Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysLGBTQ+ Pride MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

The Aftermath

  • 20192019
  • RR
  • 1h 48m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
21K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,717
42
Alexander Skarsgård, Jason Clarke, and Keira Knightley in The Aftermath (2019)
Set in post-war Germany, Rachael Morgan (Keira Knightley) arrives in the ruins of Hamburg in the bitter winter, to be reunited with her husband Lewis (Jason Clarke), a British colonel charged with rebuilding the shattered city. But as they set off for their new home, Rachael is stunned to discover that Lewis has made an unexpected decision: They will be sharing the grand house with its previous owners, a German widower (Alexander Skarsgård) and his troubled daughter. In this charged atmosphere, enmity and grief give way to passion and betrayal.
Play trailer2:16
2 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Drama
  • Romance
  • War
Post World War II, a British colonel and his wife are assigned to live in Hamburg during the post-war reconstruction, but tensions arise with the German who previously owned the house.Post World War II, a British colonel and his wife are assigned to live in Hamburg during the post-war reconstruction, but tensions arise with the German who previously owned the house.Post World War II, a British colonel and his wife are assigned to live in Hamburg during the post-war reconstruction, but tensions arise with the German who previously owned the house.
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
21K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,717
42
  • Director
    • James Kent
  • Writers
    • Joe Shrapnel(screenplay by)
    • Anna Waterhouse(screenplay by)
    • Rhidian Brook(screenplay by)
  • Stars
    • Keira Knightley
    • Ned Wills
    • Pandora Colin
Top credits
  • Director
    • James Kent
  • Writers
    • Joe Shrapnel(screenplay by)
    • Anna Waterhouse(screenplay by)
    • Rhidian Brook(screenplay by)
  • Stars
    • Keira Knightley
    • Ned Wills
    • Pandora Colin
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 161User reviews
    • 114Critic reviews
    • 43Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Videos2

    UK Trailer
    Trailer 2:16
    UK Trailer
    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:25
    Official Trailer

    Photos116

    Aaron Saidman at an event for The Aftermath (2019)
    The Aftermath (2019)
    The Aftermath (2019)
    The Aftermath (2019)
    The Aftermath (2019)
    Alexander Skarsgård, Jason Clarke, and Keira Knightley in The Aftermath (2019)
    The Aftermath (2019)
    The Aftermath (2019)
    Jason Clarke and Keira Knightley in The Aftermath (2019)
    Keira Knightley in The Aftermath (2019)
    Alexander Skarsgård in The Aftermath (2019)
    Alexander Skarsgård and Keira Knightley in The Aftermath (2019)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Keira Knightley
    Keira Knightley
    • Rachael Morganas Rachael Morgan
    Ned Wills
    • Boy on Trainas Boy on Train
    Pandora Colin
    Pandora Colin
    • Mother on Trainas Mother on Train
    Jason Clarke
    Jason Clarke
    • Lewis Morganas Lewis Morgan
    Anna Schimrigk
    Anna Schimrigk
    • Heikeas Heike
    Jack Laskey
    Jack Laskey
    • Wilkinsas Wilkins
    Fionn O'Shea
    Fionn O'Shea
    • Barkeras Barker
    Kate Phillips
    Kate Phillips
    • Susanas Susan
    Martin Compston
    Martin Compston
    • Burnhamas Burnham
    Alexander Skarsgård
    Alexander Skarsgård
    • Stephen Lubertas Stephen Lubert
    Mirco Kuball
    • Soldieras Soldier
    Rosa Enskat
    • Gretaas Greta
    Frederick Preston
    • Michael Morganas Michael Morgan
    Flora Thiemann
    Flora Thiemann
    • Freda Lubertas Freda Lubert
    • (as Flora Li Thiemann)
    Monika Foris Kvasnicková
    Monika Foris Kvasnicková
    • German Womanas German Woman
    • (as Monika Foris)
    Logan Hillier
    Logan Hillier
    • British Captainas British Captain
    Jannik Schümann
    Jannik Schümann
    • Albertas Albert
    Jim High
    Jim High
    • British Soldieras British Soldier
    • Director
      • James Kent
    • Writers
      • Joe Shrapnel(screenplay by)
      • Anna Waterhouse(screenplay by)
      • Rhidian Brook(screenplay by) (based on the novel "The Aftermath" by)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    More like this

    Colette
    6.7
    Colette
    Official Secrets
    7.3
    Official Secrets
    Misbehaviour
    6.3
    Misbehaviour
    The Edge of Love
    6.1
    The Edge of Love
    The Duchess
    6.9
    The Duchess
    Tolkien
    6.8
    Tolkien
    Suite Française
    7.0
    Suite Française
    The Exception
    6.8
    The Exception
    Far from the Madding Crowd
    7.1
    Far from the Madding Crowd
    Tulip Fever
    6.2
    Tulip Fever
    Berlin, I Love You
    4.6
    Berlin, I Love You
    Mary Queen of Scots
    6.3
    Mary Queen of Scots

