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

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

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

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Germany]

Country:

Germany Luxembourg Czech Republic

Language:

German French

Release Date:

11 November 2004 (Germany)

Also Known As:

El noveno día

Filming Locations:

Germany

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$5,675, 3 June 2005

Gross USA:

$72,888

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

Did You Know?

Goofs

While the priest was in the Gestapo agent's office the agent pointed out a Russian religious icon, which he said he obtained in Moscow. The Nazis were very close to Moscow, but never were in that city.

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Connections

Referenced in Yes Man (2008)

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Soundtracks

Cello Concerto No. 1
Music by Alfred Schnittke
Conducted by Leif Segerstam
Cello: Torleif Thedeen
Performed by D.R. SymfoniOrkestret

User Reviews

Another Impressive Example of the Powerful German Cinema

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 (Ulrich Matthes) gets a nine days leave to return to his home town for his mother's funeral. Along this period, the SS Gestapo lieutenant Gebhardt (August Diehl) 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.

Based on a true story, "Der Neunte Tag" is an awesome movie and another impressive example of the powerful German cinema, of which I am a great fan. The philosophical duel between the characters of Ulrich Matthes and August Diehl is simply fantastic, with magnificent silence and dialogs. Sometimes, silence associated to the expression of the face is more significant than words. The direction is stunning and very realistic, particularly in the concentration camp; the music score and the cinematography are very beautiful; and the performances are perfect, with the two lead actors deserving nominations to the Oscar. My vote is nine.

Title (Brazil): "9o Dia" ("9th Day")