Review of Mephisto (1981) by Megan O — 12 Apr 2005

Director: Istvan Szabo.

Starring: Klaus Maria Brandauer, Krystyna Janda, Karin Boyd, Gyorgy Cserhalmi.

4 stars out of 4.

One of the best foreign films I have ever seen! The film deals with the rise of Socialism in Germany before and after the appointment of Adolf Hitler, from the viewpoint of an ambitous German stage actor. The film flawlessly analyzes not only this man's psychological processes but also those of a German culture that we do not often see portrayed in films - those who were against Socialism and concerned for the future of their country. With such a unique approach(Hitler's name is not mentioned directly even once, for example), [i]Mephisto[/i] stands as one of the most brilliant films on the topic. It succeeds on both the political level, as well as the personal; portraying a character whose inner conflicts mirror those of the country.

Brandauer gives a phenomenal performance (although I had to endure the hardship of english dubbing, rather than subtitles), and Szabo's direction is perfect. He reminds me a bit of Roman Polanski, with a style that is perfect for the subject matter. The film is eerie and involving, and the art direction is superb. Mephisto holds some similarities to Szabo's latest success, [i]Being Julia[/i], as both draw attention to the human condition as paralled by stage plays and actors.