Very watchable, Europa, Europa is purportedly based on a true story. Our little hero is a young German Jew who survives the troubled period of WW2 by pretending to be a Communist and later a Nazi Youth. His misadventures are interesting to watch and that period of history is always fascinating.
I think that because of her Polish background, the director was better able to capture the scenes involving the Russian period. It is when he moves over to the German side that the film gets a little unrealistic. Salomon's fascist schooling experience would lead one to believe that the entire German Army had nothing better to do than to impart training on killing Jews. That at a time when they were losing the war! A bit biased. When Salomon tries to surrender to the Russians, the entire German Armies attention suddenly turns to him. They are more interested in a defector than in fighting the enemy firing bullets at them. Thats a bit fantastic. The only scene where we really empathise with Salomon and feel the horrors of being a Jew are during his tram-ride through the Ghetto. Thats unfortunate for a film trying to give an accurate depiction of that period.
I think that because of her Polish background, the director was better able to capture the scenes involving the Russian period. It is when he moves over to the German side that the film gets a little unrealistic. Salomon's fascist schooling experience would lead one to believe that the entire German Army had nothing better to do than to impart training on killing Jews. That at a time when they were losing the war! A bit biased. When Salomon tries to surrender to the Russians, the entire German Armies attention suddenly turns to him. They are more interested in a defector than in fighting the enemy firing bullets at them. Thats a bit fantastic. The only scene where we really empathise with Salomon and feel the horrors of being a Jew are during his tram-ride through the Ghetto. Thats unfortunate for a film trying to give an accurate depiction of that period.