Overview
In the shadows of war, two assassins grapple with loyalty and betrayal amidst chaos.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Brutal
- tense
- somber
- paranoid
- historical film night
- serious weekend viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the direction, performances, visual craft, detailed action, and serious moral ambiguity, while finding the characterization and historical treatment uneven.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Flame and Citron follow assassination orders while doubts emerge about Winther’s motives and their own moral purpose.
Winther directs the assassins through Allied contacts, but a target alleges that he is settling personal scores and a traitor may be nearby.
The film’s detailed action staging and visually beautiful, sometimes sunlit presentation contrast with its grim resistance subject matter.
Bent’s relationship with the mysterious Kitty Selmer is entangled with suspicions that she may be a double agent.
Films like Flame & Citron, and why
Army of Shadows
shared world war ii resistance setting, morally ambiguous combatants, and sober historical drama
Black Book
shared occupation-era resistance intrigue, betrayal, espionage, and psychological tension
The Counterfeiters
shared wartime moral ambiguity, covert violence, and distrust within resistance networks
Anthropoid
shared historical thriller form, compromised protagonists, and polished period action
Movie Details
- Director
- Ole Christian Madsen
- Release Date
- 2008-03-25
- Runtime
- 130 min
- Rating
- 6.8 / 10 (260)
Cast
- Thure Lindhardt
- Mads Mikkelsen
- Stine Stengade
- Peter Mygind
- Mille Lehfeldt
- Christian Berkel
- Hanns Zischler
- Claus Riis Østergaard
- Flemming Enevold
- Lars Mikkelsen
Common questions
- What is Flame & Citron about?
- A morally unsettled Danish resistance thriller follows two assassins whose faith in orders, comrades, and heroism collapses under occupation.
- What is Flame & Citron like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Flame & Citron as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Flame & Citron violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Flame & Citron as brutal.
- What did critics think of Flame & Citron?
- Critics broadly praised the direction, performances, visual craft, detailed action, and serious moral ambiguity, while finding the characterization and historical treatment uneven.
- Which films are like Flame & Citron?
- Films with a similar feel include Army of Shadows, Black Book, The Counterfeiters, and Anthropoid.
- How long is Flame & Citron?
- Flame & Citron runs 130 minutes.
