Peter (Leonard), Thomas (Bale) and Arvid (Whaley) live for their secret swing club, and are part of a group called Swing Kids. Swing Kids love American culture, such as swing, jazz, and slang. All the Swing Kids have long hair, and are learning American slang.
Swing is not allowed in Nazi Germany. The swing clubs change to polka music when the police find their secret hideouts. After being arrested by the Gestapo, Peter is forced to cut his hair and join the Hitler youth (HJ). Thomas also joins so they aren't separated. The HJ are being groomed to become soldiers, asked to spy on their families and neighbors, and learn all about Hitler. At home they are encouraged to continue in the HJ and give up their ties to Swing.
Overall I like this film. Robert Sean Leonard and Christian Bale learned how to swing dance for the film, which is impressive. It was interesting to see a different side to Nazi Germany...usually films focus on the Holocaust, or the atrocities of the Nazi party. This film doesn't really show that. A few times they show Jews being persecuted, but it is not the major focus of the film. In fact, the characters do not even question what we now see as atrocities. Overall they accept the propaganda they are fed daily.
Interesting fact, Kenneth Branagh (who plays a Gestapo officer who befriends Peter and his family) was not credited in the film because he didn't want to receive top billing. He wanted Leonard and Bale to be credited as the stars of the film, which is cool because people in Hollywood don't tend to do that.
--: it was a good film, entertaining. If you enjoy swing, you'll enjoy this (or at least the dance scenes)
Rent it: it might be hard to find, but I think it is a worthwhile film
Swing Kids (1993) 112 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for violence and language
Director: Thomas Carter
Starring: Robert Sean Leonard as Peter
Christian Bale as Thomas
Frank Whaley as Arvid
Kenneth Branagh as Herr Knopp
Swing is not allowed in Nazi Germany. The swing clubs change to polka music when the police find their secret hideouts. After being arrested by the Gestapo, Peter is forced to cut his hair and join the Hitler youth (HJ). Thomas also joins so they aren't separated. The HJ are being groomed to become soldiers, asked to spy on their families and neighbors, and learn all about Hitler. At home they are encouraged to continue in the HJ and give up their ties to Swing.
Overall I like this film. Robert Sean Leonard and Christian Bale learned how to swing dance for the film, which is impressive. It was interesting to see a different side to Nazi Germany...usually films focus on the Holocaust, or the atrocities of the Nazi party. This film doesn't really show that. A few times they show Jews being persecuted, but it is not the major focus of the film. In fact, the characters do not even question what we now see as atrocities. Overall they accept the propaganda they are fed daily.
Interesting fact, Kenneth Branagh (who plays a Gestapo officer who befriends Peter and his family) was not credited in the film because he didn't want to receive top billing. He wanted Leonard and Bale to be credited as the stars of the film, which is cool because people in Hollywood don't tend to do that.
--: it was a good film, entertaining. If you enjoy swing, you'll enjoy this (or at least the dance scenes)
Rent it: it might be hard to find, but I think it is a worthwhile film
Swing Kids (1993) 112 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for violence and language
Director: Thomas Carter
Starring: Robert Sean Leonard as Peter
Christian Bale as Thomas
Frank Whaley as Arvid
Kenneth Branagh as Herr Knopp
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