Review of Europa Europa (1990) by Andrejs P — 28 Oct 2011

Europa Europa is a wonderful war film, based on the real story about a young german jewish teenage boy named Solomon Perel who grows up in the so called third reich where anti-semetism was normal and actually required. He and his family then fled to Poland, where the nazi also comes, Solomon and his brother Isaak decides to run away, while the rest of the family decides to stay. Solomon and Isaak separates because Isaak rather chose to live in the nazi occupied Poland than in the soviet controlled area, which Solomon decides to do. But neither there is it safe for very long. He's then captured by the germans, but he claims to an ethic aryan german who is taken prisoner by the russians. And miraculously enough, he survives the whole war by masquerading as ethic aryan german. He dangerously enough is listed into the Hitler Jungen.

Europa Europa is a well made film. The excitement that Solomon can be unmasked any minute. But we also learn that not every german is nazis, and that some of them wear actually humans, because this is not secret he can't hide for ever, and some german finds out. And it's makes my heart feel such joy to see that there some humans that can see pass differences. Solomon also befriends a german solider that is an actor, and Solomon ask him how is it playing some other people. And the soldier replies "Easier than playing yourself. A line that would be the only thing that could relax our mind the rest of the film. And also made me thinking about the term acting. My conclution about Europa Europa is that it's a wonderful war film that is focusing more on the different characters than the war itself. I give it a strong thumbs up.