Atlantic Crossing

My Review- Atlantic Crossing. SBS on demand My Rating 9/10

This splendid 8 part series is a fascinating account of Norway's World War 11 experience and sacrifice . It's a very touching and personal look at the role that the Norwegian Royal family played in that dramatic and terrible chapter of history.

The eight part series was co-produced by the Norwegian independent production company Cinenord, Norway's public broadcaster NRK and the US Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). Most of the scenes were filmed in the Czech Republic, and in Norway.

The series pays special attention to interactions between Crown Princess Martha of Norway and President Franklin Roosevelt during the period when Martha was a war refugee in the United States after fleeing the 1940 Nazi Invasion of Norway.

A princess steals the heart of the president of the United States in an epic drama based on the World War II relationship of Franklin Roosevelt and Norwegian Crown Princess Martha. Kyle MacLachlan (Twin Peaks, Sex and the City) stars as Roosevelt, opposite Swedish star Sofia Helin (The Bridge) as the beautiful Martha, who flees the Nazis with her three young children and lives under Roosevelt's protection. The eight-part series co-stars Tobias Santelmann as Crown Prince Olav and Harriet Sansom Harris as First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.

There are many fine performances in Atlantic Crossing especially the Star Sofia Helin who gives a beautiful and dignified performance as Crown Princess Martha the film is in 2 languages Norwegian with subtitles and English this adds to the atmosphere of authenticity .

Two other standout performances that impressed me greatly were from Kyle MacLaclan as President FD Roosevelt a very complex man who reluctantly but eventually had to involve America in the War against huge opposition.

His wife in name only and protector Eleanore played to perfection by Harriet Sanson Harris has a key role in the film .

An incredibly strong and independent woman with power and influence eventually realises The Crown Princess is as strong willed as herself and helps her greatly in her quest to help her country under siege from Hitler's tyranny.

Atlantic Crossing is a perfect companion prequel to the superb 2016 Award winning film Kongens Nei or "The Kings Choice ."starring Jesper Christensen as King Haakon V11 of Norway . It's set in April 1940 King Haakon VII, the royal family and government have fled into the interior of the country. The German envoy to Norway, Curt Brauer, tries to negotiate a peace. Ultimately, the decision on Norway's future will rest with the King.

Both these historical films are interesting and I highly recommend both.

Atlantic Crossing is not a documentary and should not be viewed as such. Nevertheless I was drawn into the drama of the exiled Norwegian Crown Prince and Princess, a family that were separated during the Second World War, due to duty and circumstances. Whilst living in seperate host countries and having absolutely no political influence and power, the drama portrays how the prince and princess, in very different ways, did everything they could to contribute to the war effort. The ultimate cost of their efforts placing an enormous strain on the royal marriage. Atlantic Crossing is well worth watching, but perhaps for a more mature audience.

I just watched Episode 6 of Atlantic Crossing. It has gotten worse each week.

This takes "inspired by true events" to a level of fantasy that is beyond ridiculous. I am now finding it truly appalling. I feel like I am watching a bad Hallmark TV movie, but this disaster wants to style itself as somehow based on facts when it is preposterous.

Really, who at Masterpiece thought THIS was a good idea? It cheapens WWII and FDR into a dime store romance novel and is an insult to anyone who actually learned about the Roosevelts by watching Ken Burns' true masterpiece documentary, "The Roosevelts: An Intimate History", also on PBS.

I would say it is almost funny in its absurd depiction of FDR, Eleanor and Missy LeHand - but I found it stupid, offensive and bordering on the bizarre.

I'm done with this drivel. Just makes me wonder why Masterpiece and WGBH had anything to do with this disappointing fiasco.

As many have noticed, this story takes the "inspired by true events" a bit too far on occasions. But still I recommend watching it as it gives another side of the grim events more than 70 years ago. I find the acting credible and good but as said.. the historical correctness is highly questionable.

So much of this story is genuinely interesting, especially to an American audience that most likely is not aware of Norway's history during WW II. Or knowledgeable about the friendship that developed between the Crown Princess and FDR. The sets and locations are great (except the production team seems to think it snows a lot in WDC, which it doesn't), the costumes have been done well and, as I mentioned in the title, the acting is superb. However, if someone were to watch this and not know much US history they would think all FDR needed to run the country was one advisor, one girlfriend, his wife and the Princess who got together at cocktail hour for a laugh. The way he is depicted borders on the ridiculous (and I'm not referring to his roving eye). Our country was in the middle of a depression and, eventually, at war and all we see FDR do is eat, drink and be merry as if he had no responsibilities or a care in the world. I've just finished E.6 and we've seen FDR in exactly one Cabinet meeting (that lasted a nano-second). I think the moment that really strained credulity was FDR being driven 30 minutes out of WDC to see the Princess on the evening of Dec. 7, 1941. Really?! The US is attacked by the Japanese that day and FDR is having drinks with his lady friend instead of being in a cabinet meeting?! I realize the focus of this limited series is more human than political (although we're seeing an awful lot of political meetings in Norway and London) but the 'lighter' side of FDR should have been balanced with at least some gravitas. He didn't win four elections because he knew how to flirt and drink Scotch. Where are the producers at Masterpiece?! Am I the only one seeing how this one-dimensional depiction of our wartime President diminishes the whole series.