Colonel Redl

Klaus Maria Brandauer (Mephisto, Out of Africa) turns in a virtuoso performance as the title character in this engrossing study of how one man's unquestioning patriotism leads to his own destruction. Istvan Szabo, who also directed Brandauer in Mephisto, masterfully recounts the story of Alfred Redl, a gay Hungarian military officer, who begins as a peasant and works his way up to a commanding position in the Austrian Empire. Throughout his career, his love for a fellow (well-born but troublesome) officer results in problems for Redl--ultimately leading to a tragic confrontation. Shot in German, with English subtitles, this international award winner is highly recommended for public libraries.