The 12th Man

I was scrolling through the online movie site last night for a film I might watch and happened upon one called "The 12th Man". This is the true story of an undercover Norwegian operation during World War II, and it is a harrowing story indeed. 

The mission, which was to sabotage Nazi installations in Norway, went south from the beginning. The commandos were discovered as they approached land in their fishing boat and 11 of the 12 were either captured or killed. From that point on, the story is about the 12th man's desperate attempt to escape to Sweden. 

And I'll tell you what, if you think you're having a bad day (or a bad half year), think again! Injury and gangrene and starvation and subzero temperatures and avalanches and constant fear and compulsive pursuit by the German's make this man's existence a living hell such as none of us will ever know. As the commando flees the Germans, every day brings him closer to death, and yet he struggles on with what seems superhuman strength, crawling just one more foot. 

This is a story, and a very well acted and filmed one, that grows ever more intense, and includes the sorts of scenes that you don't want to see, but can't help watching--you know? Honestly, I would rather suffer from MS every day of the week forever than to endure one day of this man's struggle. 

And ultimately, it is about the will to live, to take one more step, to overcome one more horror, to cling to life in the tightening grip of death. Truly an amazing and an emotionally immersing story.