.com Disney triumphs with Ken Cameron's 1998 World War II TV movie based on true events that will grip viewers from the first moment to the last. Set in September, 1945, (five years after the German occupation of Denmark began) word gets out that the Nazis will begin arresting Danish Jews, which ignites a citizens resistance movement. Dr. Koster (Sam Waterston) and his wife Doris (Mia Farrow) find themselves in the middle of the chaos and must choose between ignoring the Jewish plight or helping their neighbors. They choose the latter, risking their lives to hide Rabbi Abrams and his family. Soon, the Kosters are front-runners in a clandestine operation to transport over 7,000 Jews to neutral Sweden, while averting Nazi arrest. Waterston and Farrow are brilliant in roles both convincing and complex. Also noteworthy are Justin Whalin and Nicola Mycroft, who play the coming-of-age Koster children, Henry and Elsa. The story is equally theirs as they develop personal convictions to take a stand against Nazi atrocities. In many ways, the film is a sanitized version of wartime events (there are hints, but no footage of concentration camps), yet caution is advised when considering it as a family film. Gunfire, suicide, imprisonment, and death may be disturbing to children under age 10. For all other audiences, it is a must-see movie, a poignant drama of courage and inspiration in the face of persecution, demonstrating that, as Dr. Koster narrates, "In every language and religion, to be humane is to love your neighbor." --Lynn Gibson
S**D
90s but good
Basically accurate and appeals to Younger audiences.
T**.
Good movie
Showed this to my 8th grade class when we spoke about WWII and they really enjoyed it! Nothing offensive - language or video-wise.
M**K
Incredible movie based on true history
This movie lines up nicely with the book Number the Stars by Lois Lowry. It is the incredible true story of how the Danish people helped to save the lives of their fellow Jewish neighbors and friends from the Nazi invasion. I’ve watched it 20 times and still tear up every time. Read the book, too. It is not exactly the same but similar enough.
G**S
Miracle at Midnight - based on true events
There have been a number of documentaries, movies and written historic accounts about the Heroism of the Danes to save thousands of Jewish lives from the horrors of the Nazi concentration camps. Indeed, it was a Miracle at Midnight because the Jews were evacuated before the Gestapo could seize them. The Gestapo had seized all the Records at the Jewish Community Center to have names and addresses of the Jews for a date designated a Midnight Roundup. But the Danes moved the Jews to the coast for fishing boats to float them to Sweden. The Nazisrecognized Sweden as neutral. After World War II, when the Danish Jews returned to Denmark, they were pleasantlysurprised to discover, the Christian Danes - mostly Lutheran and Catholic - kept their businesses, jobs and stores inplace until their return. The Christian Danish citizens even tended their gardens and maintenance on homes of the Jews for them to live in again. I am Lutheran, and proud to state as a boy, on VE day Sunday, we faced the east towards Denmark while our parish musicians played the "Prince of Denmark" march. Some held up a Danish Flag. This movie by Walt Disney is a true life story in 1943, and deserves a Gold Five Star - plus rating worthy of family viewing and a real lesson in civil heroism.
K**E
Good but Different from the book
I love the cast. I just wish the story stayed truer to the original story Number the Stars by Lois Lowry.
C**S
Excellent!
Love this movie. I show it to my 5th graders after we study WW11 and read the book Number The Stars
S**T
An excellent Holocaust film!
This movie is made for TV but doesn't seem like it. It tells the true story of how the Danes helped as many Jews as possible to escape the Nazi regime during WWII. The kindness and generosity of the Danes shows true heroism. So the film had a great topic, and the story was beautifully told. Mia Farrow and Sam Waterston were excellent, but reason it is not a 5 star film is that the cinematography (such as, lighting, score, etc.) was not quite 5 up to star caliber. Plus, the surrounding characters in the film (other than the Nazi's who were quite credible) were adequate but again, not 5 star quality. Overall, yes, this was an outstanding movie! A must see for high schoolers, though I would not have shown it to 5th graders as one other reviewer had done (and not surprisingly found out that the movie was too mature for them).
S**.
This movie has some violent scenes.
We watched this movie after reading number the stars and my students loved it.
A**R
a very underrated, emotional and well-made movie
I don't think this movie is very well known because I have never heard of Miracle at Midnight until my recent visit to a video store. I'm glad I decided to buy it because it was worth it. It's an excellent movie, with a great script and a fantastic cast. I wish to recommend it to everyone interested in war movies. Miracle at Midnight is beautiful and its message will stay with you forever. Brings a warm feeling in one's heart. It's a gem!
R**N
EXCELLENT
MY 12 YEAR OLD GRANDSON IS INTERESTED IN WORLD WAR II HISTORY, AND I THOUGHT THIS MOVIE WAS PERFECT FOR SHOWING HIM SOME INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE PLIGHT OF JEWS DURING THIS TERRIBLE TIME IN HISTORY.
R**M
a real eye opener
It is based on a true story I believe. It was a real eye opener how people risked their lives to help people escape to neutral countries where the Germans couldn't arrest them.
J**N
This movie pairs well with the book Number the Stars ...
This movie pairs well with the book Number the Stars by Lois Lowry. It is an age appropriate movie for kids in upper elementary who are wanting to learn more about events of WW2. This Disney made for TV movie was inspired by the people of Denmark who work together to save their Jewish neighbours.The item arrived within the time frame given by the seller.
M**L
Como esperaba
La película llegó en el tiempo previsto y en perfectas condiciones.El único problema es que no está en español y hay que estar leyendo los subtitulos.
