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Sophie Scholl - Die letzten Tage (2005)

Director:
Marc Rothemund
COUNTRY
Germany
GENRE
Drama/Thriller
NORWEGIAN/ENGLISH TITLE
Sophie Scholls siste dager
RUNNING TIME
117 minutes
Producer:
Fred Breiensdorfer
Sven Burgemeister
Christoph Müller
Marc Rothemund
Screenwriter:
Fred Breiensdorfer


Cast includes:

CHARACTER ACTOR/ACTRESS RATING
Sophie Magdalena Scholl Julia Jentsch ½
Hans Scholl Fabian Hinrichs
Robert Mohr Gerald Alexander Held ½
Else Gebel Johanna Gastdorf
Christoph Probst Florian Stetter
Robert Scholl Jörg Hube

 

Review

Straightforwardly constructed historical drama about the White Rose resistance in war-time Germany in general, and the siblings Hans and Sophie Scholl in particular. Focusing on the human and individual consequences of war, Sophie Scholl is largely a counterpart to the utmost comprehensive Der Untergang - this film isn't too concerned with the feats of Hitler and his men (it is wise enough to take this knowledge for granted).

Rothemund directs shrewdly, pacing his film brilliantly and using his actors for everything they're worth. In the lead, Julia Jentsch's performance is one of the best of the year. With the camera almost constantly stuck in her face, she's able to project a combination of pride and fear in brilliant fashion. Some of the scenes she shares with Gerald Alexander Held (as Robert Mohr) are not only incredibly potent, they also show the narrow difference between supporting the "right" and "wrong" in extreme situations. Sophie Scholl is a highly emotional experience (knowing well which buttons to push in that respect) and is a remarkable historical record of conscience, belief, pride and feminism.

Copyright © 3.3.2006 Fredrik Gunerius Fevang

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