Lost Transport (2023)
Lost Transport is a war movie that aims to show a portrait of female solidarity in the aftermath of the Second World War.
The film, written and directed by Saskia Diesing, revolves around the bond that slowly but surely develops between the Jewish-Dutch Simone (Hanna van Vliet), the spoiled German village girl Winnie (Anna Bachmann) and the hard-nosed Russian sniper Vera (Eugènie Anselin).
The setting is a German village where a deportation train with hundreds of Jewish prisoners is stranded when the Germans flee in panic. Simone and her husband Isaac (Bram Suijker), together with other prisoners, seek support from Vera and the other Russians, but initially do not receive it.
But it could be worse. Winnie's mother is shot dead, leaving her daughter angry and sad. To make matters even more horrible, a typhoid outbreak forces everyone to stay in the village and the three women are in each other’s lives, whether they like it or not.
Simone tries to keep her ailing husband Isaac alive. Vera gets fed up with the sexism of her fellow soldiers, while Winnie has to survive in an environment where almost everyone hates her.
The bond that slowly but surely grows between women is more suggested by the script than truly felt, but Lost Transport still is quite an interesting addition to all WWII films that are already out there.
The setting feels appropriately moody, the locations are well suited to the story, production design and camera work are impressive, while the actors are fine too.
Will Vera and Winnie be able to overcome their mutual distaste for each other and will Simone and Isaac manage to return home safely? The film manages to stall the answers to these questions long enough to keep you captivated.
Note: After playing the international festival circuit, Lost Transport is now on Amazon Prime.