La batalla del agua pesada

This is a miniseries about the German efforts to create the first nuclear bomb as well as the Allied effort to put a stop to it. Much of the film is set in Norway, as it was the center for Nazi deuterium production. Because of this, the series is in Norwegian, English and German (with a tiny bit of French). While it might not sound that interesting, it is--provided you are patient and give the programs a chance. My only reservations are minor. First, although it's stylish, the shaky cam is a STUPID idea and I have no idea why it's used throughout the show. I watched it on a very large screen TV and it practically induced motion sickness. Second, the CGI of the B-17s was rather poor. Eight year old episodes of "Dogfights" look better and more realistic. Still, with excellent acting, an engaging script and a nice history lesson, it's well worth seeing.

By the way, some of what occurs in the show can also be seen in the excellent Kirk Douglas film "The Heroes of Telemark"--and is mostly covered in episode 6 of the series.

A variety of languages, with subtitles as needed. Dramatic but in keeping with history. Outstanding sense of the challenging times of WW2 & the decisions made by different groups & individuals, courage & compromise. Risking life & decisions made to protect others & self as the Nazi noose extended itself into Norway.

The Heavy Water War stands out not only for its compelling historical narrative but also for its remarkable technical execution, especially considering it is a television series rather than a feature film, where resources are typically more concentrated. Despite the broader scope of its multi-episode format, the series manages to deliver a rich, cinematic experience.

The visual storytelling is particularly effective for a television series. The sweeping shots of Norway's icy landscapes feel expansive, yet the intimate, close-up moments that define character development are given just as much care. The varied camera work, such as the occasional handheld shots during moments of peril, intensifies the action, making the stakes feel personal and urgent, a clever use of television's more fluid pacing. This is a rarity for a series where visual cohesiveness can sometimes suffer when stretched across episodes. Yet here, the cinematography remains tight and focused, maintaining the sense of urgency and tension in each scene.

One of the most impressive feats is how The Heavy Water War retains the atmosphere of a high-budget film despite the limitations of a television series. The detailed set designs and period-accurate costuming elevate the experience, creating a world that feels both authentic and immersive, as though viewers are stepping back in time to WWII. Such dedication to realism is more common in films with larger budgets, but the series expertly makes the most of its resources.

Acting is another strong point in this series. Espen Klouman-Høiner's portrayal of Leif Tronstad shines with remarkable subtlety. He captures the character's internal struggles without resorting to melodrama, allowing the emotional weight of his decisions to unfold naturally. The supporting cast also brings depth to their roles, contributing to the overall gravitas of the series. In television, where performances can occasionally feel stretched over long arcs, here, the actors remain grounded and emotionally engaged, a testament to the tight direction and the careful attention to casting.

Even with its reliance on limited resources in comparison to a film, The Heavy Water War excels in technical aspects. The sound design, another often underappreciated aspect of television production, adds greatly to the atmosphere. The wind howls through the mountains, and the rumble of military aircraft enhances the urgency and danger that permeates the show. Although a few CGI moments don't quite match the level of the rest of the production, they don't detract from the overall immersion.

The Heavy Water War demonstrates that a television series can achieve the same cinematic quality as a high-budget film, thanks to its exceptional direction, stunning cinematography, and immersive sound design. Each episode captures the tension and emotional depth of its characters, maintaining a powerful and cohesive narrative from start to finish. The series excels in transforming its historical setting into a living, breathing world, leaving a lasting impression on viewers long after the credits roll.

After watching this, I mentioned to a friend of mine with a degree in physics that Heisenberg really was compromised working for the Germans during the war. He corrected me and suggested I read "Heisenberg's War" by Thomas Powers. Thank goodness, I did. It's an excellent book, and sets the record straight about what Heisenberg did and didn't do, and did and didn't think, during the war.

The miniseries show him trying to dazzle the German military with the destructive potential of his nuclear research, and it shows him working diligently on developing a bomb. What Powers shows, though, is that Heisenberg and the scientists who worked closely with him tried in various ways to discourage the Nazis from pursuing a bomb. And they were successful. After a critical meeting with Speer in 1943, in which Heisenberg emphasized all the problems and pointed out that a bomb, even if it could be developed, would take too long to be used in the war, bomb research stopped, and nuclear research was aimed at a reactor or "energy machine." The Heisenberg group were so horrified by the idea of an atomic bomb that they even signaled to scientists outside Germany that Germany was not working on a bomb, hoping to prevent a world of nuclear weapons. (This was misunderstood by many distrustful Allied scientists, who feared Heisenberg was trying to stop their work so that he could proceed without competition on his own.)

