Customer Rating: 
Summary: Judy Davis as "THE MATI HARI" of France,Mary Lindell
Comment: Mary Lindell is a household name in Great Britain. Thank God that HALLMARK took the time to recreate her daringly true escapades in smuggling evaders into unoccupied zones during WW2. For dramatic purposes, much of ONE AGAINST THE WIND has been rearranged and condensed . As exciting as this presentation of Mary Lindell's exploits is, her real life was even MORE dramatic than what HALLMARK assembled!( Read the book NO DRUMS,NO TRUMPETS by J.B. Wayne!!!!!)
Nevertheless, this film is extraordinary for what it accomplishes and Judy Davis is spot-on as the resourceful,courageous and mulishly strong-minded Mary. It is significant to note that Mary Lindell was 45 years old when she and her family began smuggling people out of occupied France, first by sheer bluff and boldness! Her methods became much more "professional" as the War dragged on. The focus of ONE AGAINST THE WIND is more towards the end of her smuggling people into Spain, more in particular Australian bomber pilot McSweyen (Sam Neill).Lindell actually had three children, two boys and a little girl.The son Maurice, is a composite of her two sons, and daughter Barbe (Kate Beckinsale) is pretty much invented along with her attraction to a Nazi officer for dramatic purposes.This makes for a great screenplay and creates dramatic tension, but it's not true. Other than that, ONE AGAINST THE WIND is about as exciting and daredevilish as a film can get (especially for HALLMARK!).
Great similar companion films would be BLACK BOOK, VARIAN'S WAR and CHARLOTTE GRAY.
Customer Rating:
Summary: One Against the Wind
Comment: A great movie in every way.A true story better than fiction. Acting, actors actually acting as true real life charachters in one of the best stories ever told. This is a great movie. As a side story it is Kate Bekinsales entry to the industry (that I know of).
Customer Rating:
Summary: Please put this film on DVD!
Comment: I have owned two copies of "One Against the Wind"--because I wore out the first one! You can get the story from other reviews. I show this movie to college freshman in a writing class where we talk about being your highest and best self and making moral choices (among other things). It's entertaining, riveting, and a great springboard for discussion. I don't want to have to buy another VHS--Hallmark, please, transfer this movie to DVD as you have with "The Love Letter" and "What the Deaf Man Heard."
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Summary: One of my favorite "Hallmark Hall of Fame" movies!
Comment: Judy Davis and Sam Neill headline this Hallmark Hall of Fame movie. The story is set France during the early days of Nazi occupation. Davis plays an outspoken, brash, high-profile, American-born French countess (by marriage). She and her two children, a son and a daughter, plunge into peril when Davis compulsively decides to help Neill, a British flier shot down over France. Their first interaction is classic -- Davis packs quite a wallop!Davis goes on to become a player in helping downed allied fliers escape from occupied territory.
In the meantime, a Nazi officer is bound and determined to make an example of Davis...and thus the story develops and continues through the end of the war.
This is a "must-watch" movie. There is action, intruige, and incredible courage in the face of danger.
5 stars all the way! Whatever you do, don't miss this movie!
Alan Holyoak
Customer Rating:
Summary: One of my favorite "Hallmark Hall of Fame" movies!
Comment: Judy Davis and Sam Neill headline this Hallmark Hall of Fame movie. The story is set France during the early days of Nazi occupation. Davis plays an outspoken, brash, high-profile, American-born French countess (by marriage). She and her two children, a son and a daughter, plunge into peril when Davis compulsively decides to help Neill, a British flier shot down over France. Their first interaction is classic -- Davis packs quite a wallop!Davis goes on to become a player in helping downed allied fliers escape from occupied territory.
In the meantime, a Nazi officer is bound and determined to make an example of Davis...and thus the story develops and continues through the end of the war.
This is a "must-watch" movie. There is action, intruige, and incredible courage in the face of danger.
5 stars all the way! Whatever you do, don't miss this movie!
Alan Holyoak
