Movie "Labyrinth of Lies" (2014)

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    Soundtrack

    Im Labyrinth des Schweigens - Der Soundtrack zum Film

    Different stars

    • 1 Niki ReiserKaddish 3:01
    • 2 Niki ReiserIm Archiv von Auschwitz 2:56
    • 3 Niki ReiserVerhaftung der Täter 2:06
    • 4 Cantor Gideon Zelermyer & Choir of Congregation Shaar HashomayimRachamana 2:40
    • 5 Sebastian PilleJohanns Verdacht 2:49
    • 6 Niki ReiserJohann und Marlene 3:00
    • 7 Niki Reiser & Sebastian PilleTelefonbücher 1:26
    • 8 Niki ReiserDas Labyrinth 2:59
    • 9 Niki ReiserRecherchen 1:36
    • 10 Sebastian PilleDer Auftrag 1:00
    • 11 Niki ReiserDer Prozess 3:44
    • 12 Niki ReiserFrankfurt 1958 2:06
    • 13 Niki ReiserDer Albtraum 2:14
    • 14 Sebastian PilleDas Schweigen 2:39
    • 15 Niki ReiserDas Dokument 1:11
    • 16 Niki ReiserErinnerungen an Auschwitz 1:38

    Im Labyrinth des Schweigens

    " In Germany, 15 years after World War II, one young man forces an entire country to face its past."
    Country
    Spoken Language
    Runtime 2 hr 3 min
    Premiere: World $4 574 756 November 6, 2014
    USA $794 452
    Other countries $3 780 304
    Premiere: USA $794 452 September 30, 2015
    theaters 72
    rollout 459 days
    Digital: World February 16, 2016
    Production Companies

    Description

    A story that exposes the conspiracy of prominent German institutions and government branches to cover up the crimes of Nazis during World War II.

    Сast and Crew

    The Real Story Behind "Labyrinth of Silence"

    Historical Background

    The film "Labyrinth of Silence" is based on the true events surrounding the Frankfurt Auschwitz Trials, which took place between 1963 and 1965 in West Germany. These trials were a pivotal moment in German history, as they marked the first time that many Germans were confronted with the atrocities committed at Auschwitz and other concentration camps during World War II.

    The Frankfurt Auschwitz Trials

    The trials were initiated by a young public prosecutor named André Szymanski, who played a crucial role in bringing former Nazi officials to justice. The trials focused on mid- to low-level officials who had worked at Auschwitz, and they were significant in that they relied heavily on survivor testimonies to build the cases against the accused.

    Impact and Legacy

    The Frankfurt Auschwitz Trials were instrumental in changing public perception in Germany about the Holocaust. They helped to break the silence and denial that had surrounded the topic in post-war Germany and paved the way for a more open discussion about the country's Nazi past.

    Film's Accuracy

      • Character Representation: The film's characters are fictionalized, but they are inspired by real people involved in the trials, such as André Szymanski.

      • Historical Events: The film accurately depicts the challenges faced by the prosecutors, including the initial resistance from the German public and government.

      • Emotional Tone: The film captures the emotional weight and moral complexity of the trials, reflecting the real-life impact on both the survivors and the German society.

    Overall, "Labyrinth of Silence" stays true to the essence of the historical events it portrays, offering a compelling look at a critical moment in the process of coming to terms with the past in Germany.

    Reception

    On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 82%, based on 79 reviews, and an average rating of 6.54/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Labyrinth of Lies artfully blends fact with well-intentioned fiction to offer a thought-provoking look at how the lessons of history can be easily lost or forgotten." On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 62 out of 100, based on 19 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".

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    Critique: 15

    60%
    9 6
    Globe and Mail October 9, 2015

    The movie is a strong account of a lesser-known episode of post-Holocaust history raised above its obvious cinematic formula by Fehling&rsquo...

    AV Club September 30, 2015

    A lot more thought-provoking on issues of collective memory (or lack thereof) than the typical prestige picture, but it does falter dramatically in...

    Chicago Reader October 8, 2015

    It’s a worthwhile history lesson, dramatizing Germany’s efforts to reconcile with its monstrous past.

    Boston Globe October 22, 2015

    Formulaic and uninspired …

    Detroit News October 30, 2015

    What should have been a fairly direct look at a culture hiding from itself becomes an overdone, angst-everywhere exercise.

    The Australian March 25, 2016

    Such a subject deserves a more rigorous treatment.

    SFGATE October 8, 2015

    Frehling is excellent as a rigid do-gooder who thinks he understands everything and then comes up against crimes that shake his sense of the u...

    RogerEbert.com September 30, 2015

    The movie winds up being-to put it kindly-mildly intellectually satisfying while entirely emotionally flat.

    Austin Chronicle October 22, 2015

    As a reminder of the banality of evil and the way a country can conveniently "forget" its casual barbarity (did someone say Guantánamo Bay...

    Los Angeles Times September 30, 2015

    "Labyrinth of Lies" too often feels like machine-stamped issue cinema from a moldy Hollywood playbook.

    Observer September 30, 2015

    It deals with seminal issues in cinematic terms that keep the audience spellbound without sensationalism. The actors are perfect, especially the dy...

    New York Times September 29, 2015

    A chilly, disquieting study of a society in a state of denial until the truth is bared.

    The Guardian September 29, 2015

    While the topic of mass delusion is fascinating, this film is too unfocused to turn it into compelling drama.

    Sydney Morning Herald March 30, 2016

    Fehling does a fine job as Radmann, who also carries a heavy weight, as a cypher for all the Germans who did not want to know what t...

    It’s a classic tale, told by director Giulio Ricciarelli with a fine eye for period detail and a welcome air of restraint.

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