Maltese Co-Production Mini-Series War Sailor Is Coming To Netflix
War Sailor, a Maltese, Norwegian and German co-production, will be released on Netflix as a mini-series on 5th April.
Prior to being scooped up by the streaming giant, the mini-series was intended to be a two-hour feature film and was actually released as such in Norwegian, German and Maltese cinemas, where it found initial success and sold around 400,000 tickets.
However, its run was cut short from theatres at the beginning of this year. The reason for this disappearance was initially unknown, until Netflix announced that War Sailor would be re-edited for release as a three-part mini-series.
Written and directed by Gunnar Vikene, the mini-series is described by Netflix as “ominous” and “violent” and is rated for mature audiences of 16 years of age and older.
In collaboration with Mer Film, Rohfilm Factory and Falkun Films, Netflix executives must have determined that footage on the cutting room floor was worthy of inclusion – prompting them to re-release the reformatted story.
Much of the maritime footage used in this film – and now series – was captured in waters near Malta. Although the film is set in the Atlantic, the comparatively warm and still waters of the Mediterranean provide a setting more conducive to the intricacies of film production.
In May 2021, a submarine used during filming was spotted in Valletta’s Grand Harbour.
Photo: Jonathan Borg, published by Times of Malta
The feature film version of War Sailor was screened at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2022, and the International Press Academy nominated the maritime movie for Best International Film.
Based on real events, this mini-series will tell the story of two Norwegian sailors trying to navigate treacherous waters at the outset of the Second World War.
These sailors found themselves unarmed on a blue front line when war broke out and German U-Boat Submarines started to attack their merchant vessel.
Though starring actors Kristoffer Joner, Pål Sverre Hagen and Ine Marie Wilmann will largely be speaking in Norwegian and German, performances will be subtitled in English.
It was partly produced by Malta’s Falkun Films, led by producers Anika Psaila Savona and Pierre Ellul.
Will you add War Sailor to your watchlist?
READ NEXT: This Indian Man Is On A Mission To Bring Bollywood Films To Maltese Screens
