In this thought-provoking BBC drama adapted by Frank Cottrell-Boyce from Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel's book The Trial of God, a group of Auschwitz prisoners—some religious, others secular—conduct a trial in accordance with traditional rabbinical procedure to decide whether God should be convicted for violating his covenant with the Jewish people by permitting the Nazi Final Solution. Three inmates serve as presiding judges while individuals offer arguments articulating different views, including the suggestion that the genocide is yet another test of faith, a position dismissed by others as empty and irrational. Andy de Emmony's sensitive direction keeps the story moving while also effectively capturing both the claustrophobic setting and the sense of high tension, thanks to occasional interruptions by German captors (unfortunately, the periodic shift into the present to follow a group of tourists inspecting the gas chambers takes viewers out of the compelling historical drama). God on Trial boasts an exceptionally fine cast, with Stellan Skarsgard, Stephen Dillane, Dominic Cooper, Eddie Marsan, and Rupert Graves making strong impressions. But it's Anthony Sher, delivering the powerful monologue leading into the verdict, who ultimately stands out. An intense, challenging film that raises important moral and theological questions without offering easy answers, this is recommended. (F. Swietek)
God on Trial
WGBH, 86 min., not rated, DVD: $24.95 Volume 24, Issue 1
God on Trial
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