Neunte Tag, Der (2004)

Director:

Volker Schlöndorff

Writers:

Jean Bernard (memoir "Pfarrerblock 25487") and
Eberhard Görner (screenplay)

Release Date:

11 November 2004 (Germany)

Genre:

Drama | War

Plot:

A drama loosely based on Jean Bernard's Nazi-era prison diary.

Plot Keywords:

Based On Fact | Bishop | Brother Brother Relationship | Brother In Law | Brother Sister Relationship

Awards:

4 wins & 12 nominations

Cast

Ulrich Matthes	...	Abbé Henri Kremer
August Diehl	...	Untersturmführer Gebhardt
Hilmar Thate	...	Bischof Philippe
Bibiana Beglau	...	Marie Kremer
Germain Wagner	...	Roger Kremer
Jean-Paul Raths	...	Raymond Schmitt
Ivan Jirik	...	Armando Bausch
Karel Hromadka	...	Pater Laurant Koltz
Miroslav Sichmann	...	Pater Marcel Bour
Adolf Filip	...	Professor Klimek (Kraków)
Vladimir Fiser	...	Bischof Kozal
Peter Varga	...	Józef (Polish Inmate) (as Petr Varga)
Petr Janis	...	Pater Nansen
Zdenek Pechácek	...	Lagerführer
Vaclav Kratky	...	SS-Mann

Also Known As:

Devátý den (Czech Republic)
Neuvième jour, Le (Luxembourg: French title)
Pfarrerblock (Germany) (working title)
The Ninth Day (International: English title)

Runtime:

98 min | Argentina:98 min (Mar del Plata Film Festival)

Country:

Germany | Luxembourg | Czech Republic

Language:

German | French

Color:

Color (Fujicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Switzerland:14 (canton of Zurich) | Hungary:14 | Argentina:16 | South Korea:15 | Czech Republic:12 | Singapore:PG | Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Germany

Company:

Provobis Film

Goofs:

Anachronisms: While their fellow-prisoner is being crucified, the priests are singing the hymn "Pange, lingua, gloriosi" by Thomas Aquinas (1264). However, they are singing a German version of this song, which was not in use before 1969. In addition, even if they happened to know a German version, it would be more likely for them to sing the original Latin version, as there were priests from all over Europe imprisoned in this block.

Soundtrack:

Frauen sind keine Engel

Please go watch it - this is no Catholic propaganda movie

This movie has been unduly panned by IMDb critics as being Catholic propaganda, when there is hardly any. It's actually an exploration of questions on faith and morality, viewed from the perspective of Rev. Henri Kremer, a priest who has been "on leave" from Dachau to convince the Bishop of Luxemburg to support Nazism, who has been a silent opponent all throughout. At one point the film even mentions that the Pope however congratulated Hitler on his birthday - that clearly indicates the acquiescence of the Catholic world - to me that's quite the opposite of propaganda.

**** SOME SPOILERS AHEAD **** The movie chronicles each of the 9 days that Rev. Kremer is allowed, and his conversations with Gestapo officer Gebhardt. When Kremer fails to convince the Bishop, he is persuaded to write a memo himself, given his own respectability due to his family status. In return he can have all the priests in Dachau released. Kremer at one point thinks he is being like Judas betraying the Christian cause (also to be noted that his personal cash upon release amounted to 30 marks), which Gebhardt, a former theology student himself, argues is a necessary evil, because without Judas there would be no martyrdom of Christ, and hence no Christianity. Rev. Kremer also learns that by giving Nazi policies the official blessing of Catholicism, he can be responsible for the deportation of thousands - although some 40 priests could be let go from Dachau. The resulting dilemma of Kremer dominates the movie.

Ulrich Matthes is very convincing in the role of Kremer with his sunken cheeks and eyes, and watch the young actor August Diehl in the role of Untersturmfuehrer Gebhardt.