The Ninth Day (2004)
"Der neunte Tag" (original title)

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

Director:

Volker Schlöndorff

Writers:

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

Stars:

Ulrich Matthes, August Diehl, Hilmar Thate

5 wins & 13 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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 Jirík	...	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
Václav Krátký	...	SS-Mann

Storyline

In World War II, after a period living hell on earth in the concentration camp of Dachau with other catholic priests, Father Abbé Henri Kremer gets a nine days leave to return to his home town for his mother's funeral. Along this period, the SS Gestapo lieutenant Gebhardt tries to persuade Henri, who was born in silver-spoon and member of an influent Luxembourgian family, to convince the local bishop to give-up resisting to the Germans and write a letter to the Vatican in the name of the Catholic Church of Luxemburg convincing the Pope to support Hitler and the Nazi regime. The ambivalent Henri questions himself and the bishop what he shall do.

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Plot Keywords:

catholic | bishop | catholic priest | catholic church | vatican | 

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller | War

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site [de]

Country:

Germany Luxembourg Czech Republic

Language:

German French

Release Date:

11 November 2004 (Germany)

Also Known As:

The Ninth Day

Filming Locations:

Germany

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$5,675 (USA) (3 June 2005)

Gross:

$72,888 (USA) (18 November 2005)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Provobis Film, Videopress S.A., Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min 98 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Fujicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

Although the film takes place in January 1942, the bishop mentions the deportations of Dutch Jews, which began in July 1942.

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Soundtracks

"Frauen sind keine Engel"
Performed by Margot Hielscher

User Reviews

Haunting, brilliant, agonizing. Enthralling and mesmerizing. Cannot be recommended highly enough.

I do not at all understand how someone can dismiss this film as a "Catholic propaganda movie". That's utter rubbish. I was raised catholic and have converted to paganism but this was still an excellent movie. It does not try to push the catholic faith onto anyone. What it is about is, simply, one man's principles. In an awful time, in the face of torture and abuse, when he is being confronted with the most persuasive arguments and when no one could blame him for taking the easy way out and saving himself, can he stand by what he believes? Will he save himself and then live the rest of his life hating himself for it? This movie was completely engrossing from beginning to end. It absolutely gripped my emotions and my mind and held me riveted. It also left me thinking about it and haunted by it long afterward. I cannot recommend this movie highly enough. Brilliant. I found myself both attracted to and repelled by the character of the Nazi sent to persuade him. Amazing subject matter beautifully executed.