Good passionate religious ideology if not the plot that was needed

Rating: 7/10 (4 November 2009)

After witnessing an emotional massacre, Jewish lady Rachel Stein (Houten) joins the resistance to infiltrate the German headquarters but struggles with feelings for their leader This controversial depiction of the Second World War brings together meanings of religion, sexism, and betrayal, all to which amount to a film flowing with issues that make a mouth watering prospect of a drama.
Whilst there have been numerous films portraying the events of the Second World War, the more popular ones being Schindler's list and Saving Private Ryan, this has an edge of feeling less glorified, more of a cult smash depicting the difficulties of the Jews in their fight against the overruling Germans. Including a love story may seem like Hollywood styling but this gives the film a gritty edge that has a wonderfully dramatic finale that goes to show mixing Hollywood with Indie can work.
Beginning in the future we see a reasonable good long shot of Rachel sat on a beach as she goes back in time, recalling her events in the war.
We are then taken back to war time as Rachel, living undercover finds herself being exposed and is soon lining up her options to make an attempt. Then after a warm reunion with her family there is a tragedy on a night boat and this is exceptionally dramatic and sets the tone for further drama to progress.
As Rachel reinvents herself with the Resistance the plot moves forward as she tries to help infiltrate the plans of the enemies but is left confused by her feelings towards their leader.
If we look at the time this was set and the way everything worked you can forgive the awkward eye lusting moments and focus on the degrading nature to which the men treated the women and how this ultimately affected the balance of this story. The cruel sexual acts and the disrespectful approaches made by the German soldiers would earn them a one way ticket to prison these days and this reflection is certainly controversial but bravely unashamed to tell it as it is.
With this picture we see surprisingly little war imagery and are shown demonstrations of religious acts and how people felt about Jews. These religious concepts are put to the ultimate limit with passionate actions being taken against them, such as shootings, slavery amongst others.
Whilst this picture has enough religious iconography to get its point across there isn't as much tempo to grab you in the way that's required. I often found my attention wondering as situations started repeating themselves and the obvious attraction did borderline on soppiness. Not to mention there are so many main characters with their own agendas you can lose your bearings.
Nevertheless this has a point and is worth a watch.