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Germany, France, Poland · 1990
Rated R · 1h 52m
Director Agnieszka Holland
Starring Marco Hofschneider, Julie Delpy, René Hofschneider, Piotr Kozlowski
Genre Drama, History, War
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Jewish teenager Salek ends up in a Russian orphanage after being separated from his family in Nazi Germany. When Nazi troops reach Russia, he convinces them he is a German Aryan and becomes an invaluable interpreter. However, his deception becomes increasingly difficult to maintain after falls in love with Leni, an anti-Semite.
Holland takes a more prosaic approach, but the ironies bite hard, and occasional farcical moments add an unsettling edge to Perel's fortunes. Holland plays on the paradox of role-playing with moderation, but the moral uncertainties of Perel's survival are no less dizzying for all that.
The execution could be improved, but the sheer zip of the real life story just about carries this wartime tale along.
Washington Post by Desson Thomson
The problem is, Europa is episodic rather than cumulative. Europa is about the highlights in Solly's wartime life. But it's not about Solly.
There are a great many movies about the tragic experience of the Jews during the Second World War, but only a handful as passionate, as subtly intelligent, as universal as this one. In Europa Europa, Agnieszka Holland tackles a great theme and, in the process, has made a great movie.
The New York Times by Janet Maslin
This film includes several remarkable episodes illustrating the strange events that shaped Mr. Perel's destiny and the full force of his terror and sorrow.
Austin Chronicle by Marjorie Baumgarten
As a personal, autobiographical tale, Europa Europa is a fascinating narrative. As a historical memoir, its details are compelling.
Entertainment Weekly by Owen Gleiberman
Europa, Europa isn’t the wrenching emotional saga it might have been.
Los Angeles Times by Peter Rainer
This man whose family was almost entirely wiped out must feel like he's the recipient of a great cosmic joke, with his survival as the punch line. Europa Europa does justice to the joke.
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