Silent Night in Algona

In 1944, Camp Algona is established, which would end up housing around 10,000 Axis prisoners. Work programs for inmates supplemented the depleted workforce in America, such as the local Hormel factory, and included harvesting crops, such as at the Tietz farm. Meanwhile the Germans are working on a secret project that is unveiled to the populace at Christmas.

"Silent Night in Algona" (2022) works as a lowkey drama about one of over 400 such camps in America. Don't expect explosions or over-the-top thrills. The 'action' is the believable tensions of the time period and situation. Everything wraps up for an effective close and relevant details, but you have to be in the mood for a period drama to appreciate it.

Brunette beauty Christina Loeffler is notable in a small role on the feminine front.

It runs 2 hours, 18 minutes, and was shot in north-central Iowa in Whittemore, which is just west of Algona, and Forest City, which is northeast of there. Algona is 135 miles north of Des Moines, 175 miles southwest of Minneapolis and 275 miles northwest of Davenport.

GRADE: B/B-

In a world where film 'ratings' often are based on the bizarre or the wicked, comes a true story where genuine humanity and relationships prevail during a dark and difficult time in our nation's history.

Discover the 'little known' story of a small rural Iowa town where a World War II prison camp housed thousands of young soldiers, far from their German homeland. Meet the families from the community who are suffering economically and without their own soldier men and sons available to support their farming and harvest operations.

And experience the relationships that are forged when 'enemies' are thrown together to help one another through difficult times.

Relationships from that time have endured generations. The amazing half-life size Nativity Scene (gift from the prisoners) is still viewed by thousands each year. See the film, visit the community, and immerse yourself in a heart-warming depiction of a historic tale that the news headlines did not cover.

In so many cases such as this, labeling a production a "family movie" is code for "very cheaply done." This movie is no exception. On family-friendly streaming sites, you can find hundreds of these kind of micro-budget movies. The only wonder about Silent Night is why, when it is blatantly and painfully obvious, that you don't have much in the way of money, would you decide to do a historical drama? Why would the producers purposely highlight their key weakness? And judging by other reviews I see here, that weakness is crystal clear to anyone who isn't somehow tied to the movie. (Just match up the review names with the individuals listed in the production.)

My side against your side, my country against your country. And the protection of one's country and families can become brutal.

Good work at presenting the various characters and various inner conflicts that each had to work through. I applaud the use of the German language with subtitles. The authentic language is a large part of the culture. To his credit, the director honors the culture, other than American in this film.

As the plot goes, I wish the young man who tried to attract Keitz' wife was trying to sell her something, like the latest clothes washing machine, or a job that promised her success and money. Although I know there are some phony preacher types. The film direction shows the conflict between the man working with his hands, and not attending church with her, and the man of ideas and words that she hears at church. The preacher's demonstration of Christian faith is strongly skewed in the "holier than Thou" stereotype. A young preacher wants to impress a young woman, and she falls for the image "better than her man". A man with a disability is challenged to exercise his manhood, with resistance at home and in the community. The young wife has her own lesson to learn about the faith.

I applaud the presentation of the values of the U. S. military as they are upheld. We have seen incidents of the criminalization of segments of the military, in various countries, in WWII and the Vietnam War for example. This happened in the German military on an unprecedented scale in the Jewish Holocaust of 1942-1944. The film director did not minimize the reality of this. The guilt conflict of one POW was shown in a powerful way.

The film direction illustrates discipline from the U. S. military, when an officer or soldier's ethical conduct is below standard.

In a world of grey, routine days, human conflict is common. Humans need to clarify their values, and to act on them.

Institutions like the military also reflect this challenge. Values of human dignity, faithfulness in marriage, and the proper use of armed force are upheld in this film, to the credit of its director.

Whereas some would advocate for us to forget the past, this film helps us reflect also, on our present challenges.

Often there is a personal struggle as well as a struggle in relationship. This film shows many different characters, and the groups they were part of, in this process: the townspeople, families, the POWs as a group and as individuals.

Character change is not easy to show in a film, and with so many characters. I think the American colonel and captain could act, show more inner struggle, from beginning to end, to pull this off well.

Congratulations on the courage to present the historical account and show human conflict, and interpersonal conflict in so many characters, in a very tough time in world history.

A good movie before Christmas, reminding us of our common humanity and need.

What a great story that was shared here and how it was back in Algona, Iowa during that time. This movie was absolutely terrific. The way the movie was produced I felt as if I was sitting next to the characters in the movie. The wide vary emotions of the different scenes took control and I was riveted trying to help those guys out. I loved the compassion and empathy that the LTC had for the German prisoners. I could connect with that feeling that he had hoping that our boys on the other side were being treated as well as they were treated here in the states. What a great example of leadership that he displayed for his men on how to treat the POWs correctly, including the the despicable Captain from the Provost Marshall office who needed it desperately.

I rented and have now purchased the movie. Definitely don't miss out on the history of WWII here in our country.