So enjoy the series, but please don't do as I did and take it as factual about Heisenberg's participation in a German atomic bomb program. I suppose that part of the story was added to crank up the excitement and drama.

Incidentally, after the destruction of the Norwegian hydro/heavy water plant and the sinking of the ferry carrying the heavy water, Germany's was completely crippled in its supply of heavy water, never to recover.

The Heavy Water War is a long awaited update of one of the most significant and interesting sabotage actions during the Second World War. Previously filmed in many documentaries and as feature dramatizations. First in 1948 in a French-Norwegian co- production, just a few years after the war, with many of the saboteurs playing themselves, "Kampen om tungtvannet". Secondly in 1965 in the Anthony Mann-production "Heroes of Telemark" (with Kirk Douglas and Richard Harris in main roles), and last in the great and too forgotten Canadian feature film and also miniseries "A man called Intrepid" in 1979 (starring David Niven, Michael Yorke and Barbara Hershey).

This mini-series has been very much awaited, as a fresh update though the older ones are still all very see-worthy and recommended dramatizations. All filmed on location in Rjukan, where the sabotages took place, with mainly local youngsters doing the main sabotage job under allied commando. Currently there's at lest three other projects being developed, with a rumored Michael Bay-production ("Sabotage"?), and a 10 episodes TV-series "Telemark" under the direction of Danny Boyle, obviously with different angles of this fantastic epic true war story. There's also made many documentaries, most known the ones from BBC.

It's been 10 years in the planning, this series by production company Filmkameratene, with John M. Jacobsen's sturdy work of getting in place the financing. Finally succeeding when changing the concept from a feature movie to a mini-series with Norwegian national broadcaster NRK as the company with enough means to ascertain a quality production, which felt both important and necessary.

The script writer has based this story on a different angle than the earlier ones. The four sabotage actions is a common basis, but here we at the time go behind both the allied and German actions around creating the world's first atomic bomb. We also follow the local Norwegian resistance, as well as the company view, which has been very controversial stuff for years after the sabotages took place. More about the many moral dilemmas, and a bit less focus on the heroics of young students.

We start off in 1933 when Werner Heisenberg is rewarded the Noble Prize in physics in Stockholm, and is greeted by fellow Danish colleague Niels Bohr. Celebrating this, Heisenberg is later called in for interrogation by the Nazi's which accuse him of being gay. He is almost sent to the front, only saved by top connections. Why did the Nazi need the heavy water (D2O), and where to get it? It's all explained, while we meet young professor Leif Tronstad, which is the main role from Norwegian side, the inside brains of the technology as well as the detailed planning of the sabotage. He is a very much unsung hero, now being pulled out into the light, brilliantly played by Espen Klouman-Høiner. We also see another main role, the facility director Bjørn Henriksen (a fabulous Dennis Storhøi), which is a fictive emerging of three real company directors juggling between Allied (mainly French) and German interest in the new discovery of nuclear physics during the 30'ies, towards the fatal 2nd World War started by the Nazi regime.

Well played in all roles, we early understand this series is about to fulfill the needs of a proper, true and interesting dramatization of this epic story. We all know that the Americans beat the others in finalizing the misunderstood importance of creating an atomic bomb With European development-help. But it's also easy to understand the immense fear of the Allied forces had towards the Adolf Hitler and his extreme right wing dictatorship getting hold of the bomb. The fear of us all seeing an all together different world under the rule of the Nazi dream the Third Reich world leadership. No short cuts have been taken, to assure our need for credibility, since the series is in all correct native languages, so prepare to be reading subtitles, if not dubbed in your country. If you ask me, it's a big relief that the Germans speak German, the Norwegians speak Norwegian as of course it's very often English amongst the allied forces.

I wouldn't be afraid to say that this production is setting a new standard for Norwegian TV-drama, brilliantly casted and directed by Per-Olav Sørensen, very keen on giving this important history lesson a proper updated reference in World history. Already before airing all episodes in Norway, the series is sold to large markets for national TV-distribution in the USA, Spain, Great Britain, Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands and Germany, a lot of markets will follow in the following months. After airing the series hold record numbers for viewing of a dramatized series in Norway, with a up to 65% marked share of viewers at the time Sunday nights.

It's without doubt going to mean a lot of newfound interest in the famed actions, and incredible heroism of young Norwegian resistance movement, as well as well planned and performed allied actions in the little mountain town Rjukan, which in June 2015 eagerly awaits a decision from Unesco-headquarter Paris if the modern industry revolution site Rjukan - Notodden - Møsvatn area is going to be a future Unesco world heritage site for future generations to experience. What a great story and history this is! Be sure to catch it when it's on in your country, and enjoy the best telling of the story, so far!