Kapò (1960)

A young Jewish girl leads an escape attempt from a concentration camp.

Director:

Gillo Pontecorvo

Writers:

Gillo Pontecorvo, Franco Solinas

Stars:

Susan Strasberg, Laurent Terzieff, Emmanuelle Riva

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 3 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Susan Strasberg	...	Edith, alias Nicole Niepas
Laurent Terzieff	...	Sascha
Emmanuelle Riva	...	Terese
Didi Perego	...	Sofia
Gianni Garko	...	Karl, German Soldier
Annabella Besi
Graziella Galvani
Paola Pitagora
Eleonora Bellinzaghi
Bruno Scipioni
Dragomir Felba	...	(as Felba Dragomir)
Mira Dinulovic
Semka Sokolovic-Bertok	...	(as Semca Sokolic)
Dirjana Dojic

Storyline

A young Jewish girl leads an escape attempt from a concentration camp.

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Plot Keywords:

concentration camp | jewish | massacre | collaboration with nazis | dead body | 

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Taglines:

One of six million UNTOLD stories WE DARE NOT FORGET!

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Genres:

Drama | History | War

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Details

Country:

Italy France Yugoslavia

Language:

Italian German Russian Polish

Release Date:

29 September 1960 (Italy)

Also Known As:

A kápó

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cineriz, Vides Cinematografica, Zebra Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Edith, alias Nicole Niepas: [to Sasha] Your mother won't like me, I'm not a good girl, and my name's not Nicole, I'm a Jew.

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Connections

Featured in Pontecorvo: The Dictatorship of Truth (1992)

User Reviews

Incredible Story

I've never really liked holocaust flicks because they get well, usually made so that the dumbest of the dumb to 'get it.' Kapo is just a movie that shows, not tells, which of course makes the best story. Thanks to TCM for playing this gem that I'll buy on DVD as soon as it comes out. I'd never even heard of it, and I have seen a LOT of flicks.

Susan Strasburg does an incredible job as Nicollete / Edith. Her transformation from shell-shocked victim to cynical survivor is absolutely gripping. The tension in the movie builds to nearly unbearable level and the end simply leaves you scooping your jaw off the floor.

This is the type of movie I sorely needed after going on a loooong dry spell of celluloid garbage. Why this movie isn't famous, I have no idea, but it should be.