Classics: A Review of Swing Kids By Lauren Ennis

Adolescence is a turbulent time in which we learn who we are and who we want to be. It is a confusing period in which we rebel against authority and feel a desperate need to be heard. Imagine how much more difficult and desperate that time is when the mere act of questioning authority is forbidden and rebellion is illegal. 1993's Swing Kids aptly explores that very subject. The film relates a coming of age story set against the backdrop of Nazi Germany in which each of its three protagonists are forced to decide not only who they want to be, but also what kind of world they want to live in. An equally adept ode to adolescence and tribute to the power of resistance Swing Kids will leave you singing its praises.

Dressed up like a million dollar trooper trying hard to look like Gary Cooper

The story begins in 1939 Hamburg as high school friends Peter, Thomas, and Arvid struggle to navigate adolescence in the midst of an authoritarian regime. The boys find release from their restricted lives in the city's underground clubs where they listen to banned American music. The trio's friendship is put to the test when Peter and Thomas are forced to join the local Hitler Youth program after they are caught stealing a radio. As time passes Thomas becomes enamored with the program and the brutal ideology that it promotes. Peter, meanwhile, is forced to come to terms with his mother's relationship of convenience with a local gestapo officer while Arvid finds himself increasingly alienated from both of his friends. When he learns the true depths of the horror gripping his country Peter is forced to choose a side and learns who his true friends really are.

While numerous films have addressed the horrors of Nazi Germany Swing Kids stands out for its exploration of the adolescent experience under authoritarianism.  Through its focus upon the struggles and conflicts that Thomas, Peter, and Arvid face the film highlights the ways in which totalitarian regimes crush youthful hopes and passions. Over the course of the film the trio are forced to sacrifice their shared love of swing, their friendships, and finally their individuality. In its depiction of the ways in which each of the characters lives are fundamentally changed by the Nazi regime the film sheds light upon  the devastating impact of totalitarian regimes both past and present. As a result, the film  brings history alive in a way that kids and teens can relate to while highlighting the damage that authoritarian governments continue to inflict today. Even as it offers an unflinching look at one of the darkest chapters in history the film also acts as a testament to the resilience of youth and the power of the human spirit. In its depiction of the characters' small acts of rebellion the film shows the ways in which ordinary people can resist against oppression. In this way the film reminds viewers of all ages of the vital importance of maintaining your values even in the face of persecution and the ways in which all of us can work towards a better tomorrow. For a historical drama that the whole family will love put on your dancing shoes with Peter, Thomas, and Arvid in Swing Kids.

It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing

The film transports viewers to the dark days of the Third Reich thanks to the brilliant work of its cast. Barbara Hershey aptly portrays Frau Mueller's conflicted efforts to protect her children from the oppression surrounding them. Kenneth Branagh infuses SS office Knopp with sinister sleaze. Frank Whaley steals each scene in which he appears as valiant rebel with a cause Arvid. Christian Bale depicts Thomas' transformation from snarky swing kid to conforming Hitler Youth with a realism that foreshadows his later success. Robert Sean Leonard is the film's beating heart as everyman Peter and captures Peter's coming of age with a depth, maturity, and raw emotion that belies his young years.

At once a tribute to the resilience of the human spirit and a haunting reminder of its many failings Swing Kids is far more than your average family film. The script's blend of realism and raw emotion vividly brings one of history's darkest chapters to life. The stellar work of the cast transports viewers from Hamburg's swinging dancehalls to the brutal reality of everyday life in Nazi Germany. Swing into action with Arvid, Thomas, and Peter in Swing Kids.

Rebels with a cause