God on Trial (TV 2008)

Awaiting their inevitable deaths at one of the worst concentration camps, a group of Jews make a rabbinical court to decide whether G-d has went against the holy covenant and if He is the one guilty for their suffering.

Director:

Andy De Emmony

Writer:

Frank Cottrell Boyce

Stars:

Joseph Muir, Josef Altin, Ashley Artus

3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Joseph Muir	...	Kapo (as Joseph Alessi)
Josef Altin	...	Isaac
Ashley Artus	...	Ricard
Alexi Kaye Campbell	...	Doctor
Dominic Cooper	...	Moche
Lorcan Cranitch	...	Blockaltester
Stephen Dillane	...	Schmidt
Rupert Graves	...	Mordechai
François Guétary	...	Jacques (as Francois Guetary)
David de Keyser	...	Hugo
Agnieszka Liggett	...	Tour Guide
Louise Mardenborough	...	Emily
Eddie Marsan	...	Lieble
André Oumansky	...	Jacob
Blake Ritson	...	Idek

Storyline

Wondering about the meaning and modalities of their triage, presumably to live or burn, Jewish Auschwitz barrack mates start to debate on how or why God can allow (his) people to suffer such fatal misery, which even further divides a devout father and his liberal son. They eventually form a Thora court, which hears theological argumentation as well as practical considerations.

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Plot Keywords:

jewish | auschwitz | prisoner | debate | barracks | 

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Details

Country:

UK

Release Date:

9 November 2008 (USA)

Also Known As:

Auschwitzin vangit

Filming Locations:

Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hat Trick Productions, BBC Scotland

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Hat Trick has employed a rabbi to consult on the script.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Tour Guide: Unfortunately our admission is not inclusive in your tour price, so sorry you must pay. But, um, the good news it's only 10 zlotas, so not so very bad.

User Reviews

A masterpiece of TV drama

In a freezing, filthy, overcrowded hut in Auschwitz a group of emaciated Jewish prisoners await their fate. Around half of them will be selected for the gas chamber within a couple of hours and most seem paralysed by fear, hunger and despair - but one angry inmate rails against God. His anger provokes reactions and soon the men - they are all men - agree to put God on trial, quickly organising a kind of tribunal in the traditions of their religion.

This drama confronts one of the central issues of human existence - the basis of faith - and sets it in a time and place that has become a by-word for inhumanity. With writing that is emotive, intelligent and unflinching throughout complimented by a series of utterly convincing and moving performances from all the principals, this was one of the most absorbing and challenging pieces of TV drama I have witnessed in years. In fact I would go further: This ranks as one of the finest TV productions I have ever seen.

For me the almost real time context lifted this play beyond another testimony to the Holocaust. The characters all know the past - indeed, they acknowledge several hideous near genocidal atrocities by their Jewish ancestors - but they don't know the future.

I won't spoil the outcome but, please, seek this out. If it doesn't make you think and doesn't touch your heart, you may not be alive.