The Defeated, available for streaming on Netflix, is a gripping thriller set in Berlin circa 1946. Swedish filmmaker Björn Stein and MånsMårlind have developed the idea of this period thriller series. The Defeated, also named Shadowplay, develops a German perspective, and the events unfold immediately in the aftermath of the second world war.
The postwar Berlin is under ruins, and while the scope of this thriller is fictional, the plot partially takes its precedence from a true story. It takes inspiration from events and characters of real life. It has a dystopic setting and is somehow grounded in reality, which makes it a compelling watch.
The Defeated: Stream It or Skip It?
If you harbor a fascination for historical thrillers and period drama, you should watch The Defeated. The show is positively gritty and exciting with its impressive cinematography, strong performances, and well-written storyline. The plot unfolds under Europe’s apocalyptic atmosphere, starring Taylor Kitsch as Max McLaughlin, an American cop who comes to war-stricken Berlin for mitigating the crisis. With the help of a female police officer, he creates a police force to overcome the devastation of the second world war.
McLaughlin is engaged in tracking down a post-war gang leader, Warner “Engelmacher” Gladow, in Berlin. The filming for the movie was carried out in the Czech Republic, especially in Prague. The show has a positive 6.5/10 IMDb rating. The Defeated follows an original story, and Swedish filmmaker MånsMårlind took inspiration from history pages for its screenplay. Mårlind had planned to make a film about broken cities and people.
He wanted to create shows how the 1946 Berlin reflects the tragedy of contemporary war-stricken places. In its essence, the director tries to throw light on human nature and conditions when humanity suffers and is pushed to its edges through his movie. Mårlind was also thoroughly inspired with ‘Max and Moritz: A Story of Seven Boyish Pranks,’ a verse tale for children that narrates the misadventures of two American boys in Germany.
The movie does a seemingly fair job at recounting the plights of humanity post-war. The film’s visual focus is profound, and some scenes that depict reality are heart-wrenching. Not many cinematic endeavors that deal with WWII use the immediate aftermath of war as its narratorial backdrop. Moreover, Mårlind helms the movie pretty well, and his insights are detailed and quite moving as he depicts a tale that relentlessly pursues humanitarian values in civilization ruins.
Who is in the Cast of The Defeated?
The historical drama series has a star-studded cast. Taylor Kitsch, who plays the leading American cop, Max McLaughlin, has previously starred in some big blockbuster movies like X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Battleship. Tom Franklin, who pairs up with McLaughlin to build the police force in Berlin, is played by Michael C Hall. Logan Marshall-Green plays Max’s brother, Moritz McLaughlin. Nina Hoss plays Elsie Garten, who joins the police force to restore Berlin to its glory.
Mårlind’s directorial vision provides the movie with an interesting perspective, making it historically fascinating and well worth a watch. Hence the gritty dystopia, The Defeated, should be on your to-watch list.
