Sophie Scholl: The Final Days (2005)

A dramatization of the final days of Sophie Scholl, one of the most famous members of the German World War II anti-Nazi resistance movement, The White Rose.

Director:

Marc Rothemund

Writer:

Fred Breinersdorfer

Stars:

Julia Jentsch, Fabian Hinrichs, Alexander Held

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 22 wins & 12 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Julia Jentsch	...	Sophie Scholl
Alexander Held	...	Robert Mohr
Fabian Hinrichs	...	Hans Scholl
Johanna Gastdorf	...	Else Gebel
André Hennicke	...	Roland Freisler
Florian Stetter	...	Christoph Probst
Maximilian Brückner	...	Willi Graf
Johannes Suhm	...	Alexander Schmorell
Lilli Jung	...	Gisela Schertling
Klaus Händl	...	Lohner
Petra Kelling	...	Magdalena Scholl
Jörg Hube	...	Robert Scholl
Franz Staber	...	Werner Scholl
Maria Hofstätter	...	Wärterin
Wolfgang Pregler	...	Jakob Schmid

Storyline

The Final Days is the true story of Germany's most famous anti-Nazi heroine brought to life. Sophie Scholl is the fearless activist of the underground student resistance group, The White Rose. Using historical records of her incarceration, the film re-creates the last six days of Sophie Scholl's life: a journey from arrest to interrogation, trial and sentence in 1943 Munich. Unwavering in her convictions and loyalty to her comrades, her cross-examination by the Gestapo quickly escalates into a searing test of wills as Scholl delivers a passionate call to freedom and personal responsibility that is both haunting and timeless.

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Plot Keywords:

anti nazi | gestapo | nazi | nazi law | year 1943 | 

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Taglines:

In 1943, one young woman stood up to the Nazis, her courage made her a legend, this is her story . . .

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Genres:

Biography | Crime | Drama | History | Thriller | War

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Certificate:

12

Details

Official Sites:

2-1-0 Films [Greece] Official site [Germany]

Country:

Germany

Language:

German

Release Date:

24 February 2005 (Germany)

Also Known As:

Sophie Scholl: The Final Days

Filming Locations:

Munich, Bavaria, Germany

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$701,656 (Germany) (4 March 2005)

Gross:

$676,167 (USA) (11 August 2006)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Broth Film, Goldkind Filmproduktion

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film's closing epilogue states: "The so-called People's Court imposed the death sentence on . . . [seven] . . . members of the White Rose . . . Harsh sentences were imposed on . . . [twelve members] . . . Other members of the White Rose suffered draconian punishments."

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Goofs

During his interrogation at trial, Hans Scholl defiantly states that he has served on the Eastern Front and that Judge Roland Freisler has not. Freisler then appears to be taken aback and momentarily silent. In actuality, Freisler was a veteran of the Eastern Front during World War I, saw significant combat, and was wounded and captured. Thus, his demeanor at Hans' statement is somewhat odd.

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Quotes

Sophie Magdalena Scholl: The sun is still shining!

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Connections

Referenced in 500 Days of Summer (2009)

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Soundtracks

Mother And Son
Written by Gert Wilden Jr.
Performed by Gert Wilden Jr.

User Reviews

Dramatic Reconstruction of Historical Events

This film is not about the „Weisse Rose" (White Rose) resistance group, nor is it about Sophie Scholl. It sticks very closely to its title, and only deals with the last days of Sophie Scholl. Having staked out such a narrow subject, Marc Rothemund is able to narrate the story in great detail. This allows the use of pauses in the dialogue which add to the credibility and drama. I read the official version of the interrogation before seeing the film, and felt that a very good effort had been made to reconstruct what may have actually happened. I also felt that the atmosphere which the film conveyed to be entirely plausible for that time, which I am not old enough to have lived through. For instance, the characters always seemed to be holding back, and not opening their feelings to each other.

Because the official version of the interrogation was dictated by Robert Mohr, it is certain to contain many gaps, such as the lines of questioning before reaching Sophie Scholl's quoted replies. The film may have tended to be too dramatic in filling those gaps. It was surely too dramatic in showing so many chance encounters in the various corridors. Perhaps this tendency to over-dramatise was necessary to present the otherwise rather dry historical events. At least the final result was almost believable, in contrast to many films about the past, and it was an improvement on earlier films covering the White Rose, simply because so much more has come to light since they were made.

This is one of the best dramatic reconstructions of historical events that I have seen.