While at War

"A complex, steady, deeply intelligent film with a chilling resonance today, and a significant departure in tone from Amenabar’s prior work" 

"It’s insufficiently moving (...) but also lacks the urgency and suspense needed to make larger events vivid (...) Nonetheless, this is more a moderate disappointment than a misfire, being so accomplished in all departments that the whole flows seamlessly" 

"Despite the worthy seriousness of its intentions and the parallels with the present it cleverly draws at every turn, the final impression is of dramatic opportunities left unexplored" 

"This is powerful stuff that transcends time and place despite the production design being impeccably executed. (...) 'While at War' sticks to the behind the scenes machinations of men pulling strings, but it’s always expertly composed for us to remain cognizant of every in and out." 

"Amenábar reconstructs a difficult and decisive moment in Spanish history with his usual sense of precision, but he doesn’t manage to inject the emotion and energy this conflict requires"