Europa Europa

You're unlikely to find a movie based on a true story that's as fascinating as this one. Nominated for an Oscar, this German film is easy to get caught up in. However, for me, there seemed to be something lacking - as strong as this film was, I thought that given its source material it could've been even better. Marco Hofschneider is fantastic in the lead role. Fans of the Before Sunrise and Before Sunset movies will recognize a young Julie Delpy (then just twenty years old) who delivers a nice, but brief, performance as the lead's Jew-hating girlfriend. My grade: B+

Plot Synopsis: A Jewish boy separated from his family in the early days of WWII poses as a German orphan and is taken into the heart of the Nazi world as a 'war hero' and eventually becomes part of the Hitler Youth. Although improbabilities and happenstance are cornerstones of the film, it is based upon a true story. (via Imdb)

Director: Agnieszka Holland (The Secret Garden)
Writers: Agnieska Holland (Trois couleurs: Bleu) and Paul Hengge, based on the book by Solomon Perel
Stars: Marco Hofschneider (Immortal Beloved), Julie Delpy (Before Sunset), Rene Hofschneider, Delphine Forest, Erich Schwarz, Andrzej Mastalerz, Hanns Zischler (The Cement Garden)

Useless Trivia: The lead role of Solomon was intended for Rene Hofschneider. By the time production began, however, Rene was too old for the role and it was given to his brother, Marco. Rene ended up playing Solomon's older brother.