Hard to take but brilliant

Rating: Null/10 (7 May 2003)

I found this film very powerful and thought it was brilliantly made, but I found it extremely difficult to sit through and would NEVER watch it again. I could hardly breathe!!! I know it's not supposed to be a light film, but wow - some of the scenes were traumatic to watch. I'm glad I saw it however. I think that part of the horror of the film is that it is done in such a matter of fact way - people just get shot with no ceremony etc. exactly as it would have been in Hitler's reign. This film really opened my eyes to some horrors that have conveniently been left out of school history lessons.
**POSSIBLE SPOILER** Adrien Brody was brilliant beyond words. I agree that the scene with the officer was a particularly moving one - I have tears in my eyes even now, just thinking about it. It was so clear that he thought it was his last chance to play. It was his farewell to the world really and his face was astonishing! *************
I just can't understand how the man who Adrien Brody portrays every survived the experiences showed in the film. BTW - it is based on an autobiography so the comments about things not being realistic or logical are a bit misplaced - maybe you should argue with the man who wrote his life story :)
Anyway, see it if you can. Don't go if you have something that needs to be done afterwards, because if you're anything like me you won't be functioning too well!