Europa Europa (1990)

A boy in Nazi Germany, trying to conceal that he is Jewish, joins the Hitler Youth.

Director:

Agnieszka Holland

Writers:

Paul Hengge (additional material), Agnieszka Holland,

Stars:

Marco Hofschneider, André Wilms, René Hofschneider

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 9 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Marco Hofschneider	...	Salomon 'Solly' 'Salek' Perel / Josef 'Jupp' Peters
André Wilms	...	Soldier Robert Kellerman
Ashley Wanninger	...	Gerd
Klaus Abramowsky	...	Salomon's Father
Michèle Gleizer	...	Salomon's Mother
Delphine Forest	...	Inna Moyseyevna
René Hofschneider	...	Isaak Perel - Salomon's brother
Julie Delpy	...	Leni
Hanns Zischler	...	Captain von Lerenau Hauptmann.
Martin Maria Blau	...	Ulmayer
Bernhard Howe	...	Feldwebel
Klaus Kowatsch	...	Schulz
Holger Kunkel	...	Kramer
Halina Labonarska	...	Leni's Mother
Andrzej Mastalerz	...	Zenek Dracz

Storyline

A Jewish boy, separated from his family in the early days of WWII, poses as a German orphan and is thereafter taken into the heart of the Nazi world as a 'war hero' and eventually made a Hitler Youth. Although improbabilities and happenstance are cornerstones of the film, it is based upon a true story.

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Plot Keywords:

hitler youth | german | jewish | jewish boy | nazi | 

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Genres:

Drama | History | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for mature treatment of holocaust issues

Details

Country:

Germany France Poland

Language:

German Russian Polish Hebrew

Release Date:

14 November 1990 (France)

Also Known As:

Europa, Europa

Filming Locations:

Jewish Cemetary, Lódz, Lódzkie, Poland

Box Office

Gross:

$5,575,738 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Central Cinema Company Film (CCC), Les Films du Losange, Telmar Film International Ltd.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film met with a lukewarm reception in its native Germany, with the local media being less than complementary about it. The German Oscar selection committee did not even include it as a submission for that year's Best Foreign Language Film Oscar. Much embarrassment ensued when it went on to become one of the most successful German films ever released in the US, winning a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay.

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Goofs

When the Russian refugees are fleeing Poland and are strafed by a German fighter plane, the fighter plane is obviously a smaller scale radio controlled model. The airplane resembles a Supermarine Spitfire, an airplane not used by the Germans.

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Quotes

Isaak Perel - Salomons brother: It is written that a son never leaves his parents in difficult times.
Solomon's Father: It is also written that the son must obey his parents. And it is also your duty to watch over your brother.

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Connections

Featured in The 100 Greatest War Films (2005)

User Reviews

Fantastic Film!

Europa, Europa by Agnieszka Holland is a very interesting film. It addresses how far people would go to stay alive. Caught in the hostile warfare, a Jewish boy Solomon Perel realizes that the only way he can survive is by pretending to be one of the Nazis. I was very surprised when I found out that this was a true story. For someone to go through such an horrible experience for so many years and stay normal, its just something I found very fascinating. This movie made me realize that one can never say "I would never do this or that". When you are put in a situation where the only two options you have are survival or death, there is no doubt that most of us would do anything to survive. Even that what Solomon did himself. As I watched this film I thought about the war I have experienced. There were so many people that would have done anything to survive. Actually, there were many instances where people surrendered and joined the other side, just to stay alive or save their family. I know of a girl that got married with a guy (her enemy basically) just to stay alive. What sets this movie apart is that this a true story and the person that is depicted in this film is still alive.

Great movie. Must See.