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IMDbPro

The Debt

  • 20102010
  • RR
  • 1h 53m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
69K
YOUR RATING
Helen Mirren, Sam Worthington, and Jessica Chastain in The Debt (2010)
In 1965, three young Israeli Mossad agents on a secret mission capture and kill a notorious Nazi war criminal. Now, thirty years later, a man claiming to be the Nazi has surfaced in Ukraine and one of the former agents must go back undercover to seek out the truth.
Play trailer2:35
10 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Drama
  • Thriller
In 1965, three Mossad Agents cross into East Berlin to apprehend a notorious Nazi war criminal. Thirty years later, the secrets the Agents share come back to haunt them.In 1965, three Mossad Agents cross into East Berlin to apprehend a notorious Nazi war criminal. Thirty years later, the secrets the Agents share come back to haunt them.In 1965, three Mossad Agents cross into East Berlin to apprehend a notorious Nazi war criminal. Thirty years later, the secrets the Agents share come back to haunt them.
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
69K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • John Madden
  • Writers
    • Matthew Vaughn(screenplay)
    • Jane Goldman(screenplay)
    • Peter Straughan(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Helen Mirren
    • Sam Worthington
    • Tom Wilkinson
Top credits
  • Director
    • John Madden
  • Writers
    • Matthew Vaughn(screenplay)
    • Jane Goldman(screenplay)
    • Peter Straughan(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Helen Mirren
    • Sam Worthington
    • Tom Wilkinson
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 211User reviews
    • 250Critic reviews
    • 65Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 13 wins & 5 nominations

    Videos10

    The Debt
    Trailer 2:35
    The Debt
    "Why DidnÂ’t You Go"
    Clip 0:40
    "Why DidnÂ’t You Go"
    "Have to Pay"
    Clip 0:44
    "Have to Pay"
    "Not Capable"
    Clip 0:34
    "Not Capable"
    "Welcome to the Mission"
    Clip 1:19
    "Welcome to the Mission"
    "Train Track Escape"
    Clip 0:54
    "Train Track Escape"
    "Break In"
    Clip 1:20
    "Break In"
    About Rachel
    Featurette 1:09
    About Rachel
    Secret Life
    Featurette 3:35
    Secret Life
    The Debt
    Promo 0:33
    The Debt

    Photos223

    Helen Mirren in The Debt (2010)
    Helen Mirren in The Debt (2010)
    Helen Mirren and Tom Wilkinson in The Debt (2010)
    Sam Worthington in The Debt (2010)
    Sam Worthington in The Debt (2010)
    Helen Mirren and Jessica Chastain in The Debt (2010)
    Jessica Chastain in The Debt (2010)
    Helen Mirren and John Madden in The Debt (2010)
    Sam Worthington and Jessica Chastain in The Debt (2010)
    Helen Mirren in The Debt (2010)
    John Madden, Sam Worthington, and Jessica Chastain in The Debt (2010)
    Marton Csokas in The Debt (2010)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Helen Mirren
    Helen Mirren
    • Rachel Singeras Rachel Singer
    Sam Worthington
    Sam Worthington
    • Young Davidas Young David
    Tom Wilkinson
    Tom Wilkinson
    • Stephan Goldas Stephan Gold
    Ciarán Hinds
    Ciarán Hinds
    • David Peretzas David Peretz
    Romi Aboulafia
    Romi Aboulafia
    • Sarah Goldas Sarah Gold
    Tomer Ben David
    • Sarah's Husbandas Sarah's Husband
    Ohev Ben David
    • Sarah's Sonas Sarah's Son
    Jonathan Uziel
    Jonathan Uziel
    • Mossad Agentas Mossad Agent
    Elana Kivity Davenport
    • Publisheras Publisher
    Eli Zohar
    • Stephan's Driveras Stephan's Driver
    Irén Bordán
    Irén Bordán
    • Seminar Moderator (Tel Aviv 1997)as Seminar Moderator (Tel Aviv 1997)
    Jessica Chastain
    Jessica Chastain
    • Young Rachelas Young Rachel
    Marton Csokas
    Marton Csokas
    • Young Stephanas Young Stephan
    Jesper Christensen
    Jesper Christensen
    • Doktor Bernhardtas Doktor Bernhardt…
    Brigitte Kren
    Brigitte Kren
    • Frau Bernhardtas Frau Bernhardt…
    Bálint Merán
    • Man on Tramas Man on Tram
    Christian Strasser
    • Station Guardas Station Guard
    Alexander E. Fennon
    • Postal Workeras Postal Worker
    • (as Alexander Fennon)
    • Director
      • John Madden
    • Writers
      • Matthew Vaughn(screenplay)
      • Jane Goldman(screenplay)
      • Peter Straughan(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Jessica Chastain underwent four months of training in Krav Maga for this movie.
    • Goofs
      Vogel uses latex gloves when examining Rachel in 1966, but this was not common in medical practice before the 1980s.
    • Quotes

