater in no mans land, two soldiers fighting for their country but battling with their conscience on what is moral and their duty. As the soldiers confront each other, the story unfolds and the audience enter a dark and dramatic setting that shows the tension between the two men, with the looming question of trust clouding the scene. The thrilling element to this film is that it is based on a real soldier, Henry James Tandey, a soldier granted Britain’s highest award for gallantry. This significant event could have changed history as we know it, director Toby Kearton captured this crucial and emotional moment. A painful but moving short film that reveals the darkness of war where every decision can become life changing.

The beginning of this short, starts off exciting as the audience are quickly introduced to two soldiers battling one another to the death, throwing us deep within the heart of the action. It becomes clear that the soldiers are entrapped in a deep crater in the middle of no man’s land, with nothing but a gun and strength to get them out but only one can leave alive. As the pair struggle, it is the British soldier Tandey that manages to survive by the skin of his teeth, but soon becomes confronted by another German soldier, one who is severely injured as he crawls to the centre of the pit. Tandey is left with the dilemma of whether to kill or walk away. This was a seriously intense and gripping scene, the close ups of the soldiers’ eyes were mesmerising, you could see the fear deep within. The uncertainty with watching the action play out on screen, completely unaware of their next moves. Occasionally, the audience could sense a degree of solidarity between the two but there was still that unpredictability and apprehension, they clearly did not have confidence that they were entirely safe.

This short portrayed the very real moments that occur on the battlefield, it appears as though the soldiers fighting for their country are programmed to just kill, to have no remorse and humanity it totally removed from their being. However, this is not the case, within everyone there is fear, compassion and a conscience. Although some may have this repressed, Kamerad exposes the inner thoughts that run through man when face to face with an enemy. It was a difficult watch but extremely moving and historically accurate. I was not aware of the soldier Henry James Tandey, and so the ending became a real shock and does make you wonder what if? And how would you respond when faced with this decision in the moment?