Review: The Keeper

Posted on 25 July, 2019

Based on an incredible true story of Bert Trautmann, a Second World War German PoW, whose exceptional skills on the soccer field get him noticed by the manager of a local football team.

My husband, not known for his patience, was reluctant to watch what sounded like a ‘worthy’ (read ‘boring’) film.

Afterwards, my husband, not known for his patience, asked me at least 63 times if I’d written my review yet. His verdict: “Just tell everyone it’s great, tell them they have to see it.”

So that’s it then. But seriously, this is an enjoyable, well made German-British co-production that really doesn’t need any fanfare or special effects to sell it. The real story is almost beyond belief–so all they had to do was tell it.

That the story is told well, using locations that really replicate 1940s Yorkshire (or the forests of Germany, or the original Wembley Stadium) with such atmosphere that it feels like time travel is a bonus. And that the company of actors bringing the story to life are first-rate is just icing on the cake.

Remember Dudley Dursley in Harry Potter? Like the rest of that cast, Harry Melling has grown up but he has also grown into a character actor with clout. His vicious Sergeant Smythe seems to be an archetypal villain but keep watching …

Veteran Brit character actors John Henshaw and Gary Lewis are excellent as ever but this film belongs to David Kross as Bert and Freya Mavor as Margaret. Kross is the epitome of restraint and Mavor is all fire but these two play so well off one another it is like peeping in on a real relationship unfolding.

I think ‘restraint’ is a good word to apply to the whole production, written and directed by Marcus H. Rosenmüller. If it had been made in the USA every last drop of tragedy would have been wrung out of events and the audience would have left bruised and battered.

Instead, events are played so low key that we are fully immersed, invested in these characters without any notion of being manipulated at all. Their broken hearts become ours too.

The device of recalling the past with children who seem to interact with the present but are echoes of Bert’s shame or joy is very effective. Bert does not need to tell us, these echoes show us his pain.

I know I’ve made it sound a bit dour but actually, there is a lot of humour, human kindness and a wonderful turn of events spearheaded by a fascinating man. In the end, it is about tolerance, love and the indomitable human spirit.

I left uplifted and joyful–and after a sport film. Amazing!

The author saw this film courtesy of distributor Icon Films however her opinions remain her own.