The Ninth Day (2004)

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

6 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

During WWII, a head priest, Henri Kremer, is mysteriously freed from Dachau concentration camp. He learns that he can return home, to Luxembourg, for a period of nine days, during which he will have to face a persuasive Gestapo chief who will put his faith to the test.

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Plot Keywords:

crossing oneself | soldier | flower | water | crucifixion | 

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Taglines:

No one can save them.

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller | War

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Certificate:

Not Rated

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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Connections

Referenced in Yes Man (2008)

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Soundtracks

Frauen sind keine Engel
Performed by Margot Hielscher

User Reviews

A Seven for "The Ninth Day"

"The Ninth Day" is one of Volker Schlondorff's finest directorial feats. It covers an episode of the Nazi concentration Camp of Dachau in which there was a lesser known group of Catholic priests who were incarcerated and half of them exterminated by the oppressive regime that had enveloped Germany in the 30's and 40's during WW II. It particularly revolves around a priest from Luxemburg, Father Henri Kremer, who is released for a nine day period from the camp in order to develop positive relationships between the Bishop of Luxemburg and the Pope and Adolph Hitler's Nazi goals of extermination of specific groups of peoples. Ulrich Matthes plays Henri Kremer and he is very convincing in his strength of faith and love of family in his struggle to accomplish what he has been requested by the Gestapo to do. August Diehl is brilliant in his portrayal of Unterstumfuhrer Gebhardt, the demanding and ruthless Gestapo leader who degrades and tortures his victims to the nth degree. The cruel treatment and crucifixions of the priests is difficult to watch, yet this is a true recollection of events documented by the writer of the book by the same name. He was one of the few Catholic priest survivors of the camp. This film was released in 2004, and it is now on DVD and well worth the viewing for an historical standpoint with a different twist.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Germany]

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 USA:

$8,786, 29 May 2005

Gross USA:

$72,888

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$135,311

Company Credits

Production Co:

Provobis Gesellschaft für Film und Fernsehen, 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