Review of Colonia (2016) by Dario S — 19 Aug 2016

I liked this more than the critics. The pacing was a bit slow, but I learned a lot from the movie, the acting was great and the costumes/setting was all there. It was difficult watching, but that seems more to do with the subject.

Emma Watson created a excellent hero for the film - her character subjects herself to months of abuse to save her love interest. Her exasperation when he risks both their lives to expose the camp is shared - I exclaimed "you've got to be kidding" even faster than she did.

But she stepped up again at the end, coming through with her own final rescue and also being the one who remembered to hold onto the crucial evidence. It wasn't easy to watch, but it's based on real events and they clearly weren't easy to live through.

The film apparently had real policy influence in Germany, so it turns out not to just be provocative and educational entertainment, but effective activism as well. Hats off to all involved.