- Amen.
Infobox_Film
name = Amen.
image_size= 150px
imdb_id = 0280653
writer =Jean-Claude Grumberg
Costa-Gavras
starring =Ulrich Tukur Mathieu Kassovitz
director =Costa-Gavras
producer =Andrei Boncea Michèle Ray-Gavras
cinematography=Patrick Blossier
distributor =Kino International US
Pathé France
released = 2002
runtime = 132min
language =
budget ="Amen." is a 2002 German,
Romania n, and French film directed byCosta-Gavras . (Note that the period punctuation is part of the title. “Amen ” is a Hebrew expression meaning “So be it”). The German-language version was released under the title ’‘Der Stellvertreter’’ (translated into English as ’‘The Representative’’ or ’‘The Deputy’’).The film is based on a 1963 play by
Rolf Hochhuth , The Deputy, a Christian Tragedy.Main cast
*
Ulrich Tukur asKurt Gerstein
*Mathieu Kassovitz as Riccardo FontanaAdditional cast
*
Ulrich Mühe
*Michel Duchaussoy
*Ion Caramitru
*Marcel Iureş
*Friedrich von Thun
*Antje Schmidt
*Hanns Zischler
*Sebastian Koch
*Erich Hallhuber
*Burkhard Heyl
*Angus MacInnes
*Bernd Fischerauer
*Pierre Franckh
*Taylor Richard Durden
*Monica Bleibtreu
*Justus von Dohnányi
*Gunther-Maria Halmer
*August Zirner
*Horatiu Malaele
*Ovidiu Cuncea
*Markus Hering
*Susanna Lothar
*Alexander Geringas
*Theodor Danetti Plot
The film "Amen." examines the links between the Vatican and
Nazi Germany . The central character isKurt Gerstein , a member of the Institute for Hygiene of theWaffen-SS who is horrified by what he sees in thedeath camp s. Moreover, he is shocked to learn that the process he used to purify water for his troops, by using zyklon, served as a basis to kill people in gas chambers. Gerstein attempts to notifyPope Pius XII , but is appalled by the lack of response he gets from the Catholic hierarchy. The only person moved is Riccardo Fontana, a young Jesuitpriest .While the character of Kurt Gerstein is historical, the character of the young priest is fictional, and the plot is only very loosely based on history.
Controversy
In addition to the criticism that had already been raised about "The Deputy" for its portrayal of the role of the Catholic Church during
the Holocaust , the film created controversy in Catholic circles by its poster (created by controversial Italian photographerOliviero Toscani ) representing a mix of aChristian cross and aswastika .Location
Since the Holy See did not allow filming in the Vatican, the scenes in the papal palaces were shot in the
Palace of the Parliament of Bucharest, Romania.See also
*
List of Holocaust films External links
*imdb title|id=0280653|title=Amen.
* [http://www.dailyinsider.info/amen.htm A review]
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