A Midnight Clear

As the end of World War II approaches, a group of American soldiers settle in a deserted house on the Franco-German border in order to report on enemy movements. But their foe remains elusive, and after making contact with these young, nervous men, the Germans prove strangely unwilling to attack. Less war movie than psychological thriller, writer/director Gordon's absorbing, stylised adaptation of William Wharton's novel explores issues of faith and morality. The performances are uniformly excellent as the film moves inexorably towards bloody confrontation and spiritual reckoning.