Desperate Journey, directed by Annabel Jankel and written by Michael Radford, is an earnest and handsomely mounted WWII drama that tells the remarkable true-life story of Freddie Knoller.
Set in 1938 during the annexaction of Austria by Nazi Germany, the film follows the Jewish Knoller family as they confront the escalating threat of Nazi rule in Vienna. One son is sent to America, while the younger Freddie (Lucas Lynggaard Tønnesen) remains behind, initially sheltered by his parents until circumstances force him to flee on his own.
Jankel structures the narrative across two intercut timelines: one tracing Freddie’s harrowing experience on a death march as a prisoner, and the other chronicling his earlier, desperate attempt to escape to the UK via France. This dual structure aims to highlight both his trauma and the resourcefulness that kept him alive, though the constant time-shifting occasionally dilutes the emotional buildup.
The film’s strongest stretch unfolds in Paris, where Freddie, penniless but craving dignity and connection, stumbles into the city’s twilight world of nightclubs and cabarets. There he meets Jacqueline (Clara Rugaard), a glamorous and enigmatic chanteuse whose allure is matched by her ambiguous motives.
Freddie also befriends Christos (Fernando Guallar), a fellow immigrant whose charm masks a hustler’s survival instincts. Through Christos, Freddie lands a morally fraught job convincing German soldiers, using his flawless German, to patronize the club where they work. It’s a setup that promises both danger and opportunity, as Freddie attempts to earn enough money for forged papers that might carry him to safety. Meanwhile, the looming figure of Officer Kurt (Til Schweiger), a chillingly controlled Nazi officer, keeps the tension ever-present.
Tønnesen is sympathetic and open-faced as Freddie, capturing both the character’s youthfulness and his quiet determination, though his angelic appearance can sometimes undercut the grim stakes. Rugaard brings flair and depth to Jacqueline, elevating a role that could easily have been just a stock femme fatale. Guallar’s Christos is slippery but compelling, and Schweiger delivers his trademark, tightly coiled menace as Officer Kurt.
Where Desperate Journey falters is in its reliance on well-worn wartime tropes. Despite being based on a true story, the screenplay too often opts for the usual cliched imagery, depriving the film of the specificity that could have made it truly stand out.
Still, Jankel’s direction is assured, the period detail immersive, and the performances committed. While it may not break new ground, Desperate Journey still manages to tell a heartfelt story of resilience amid one of history’s darkest chapters.
