I was almost put off watching this movie since I could find only a few very negative reviews. It has never been on general release only enjoying limited screenings at Film Festivals. After viewing it I have to ask, "why has this film disappeared?" and "were the critics watching the same movie as me?"
This is the story of a young man called Hermann (Thomas Kretschmann) who meets his father (Charlton Heston) essentially for the first time in a Brazilian shanty town in 1977. The significance here is that the father is Josef Mengele (although the name is never actually mentioned in the movie) the infamous doctor from the Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz, now in hiding in South America. Hermann needs answers from his father as to why he was involved in such heinous crimes. The father is adamant. Recounting in Darwinist style to his son that he was merely carrying out the process of "natural selection". To say that this is a story of the conflict between generations is an understatement it is more a conflict between ideologies. Herein lies Hermann's problem. Does he inform the police that one of the biggest mass murderers of the 20th century is alive and well nearby or remain silent since he would be betraying his father? A man who is more a stranger to him than a father yet nevertheless his father. The movie is told in flash back as Hermann (now in 1985) recounts the story of this meeting to a lawyer (F. Murray Abraham) who represents some of the Auschwitz survivors from New York's Jewish community. Mengele has been reported dead under questionable circumstances and remains have been found. However, is he really dead or is it merely a smoke screen to avoid capture? Amidst a media frenzy Abraham must establish confirmation of death before compensation can be paid to the survivors.
I thought that Charlton Heston was amazing as the father in spite of his failing health. (It's so good to be able to watch Mr. Heston again on the big screen). The subtleties of his acting were a joy to behold. The filming schedule must have been extremely difficult and arduous for him due to his illness yet he gives a totally believable performance. (I had read in a review that this was the biggest miscasting since Gregory Peck played Mengele in the Boys from Brazil. Not so.) F. Murray Abraham is excellent as the lawyer, his acting was both subtle and very naturalistic. He cannot understand why Hermann did not give his father up to the authorities and berates him as a result of this. Only towards the end did he show any form of compassion and sympathy for Hermann's impossible position. And Kretschmann is simply Kretschmann. He gives a remarkable performance capturing the torment and inner conflict of the son with consummate skill ranging from quiet and understated to emotional melt down. Given the right material he is amassing quite a reputation for himself in the movie world. Although even in sub-standard films he seems to rise above the mediocrity around him.
If you are looking for an action packed adventure story this is not the movie for you. However, if you enjoy character development and exploring the interrelationship and conflict between the actors told against the backdrop of a true story then this film is highly recommended.
In conclusion, one cannot help but feel sympathy for Hermann whose only crime (as he himself states in the movie) is that he is his father's son and his punishment is that he can never break away from that fact. It is he who is left to answer for his father's crimes. A lost gem- go see it if you get the chance.
This is the story of a young man called Hermann (Thomas Kretschmann) who meets his father (Charlton Heston) essentially for the first time in a Brazilian shanty town in 1977. The significance here is that the father is Josef Mengele (although the name is never actually mentioned in the movie) the infamous doctor from the Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz, now in hiding in South America. Hermann needs answers from his father as to why he was involved in such heinous crimes. The father is adamant. Recounting in Darwinist style to his son that he was merely carrying out the process of "natural selection". To say that this is a story of the conflict between generations is an understatement it is more a conflict between ideologies. Herein lies Hermann's problem. Does he inform the police that one of the biggest mass murderers of the 20th century is alive and well nearby or remain silent since he would be betraying his father? A man who is more a stranger to him than a father yet nevertheless his father. The movie is told in flash back as Hermann (now in 1985) recounts the story of this meeting to a lawyer (F. Murray Abraham) who represents some of the Auschwitz survivors from New York's Jewish community. Mengele has been reported dead under questionable circumstances and remains have been found. However, is he really dead or is it merely a smoke screen to avoid capture? Amidst a media frenzy Abraham must establish confirmation of death before compensation can be paid to the survivors.
I thought that Charlton Heston was amazing as the father in spite of his failing health. (It's so good to be able to watch Mr. Heston again on the big screen). The subtleties of his acting were a joy to behold. The filming schedule must have been extremely difficult and arduous for him due to his illness yet he gives a totally believable performance. (I had read in a review that this was the biggest miscasting since Gregory Peck played Mengele in the Boys from Brazil. Not so.) F. Murray Abraham is excellent as the lawyer, his acting was both subtle and very naturalistic. He cannot understand why Hermann did not give his father up to the authorities and berates him as a result of this. Only towards the end did he show any form of compassion and sympathy for Hermann's impossible position. And Kretschmann is simply Kretschmann. He gives a remarkable performance capturing the torment and inner conflict of the son with consummate skill ranging from quiet and understated to emotional melt down. Given the right material he is amassing quite a reputation for himself in the movie world. Although even in sub-standard films he seems to rise above the mediocrity around him.
If you are looking for an action packed adventure story this is not the movie for you. However, if you enjoy character development and exploring the interrelationship and conflict between the actors told against the backdrop of a true story then this film is highly recommended.
In conclusion, one cannot help but feel sympathy for Hermann whose only crime (as he himself states in the movie) is that he is his father's son and his punishment is that he can never break away from that fact. It is he who is left to answer for his father's crimes. A lost gem- go see it if you get the chance.