Relentlessly heavy-handed but quite compelling nonetheless, this loosely fact-based drama is about a German SS officer's clandestine attempts to stem the Holocaust, and about the complaisance he encountered when trying to alert the world (and more specifically the Vatican). Adapted in part from the eyewitness accounts written by Nazi lieutenant and chemist Kurt Gerstein (played by Ulrich Tukur) while in a French prison after World War II, the film invents as the Nazi's confidante a fictionalized, idealistic young priest (Mathieu Kassovitz) with direct connections to Pope Pius XII, so that cowriter-director Costa-Gavras can get the pontiff on record saying nothing more than "my heart prays for the victims," while his cardinals deflect follow-up questions. While there's more to Amen than simply condemning the Catholic Church--including moving lead performances--Costa-Gavras (whose Mad City was a similarly overwrought screed against tabloid journalism) treats scene after scene as a soapbox for pronouncements and denouncements instead of just telling the story and letting the events speak for themselves. How deeply this parable affects viewers may depend entirely on how each individual feels about the director's sermonizing narrative tactics. Optional. [Note: DVD extras include a 44-minute making-of documentary, a scene comparison of a clip from the film with a text excerpt from “The Deputy” (the 1963 play by Rolf Hochhuth on which Amen is based), three cast/crew bios and filmographies (for Costa-Gavras, Mathieu Kassovitz, and Ulrich Tukur), “A Conversation with Costa-Gavras” text interview, a “Who Is Kurt Gerstein” text essay about the real-life S.S. officer, and trailers. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a flawed film.] (R. Blackwelder)
Amen
Kino, 130 min., in English, French, and Italian w/English subtitles, not rated, VHS: $49.95, DVD: $29.95, Aug. 12 Volume 18, Issue 4
Amen
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