Bent (1997)

Max is gay and as such is sent to Dachau concentration camp under the Nazi regime. He tries to deny he is gay and gets a yellow label (the one for Jews) instead of pink (the one for gays). ... See full summary »

Director:

Sean Mathias

Writers:

Martin Sherman (screenplay), Martin Sherman (play)

Stars:

Lothaire Bluteau, Clive Owen, Mick Jagger

4 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mick Jagger	...	Greta
Clive Owen	...	Max
Brian Webber	...	Rudy
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau	...	Wolf (as Nikolaj Waldau)
Jude Law	...	Stormtrooper
Gresby Nash	...	Waiter
Suzanne Bertish	...	Half-Woman - Half-Man
David Meyer	...	Gestapo Man
Stefan Marling	...	SS Captain
Richard Laing	...	SS Guard
Crispian Belfrage	...	SS Guard
Ian McKellen	...	Uncle Freddie
Johanna Kirby	...	Muttering Woman
David Phelan	...	Fluff in Park
Peter Stark	...	Guard 1 on Train

Storyline

Max is gay and as such is sent to Dachau concentration camp under the Nazi regime. He tries to deny he is gay and gets a yellow label (the one for Jews) instead of pink (the one for gays). In camp he falls in love with his fellow prisoner Horst, who wears his pink label with pride.

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Plot Keywords:

gay | prisoner | dachau concentration camp | dachau | nazi | 

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Taglines:

The stunning film adaptation of Martin Sherman's award-winning play.

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Genres:

Drama | History | Romance | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated NC-17 for a strong scene of graphic sexuality

Details

Official Sites:

MGM

Country:

UK Japan

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 November 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

Akumim

Filming Locations:

Dalmellington, Ayrshire, Scotland, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$145,222 (USA) (28 November 1997)

Gross:

$372,341 (USA) (26 December 1997)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Channel Four Films, NDF Inc., Ask Kodansha Company Ltd.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The original Broadway play on which this filmed production was based, "Bent" opened at the New Apollo Theater in New York on December 2, 1979 and ran for 241 performances. "Bent" the play, which the film screenplay was based upon, was written by Martin Sherman, and was nominated for the 1980 Tony Award for Best Play.

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Quotes

Horst: We had a boy like that in school. Used to lead us in silences.
Max: Ok. I'll explain. Ok. We have to move rocks.
Horst: Yes sir.
Max: You move one rock at a time.
Horst: Yes sir.
Max: You take it over there.
Horst: Yes sir.
Max: When that pile is complete, you take one rock at a time and move it back.
Horst: You move it back? You move rocks from there to there and then from there to back again?
Max: Yes sir.

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Crazy Credits

The film opens with the main credits revealing like a searchlight.

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Connections

Referenced in The Bubble (2006)

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Soundtracks

STREETS OF BERLIN
Written by Martin Sherman, Philip Glass
Performed by Mick Jagger, piano by Matt Clifford

User Reviews

If you didn't like it, you shouldn't be watching movies like this

This movie was not a high budget movie, and you can tell. But what makes a movie? Not its high budget. The story and the characters make a movie, and this one had it. How brave of a group to go into this very untouched piece of history and show it so elegantly. While some of the scenes may have seemed a bit cheesy, or stagey as someone said earlier, you need to understand the position these people where in. While making love without touching may seem odd, or weird, that is all they had. That was all the human contact they had. If you can't see that you shouldn't be watching movies like this one.