Home Video with Abe: Glorious 39

Glorious 39
Directed by Stephen Poliakoff
Released on DVD February 15, 2011



In the mood for a light, occasionally foreboding thriller about a young actress who suspects that her friends are being systematically picked off by English nationalists with potential secret alliances to the Nazi party? This is your movie. At times, “Glorious 39” feels like a cross between “Black Book” and “Inglourious Basterds,” though it’s considerably more normative than either of those two very stylized films. Present is the token lead heroine, Anne, here played by Romola Garai, perhaps best known as the teenage Briony in “Atonement.” Anne’s dramatics, energy, and paranoia are the driving forces of the film, and this is a great follow-up film role for the actress. Anne is also the focus of part of the film’s visuals, adorned with marvelous colorful costumes that help her stand apart from her surroundings. She’s a very sympathetic character, and it’s easy to become just as obsessed with finding the truth as she is. While it’s not a superb film, it remains enthralling throughout its rather lengthy runtime of 129 minutes.

B-