While many movies have been made about WWII and the
Holocaust, few have been made concerning the rebuilding of Germany after the
war. There is little doubt that this would have been a fascinating time in
history to examine and yet I for one have rarely heard it discussed. Until now.
LABYRINTH OF LIES tells the story of what could have been the greatest cover up
in history had it not been for several brave individuals who wanted to make
sure the truth was told.
Johann Radmann (Alexander Fehling) is a recent addition to
the prosecutor’s office in Frankfurt. The year is 1958 and the war has been
over now for 13 years. Given the task of handling minor cases like traffic
tickets, Radmann has his curiosity piqued when a journalist confronts the head
prosecutor claiming that a man has recognized one of the guards from Auschwitz
working as a grade school teacher. Ignored by the head man, Radmann takes it
upon himself to talk to Thomas Gnielka (Andre Szymanski), the reporter.
While many of us today know full well what happened at
Auschwitz at this time it wasn’t common knowledge. Gnielka takes Radmann with
him to meet Simon Kirsch, the Auschwitz survivor who gave him this information.
As Radmann gets more and more involved in the lives of these two men as well as
becoming a part of their circle of friends, he wants to take on this case. But
that’s where the first impediment comes in as his supervisor wants the case
ignored. Fortunately that’s not the case with the head of the department, Fritz
Bauer (Gert Voss).
A Jew himself, Bauer appoints Radmann the head of the
investigation and sets him up with his own secretary and office. Radmann begins
to look into Simon’s claim but finds his path blocked by people in his government
as well as U.S. representatives remaining after the occupation. No one wants
the truth of Auschwitz to be revealed and they will do anything to keep what
happened secret.
With the guiding hand of Bauer to set him on the right path,
Radmann begins to uncover the secret history of Auschwitz and what was done by
the German people, some just following orders but the more horrendous of the
group giving those orders with apparent glee and joy. At the top of his list is
Josef Mengele. When Radmann learns that Mengele travels without fear between
Germany and his home in South America he is outraged. But it is his focus on
Mengele that nearly brings his investigation to a halt.
Only through dogged determination will he find the
opportunity to find those behind Auschwitz.
What makes this movie interesting is not the story of
Auschwitz itself but the fact that so many were willing to hide this piece of
history for what they considered the greater good, the rebuilding of a country
already devastated by a war their leaders had created. But can the healing
actually take place if the wounds are hidden rather than taken care of? That
becomes the central question asked in this film.
It’s not just the bureaucrats that attempt to ignore the
past either. A side story of Radmann falling in love with a beautiful dress
designer who is part of that Bohemian group that Gnielka surrounds himself with
ties in with the story as well. While outraged at first when well connected and
wealthy bureaucrats and their wives set her up with her own shop and business,
she begins to find that she too is caught up in the silence rather than the
correction of history. Like most of those who were involved in the war she
simply wants to move on and forget about the past no matter how terrible the
atrocities were.
Let me say now that if subtitles are not your thing you’ll
probably pass this one by. But if you do you short change yourself from seeing
a great movie. It’s not a metaphor for current history, it’s not making a
hugely political statement about the world today, it’s discussing the past and
a history that was not just almost forgotten but hidden away under mounds of
paperwork and by people who were once involved in those brutal places but now
are connected enough with officials that they feel safe.
The movie has a stunning look to it with some beautiful
cinematography that could have been found drab but instead feels real. The
acting it done so well that even with translation the performances on display
here convey the emotions so well that you find yourself wondering from moment
to moment what will happen next as well as being involved with each character
on screen.
When all is said and done, in what some have found a
slightly faulty ending wrapping things up too neatly, you have a compelling
story that offers zero dull moments and plenty of drama that will hold your
attention from start to finish. For me a great movie is one that I know I’ll
pull out and watch again. This is one of those movies.
Click here to order.
No comments:
Post a Comment