From director Henrik Martin Dahlsbakken, the Norwegian wartime thriller “The Arctic Convoy” tells yet another compelling story inspired by real events during World War II. Throughout the nearly 80 years since its end, there have been countless movies of all shapes, sizes, and subjects made about the Second World War. Yet there has been no shortage of captivating true stories of bravery, heroism, savagery and suffering, told through perspectives from all across the world. Add “The Arctic Convoy” to that list.

Dahlsbakken’s film sheds light on the Allied Arctic convoys that ran from 1941 until 1945. Consisting of merchant ships and their military escorts, the convoys traveled from Allied ports to the northern ports in the Soviet Union, carrying vital military supplies to Russian soldiers battling the Nazis on the Eastern Front. The icy journeys were perilous. Not only were they threatened by the merciless Arctic seas, but the ships were frequently targeted by German planes, battleships and U-boats.

Written by the trio of Christian Siebenherz, Harald Rosenløw-Eeg, and Lars Gudmestad, the film’s story is inspired by convoy PQ 17. In the summer of 1942, 35 civilian merchant ships and their British Royal Navy escort left Iceland en route to the port city of Murmansk. We spend the entire film onboard the lead vessel, a Norwegian freighter captained by a seasoned seaman named Skar (Anders Baasmo).

Over the course of the journey the filmmakers put time and effort into familiarizing us with the crew. Along with Skar, there is his chief radio operator Ragnhild (Heidi Ruud Ellingsen), his antsy new first mate Mørk (Tobias Santelmann), the ship’s gunner Johan (Adam Lundgren), the sea-weary engineer Erik (Olav Waastad) and others who give the film its human pulse.

The drama kicks in with the arrival of an alarming coded message seven days into their journey. They learn that their British escort has been ordered to withdraw and the convoy is to disperse and scatter. They get no explanation beyond that, and due to strict radio silence they’re unable to reach out for clarity. Is the withdrawal because the British forces are needed elsewhere? Or are they fleeing an imminent and substantial German attack that they’re ill-prepared to defend?

With all the other ships going their own ways, Skar is left with a critical decision. Does he and his crew turn around and return to Iceland, leaving the soldiers without their critical supplies? Or do they push forward to Murmansk and fulfill their mission, navigating potential enemy-infested waters with no military support whatsoever? It’s not hard to guess the choice he makes. But the suspense that comes from that choice only builds, especially once distress signals start coming in from the other vessels who are being picked off one by one.

Rather than being action-filled and spectacle-driven, “The Arctic Convoys” relies on the human drama rather than big eye-popping set pieces. There’s a heavy focus on the sailors working under intensifying pressure and the psychological toll it inevitably takes. Second guessing leads to conflict, especially between Skar and Mørk. Yet there is an overarching sense of duty that drives even the most distraught crew members to give their all.

That’s not to say there’s no action. The film’s biggest sequence comes around the halfway mark and features the ship’s harrowing encounter with two German fighter planes. Brilliantly shot and edited, the scene cuts back and forth between all areas of the ship, giving us a variety of perspectives while generating some nail-biting in-the-moment tension. Everything from the exhilarating buildup to Dahlsbakken’s artful execution works.

“The Arctic Convoy” succeeds in sharing yet another little-known true story from the many still yet to be told from World War II. Strong performances and a character-driven focus adds some unexpected layers to this riveting, edge-of-your-seat nautical drama. Those itching for more spectacle might struggle with the film’s approach. But that doesn’t make it any less thrilling and it turns out to be a strength that drives this gripping war drama. “The Arctic Convoy” opens July 26th in select theaters and on VOD.

VERDICT – 4.5 STARS