      Young Stephan: [to Rachel] Maybe it's not always a blessing to survive.

    • Connections
      Featured in The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Episode #19.199 (2011)
    • Soundtracks
      Ohne Dich
      Written by Gerhard Narholz (as Otto Sieben), Joachim Relin

      Courtesy of APM Music

    User reviews211

    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    Not the powerhouse it should have been
    In John Madden's The Debt, three young strangers in 1965 East Berlin seek to find and capture The Surgeon of Birkenau, a ruthless doctor that performed horrific acts on imprisoned Jews during World War II.

    The threesome are played by Sam Worthington, Marton Csokas and Jessica Chastain who embody David, Stefan and Rachel respectively in their younger years. Ciarán Hinds, Tom Wilkinson and Helen Mirren play the characters when the film switches between the 1960's to the end of 1999.

    The film flips between the thirty year time frame liberally in the first third of the film. We watch as the young David, Stefan and Rachel welcome us to 'The Mission' and follow them through the intricate plot details that, if all goes correctly, will bring the doctor to across the Berlin wall to face trial for his actions. Young Rachel will pose as a patient to gain access to the doctor and when confirmation is received, she will use her special training to subdue the surgeon so that Stefan and David can transport him alive to West Berlin and then back to Israel.

    But things don't go according to plan and soon the three are forced to remain in hiding with their prisoner until they can determine a new course of action. It's while cooped up in their apartment that the doctor begins to use mind games in an effort to gain the psychological advantage while revealing the true evil behind his words.

    In more modern times, we learn that Rachel and Stefan had both married and divorced. Their daughter has written a book about the abduction and the days that followed in the apartment detailing her parents as heroes to the cause.

    But recent developments and an unexpected suicide by David leave Stefan and Rachel in the same position they were 30 years ago. And one must travel back to Europe to seek out someone who claims to be the original Surgeon of Birkenau.

    John Madden is no stranger to award winning dramas. Shakespeare in Love won out over Saving Private Ryan and Ethan Frome was a well received romance back in 1993. Madden works the camera like a maestro in effortlessly weeding the story through multiple decades. The film never loses focus and relies on its strengths – namely the performances of Mirren, Csokas and Chastain – to carry the heavy plot line forward.

    However, in the final acts, the story gets a little lost. Watching Mirren head to Kiev, Ukraine was a leap of faith and political, social and moral values begin to choke the life out of what was a better than average thriller up to that point.

    With the conclusion of The Debt being too heavy handed to maintain the thin weight of the first ¾, The Debt eventually fails to be the film that showed award promise in the trailers. We are not suggesting that The Debt is a bad film, but its final reel wilt does take away from the execution of its predecessors.

    Mirren may still get award recognition come December (the film is officially released December 29th), but it may be a long shot to see The Debt as one of the Best Picture nominees.

    www.killerreviews.com
    helpful•44
    25
    • gregsrants
    • Sep 15, 2010

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 31, 2011 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • United Kingdom
      • Hungary
      • Israel
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site
    • Languages
      • English
      • German
      • Russian
    • Also known as
      • Розплата
    • Filming locations
      • Budapest, Hungary
    • Production companies
      • Miramax
      • Marv Films
      • Pioneer Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $20,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $31,177,548
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $9,909,499
      • Sep 4, 2011
    • Gross worldwide
      • $45,636,368
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 53 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • DTS
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

    Related news

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