The People vs. Fritz Bauer

2015
The People vs. Fritz Bauer
7.1| 1h45m| en| More Info
Released: 13 September 2015 Released
Producted By: ARTE
Country: Germany
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
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Synopsis

It is the late 1950s. Flourishing under the economic miracle, Germany grows increasingly apathetic about confronting the horrors of its recent past. Nevertheless, Fritz Bauer doggedly devotes his energies to bringing the Third Reich to justice. One day Bauer receives a letter from Argentina, written by a man who is certain that his daughter is dating the son of Adolph Eichmann. Excited by the promising lead, and mistrustful of a corrupt judiciary system where Nazis still lurk, Bauer journeys to Jerusalem to seek alliance with Mossad, the Israeli secret service. To do so is treason — yet committing treason is the only way Bauer can serve his country.

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MartinHafer "The People vs. Fritz Bauer" is an interesting film about a mostly forgotten piece of history. It seems that the Attorney General for Hesse (one of the most populous of the German states), Fritz Bauer, learned about the whereabouts of one of the most infamous Nazis in the post-war era. Yet, inexplicably, the folks in the government had very little interest in finding this man, as he could expose many in the Adenaur government who had Nazi ties--something that could prove embarrassing. So Bauer approached the Israelis with the information and ultimately the Nazi scum-bag was caught.What makes this film so interesting is the ambivalence towards Eichmann in Germany. Instead, the Federal Police seem much more interested in prosecuting homosexuals and preventing Eichmann's capture! Overall, a very interesting portrait of a bygone day. While I knew a lot about the Eichmann capture already, I didn't realize that they might have never found him if it wasn't for Bauer- -and that the Germans themselves couldn't have cared less! Very well made and well worth seeing.By the way, if you enjoy this film I also recommend you watch another exceptional German movie, "The Nasty Girl". It, too, discusses the German people and their ambivalence about confronting their Nazi past.
Larry Silverstein This deliberately paced but important film highlights the severe frustrations of Attorney General Fritz Bauer, as he attempts to prosecute former Nazis in his own country of Germany, in the late 1950's and early 60's. Many of the German people do not want to look back at the horrors that occurred in their country a decade before, instead wanting to move forward and enjoy an economic boom and democracy. Also, Bauer comes up against geopolitical resistance at the highest levels across the globe, as many nations to do want to aggressively pursue ex-Nazis for their own individual reasons.Bauer is ably portrayed by Burghart Klaussner, and his efforts, along with State Attorney Karl Angermann (Ronald Zehrfeld), will eventually lead to the capture, in Argentina, of the former high-ranking Nazi Adolf Eichmann, and his subsequent trial and execution in Israel. Also, Bauer's efforts would lead to the Frankfurt Auschwitz Trials, where additional ex-Nazis were tried and sentenced.I might mention that some of the same ground was covered in the fine 2014 movie "Labyrinth of Lies".
anadena-28348 The People vs. Fritz Bauer presents the story of Attorney General Fritz Bauer, a Jew on a quest to prosecute the crimes of the Third Reich, as he was also briefly in a concentration camp, at one point. The action is set in motion when he learns that Adolf Eichmann, a lieutenant colonel responsible for mass deportations, is not only alive but living in Buenos Aires, Argentina. To be sure, Eichmann is one of the worst Nazi officials, and in today's political climate it would be hard to imagine that his prosecution would be riddled with difficulties, yet as this film shows, even in the late 1950s the political climate in Germany was not as progressive as it is today. Read the rest of my review here: https://indieethos.com/2016/09/16/the- people-vs-fritz-bauer/
kosmasp That's metaphorically and literally speaking of course. One might also add that it can be a pun too. But while my summary line is definitely on the light side, the movie is not. And it couldn't be with the story it wants to tell. Germany has an obvious history with Nazis and the subsequent hunt for them. Or sometimes neglect in hunting them down for various reasons.This movie shows one of many cases and one man who was determined to bring as many to justice as possible. Despite and through all obstacles that were before him. So this is a story (thriller) that has quite a bit going for it. It's really well made and well acted too and the suspense is there, from the start until the end. There's also a lot of award talking going on about this, if that is something you're interested in