Intense, Direct, Bold.
BRILLIANT!!!!!!
This is not just another Holocaust film. This is the after story. The oft forgotten after story. Just one story behind the stories we already know. We know they were there. We know they knew. We now know someone(s) had the guts to cut through the gloss. Gest to the vein and slices it open. No ovens. Just the heartache, grief, guilt and disgust of their having been ovens in the first place. The heartache of the unsuspected and unsuspecting.
The surprise here is David Gross an unknown german actor in the lead as the young Michael Berg. He is a phenomenon. This young actor has a depth and breathe seen in someone his first time out. He damn well had better have been playing opposite Kate Winslet and portraying the younger version of Ralph Fiennes character. A revelation to say the least. I can only hope film sees more of him in the future.
I refuse to give much of the plot on any film. Suffice it to say an illicit affair turns to something bigger than one of the participants could imagine.
And now about Kate Winslet. She again proves how great an actress she is. She just keeps getting better. I wonder how this is possible. Yet there she is on screen in her best role to date. (i have yet to see 'revolutionary road') A former nazi guard living years later in Berlin. And years later in....no I won't... Go see for yourself. Where does she get the will to delve into every character she portrays so deeply? How does she keep the integrity of each character so honest? No matter what the reason, treason, goodness or crime? How the hell does she do it? Besides being a genuinely genuine actress i don't know. I'm just damn glad she goes the extra miles to do it.
The only problem I have is Hollywood is pushing her for a supporting actress for this role. Kate is the star here. It is an insult to her and a snub for a deserving supporting actress. Nobody wants Kate to win an Oscar more than I do except maybe for Kate herself. This however is not the way to do it. This is what happens when greedy stupid pruducers and studio heads collide.
That being said go see this adult, intelligent, mature, brilliantly written, directed and acted film.
And and it was great to see Lena Olin back on film in a small, supporting actress deserving, role.
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