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Keira Knightly uses a body double for the nude scenes in the film. After giving birth to her daughter in May 2015, Kiera Knightley, who had been naked onscreen several times since she was 16, announced that she will no longer perform nude. She said that in the past she didn't mind exposing her breasts because "they're so small people really aren't that interested," but not any longer. "I have been comfortable earlier with more nudity than I am now. I have had a kid, I am in my 30s, I am very happy with my body," the actress revealed. "But I don't feel I need to get it out that much any more." She's added that she's fine if movies use body doubles, but she won't be stripping naked herself for any reason.
    • Goofs
      A main subplot of the movie is Lewis having to deal with protests, and underground resistance to Allied occupation. While there was naturally some social discontent, public resistance to the Allies in the West was virtually unheard of. Germany had spent the war years under strict iron rule from the Nazis; the idea of a holding a protest to the people of Hamburg would seem absurd and suicidal.
    • Quotes

      Rachael Morgan: You didn't tell me what I was walking into.

    • Alternate versions
      For the film's Australian release, the distributor chose to make reductions to stronger sexual detail in two scenes in order to obtain an M classification. The uncut version of the film was later released with an MA15+ classification for a DVD/Video release.
    • Connections
      Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Failed Oscar Bait Movies of 2019 (2020)
    • Soundtracks
      Chattanooga Choo Choo
      Composed by Mack Gordon, Harry Warren

      Arranged by Radim Linhart

    User reviews161

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    a portrait of unresolvable grief
    There are many reasons a beautifully made film like The Aftermath (2019) ends up critically panned. Some describe it as slow, melodramatic, and predictable, but such labels often reflect unfulfilled viewer expectations rather than an ill-conceived or poorly executed film.

    Set in 1946, the plotline is straightforward with few surprises other than its final moments. It opens with British Colonel Lewis Morgan (Jason Clarke) and his wife Rachel (Keira Knightley) arriving in the devasted city of Hamburg to restore law and order, as well as to root out remaining Nazi sympathisers. The thoroughly middle-class Morgans have requisitioned a stately mansion owned by architect Stephan Lubert (Alexander Skarsgárd) and his rebellious daughter Freda (Flora Thiemann). Lewis is a compassionate man who cannot bear to send the Luberts to a squalid refugee camp and invites them to stay in the attic, setting the tension lines that drive the film. When someone remarks that more bombs were dropped on Hamburg in one week than were dropped on London in one year, we enter an inverted moral paradigm where the line between victory and vanquished turns grey.

    The slow start has a purpose. Few films respectfully explore the humiliation of defeat and many viewers would ask 'why should they'? The Aftermath dwells on prolonged moments where the victor strolls in and takes over the home of the vanquished; where a population is deliberately starved to keep them compliant; where a once-proud culture must confront its inner demons. Deep unresolvable grief permeates the city as well as the lives of the Morgans and the Luberts. Both lost loved ones and the times are not sympathetic to healing. In the middle of this swirling emotional vortex, a classic 'Lady Chatterley's Lover' sub-plot becomes the narrative device for rebuilding lives.

    This film stands out in the war-drama genre because of its nuanced portrait of the immediate aftermath of the Allied occupation of Germany. It reeks of period authenticity in ways that only British films can do. The stunning cinematography captures the horror of the immediate post-war period without the usual reliance on the tropes of military casuality and destruction. Knightley and Clarke's performances are outstanding, while Skarsgárd adequately fills the role of a grieving, if over-confident, romantic antagonist. As happens so often, Knightley's commanding presence and extraordinary range of emotional versatility stamps her ownership all over the film.

    If history is only written by winners it will always only be half-true. The Aftermath is an essay about the other half, blending sufficient historical insight into a romantic drama to hold our interest without emotional sledgehammers. There are minor lapses of pace, maybe a narrative digression or two that dilutes momentum; but overall, this is a satisfying film that takes an uncommon view on unexplored cinematic territory.
    helpful•90
    18
    • CineMuseFilms
    • May 5, 2019

    FAQ1

    • When and Where will this film be shown at the earliest? Is it possible to obtain video in advance, or even some still pictures?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 15, 2019 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Germany
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Site
      • Stream The Aftermath officially on Disney+ Hotstar Indonesia
    • Languages
      • English
      • Russian
    • Also known as
      • Sau Thế Chiến
    • Filming locations
      • Prague, Czech Republic
    • Production companies
      • Amusement Park Films
      • Fox Searchlight Pictures
      • Scott Free Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $1,618,497
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $56,419
      • Mar 17, 2019
    • Gross worldwide
      • $9,215,591
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 48 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Alexander Skarsgård, Jason Clarke, and Keira Knightley in The Aftermath (2019)
    Top Gap
    What is the Japanese language plot outline for The Aftermath (2019)?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    The Best Movies Coming This Summer
    See the full list
    View list
    List
    The Best Movies and Shows to Watch in June
    See the full list

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.