Escape from Sobibor (1987) (TV)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Jack Gold

Writers:

Thomas 'Toivi' Blatt (manuscript "From the Ashes of Sobibor")
Richard Rashke (book)

Release Date:

12 April 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller | War

Plot:

During WWII, the death camp at Treblinka had an escape, causing the Commandant at a similar camp in...

Plot Keywords:

Escape | Nazi | Jew | Poland | German

Awards:

Won 2 Golden Globes. Another 1 win & 6 nominations

Cast

Alan Arkin	...	Leon Feldhendler
Joanna Pacula	...	Luka
Rutger Hauer	...	Alexander 'Sasha' Pechersky
Hartmut Becker	...	Sgt. Gustav Wagner
Jack Shepherd	...	Itzhak Lichtman
Emil Wolk	...	Samuel
Simon Gregor	...	Stanislaw 'Shlomo' Szmajzner
Linal Haft	...	Oberkapo Porchek
Jason Norman	...	Thomas 'Toivi' Blatt
Robert Gwilym	...	Chaim Engel
Eli Nathenson	...	Moses Szmajzner
Kurt Raab	...	Sgt. Frenzel
Eric P. Caspar	...	Capt. Franz Reichleitner
Hugo Bower	...	Sgt. Beckmann
Klaus Grünberg	...	Sgt. Bauer (as Klaus Grunberg)

Runtime:

143 min | 120 min (DVD version)

Country:

UK | Yugoslavia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

South Korea:15 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Avala, Yugoslavia

Company:

Zenith Entertainment

Goofs:

Continuity: The head SS-Sergeant is referred to as a "Hauptscharführer," however he wears the insignia of a "Sturmscharführer" which is one rank higher.

Quotes:

Stanislaw "Shlomo" Szmajzner: I will do anything for revenge, even if I have to die for it.
Leon Feldhendler: How old are you?
Stanislaw "Shlomo" Szmajzner: How old do you have to be?
Leon Feldhendler: You are old enough.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Pianist (2002)

One of the Best Movies of Jews Concentration Camp in the Second World War

The uprising of the Jews in the death camp of Sobibor, with the escape of three hundred Jews, is brilliantly presented in this awesome movie. The excellent Alan Arkin performs Leon Feldhendler, a natural leader, organizing and motivating the prisoners. Rutger Hauer, in an excellent shape (in 1987), has also a marvelous performance as Alexander 'Sasha' Pechersky, a Russian POW. The gorgeous Joanna Pacula plays Luka, a very brave woman. The explanation of Leon to a new prisoner, why they should dance, play, laugh and make love after the execution of their families, is very touching and respectful. It is indeed an amazing lesson of survival. I have to confess that I am tired of corny movies like `The Pianist', which only shows disgrace and misery of some Jewish persons in the Second World War. We, viewers, are aware of the massacre of Jews in the WWII, but I note that this type of movie is becoming more brutal and explicit. Is it because the world society in 2004 can support watching such brutalities? Is it an adaptation of a historic fact to the violence of the present days? But `Escape From Sobibor' portraits Jews not only as passive victims going (or staying) in the slaughterhouse like a lambs, but also as a very brave people, fighting for survival. It does not mean that the brutality and sadism of certain SS officers is not shown, like the killing of the mother and her baby, or the shot of twenty-six defenseless prisoners, or the use of the whip by some German. But again, it is not explicitly shown as in some movies, with blood, pieces of brain etc., with the only intention of shocking the viewer more than necessary. All the cast has an outstanding performance. The direction is stunning: the scenes of the escape are very real. For example, when the desperate prisoners climbs the wire while escaping is very impressive. Just for reference, another excellent movie about this theme is Jon Avnet's `Uprising'. My vote is nine.

Title (Brazil) `Fuga de Sobibor, O Campo do Inferno' (`Escape From Sobibor, the Hell Camp')