Munich: The Edge Of War Review - Netflix's WWII Drama Hits The Right Notes
Author Robert Harris blended history and fiction for his novel Munich, and now that story comes to life in Netflix's new espionage drama, Munich: The Edge of War. Though the film isn't positioned as one of the streamer's Oscar contenders this awards season (its January release makes it ineligible for the Academy Awards), its prestigious subject matter is certainly along the lines of what appeals to voters. Set against the backdrop of the 1938 Munich Agreement that preceded World War II, the movie features a desperate group of characters hoping to prevent the inevitable conflict that is to come. Munich: The Edge of War is a well-made period piece able to stage necessary tension despite its real-life story being so well-known.
At the heart of Munich: The Edge of War are Hugh Legat (George McKay) and Paul von Hartmann (Jannis Niewöhner), two Oxford classmates whose paths drastically diverged after school. The former works as a secretary for British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain (Jeremy Irons), while the latter is a German diplomat who is a part of a secret opposition to Adolf Hitler (Ulrich Matthes). Hugh and Paul cross paths again at the Munich Conference, where Chamberlain and Hitler are among the world leaders negotiating a peace agreement. Knowing what Hitler's true intentions are, Paul tries to get Hugh's help to prevent Chamberlain from signing the agreement.
Related: Watch the Munich: The Edge of War Trailer
While the Munich Conference was a real-life event, Hugh and Paul — the film's two leads — are fictitious characters. This gives the film a small boost with regards to dramatic stakes, giving audiences a through-line to get invested in. Though it doesn't completely offset history spoiling the overall
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