If You Live Among Wolves, You Must Howl Like A Wolf.
This quote comes from a Russian Proverb about surviving in a strange environment. I thought it fitting for the biography of a young Jewish man, whose adaptability among Russians and Germans, was essential to his survival during World War II. Europa, Europa is based on the biography of Solomon Perel, Ich war Hitlerjunge Salomon (I Was Hitler Youth Salomon). It is an incredible story of perseverance against the greatest of odds.
Spoiler Alert
Solomon Perel (Marco Hofschneider) is taking a bath when Nazi's storm his father's shoe store. Solomon escapes, naked, through the bathroom window. Solly asks a young friend for help, returning to his home wearing nothing but a Nazi overcoat. His sister is laying on the table (apparently dead, although she was actually shot during a death march). The family moves from Germany to Lotz, Poland, when a Germain air raids further shake their sense of security. Solly and his brother, Isaak (Rene Hofschneider) are sent off toward Russian-controlled territory in hopes of finding relative safety.
Solly ends up in a Russian orphanage, where he seemingly denounces his Jewish roots, claiming to be a Stalinist. Yet it is clear that his heritage is still important to him. When Germans seize the orphanage, Solly is captured and claims to be a German living abroad. He informs his captors that his parents were killed and that he was sent to the orphanage. He burns his Russian papers that identify him as Jewish. The Germans employ the youth as a Russian interpreter, leading him to assist in the capture of Stalin's son. He finds favor among the German troops, who consider him a good luck charm. Yet he strives to defect to the nearby Russian lines.
Because he is a minor, Solly ends up at a Hitler Youth school where he continues his charade. He attempts to hide his heritage by tying his foreskin, which fails miserably. He is afraid to move forward his relationship with Leni (Julie Delpy) because of her fierce party loyalty to the Nazis. Solly longs for his family and even attempts to find them, reuniting with his long remaining relative near the end. The film ends with the real Solomon Perel reflecting on his story in his new homeland, Israel.
End Spoilers
Europa Europa is based on Solomon Perel's autobiography. When comparing the autobiography to the events in the movie, there is quite a bit of artistic license taken for dramatic effect. However, the basic premise is amazingly true. The film does an excellent job of dramatizing the story, which could not have been better written if it were a fictional drama. If anything, I would complain that the story was too contrived. The characters were well developed, the plot intricate, with stunning twists and seat-clenching suspense. The story seems too incredible to be true.
Marco Hofschneider carried this film. His adaptability to the various roles were credible. While I don't speak German or Russian, the performance aspects of his assimilation were convincing. Hofschneider took a difficult role and made it seem like a breeze. While Delpy is a seasoned actress, I wasn't that impressed with her interactions with Hofschneider. Some of the scenes with her and Hofschneider felt awkward to me. Because this film is Solly's autobiography, Hofschneider's performance was central, so the awkwardness did not greatly detract from my enjoyment of the movie.
I watched an unrated of Europa Europa that would have probably received an R rating from the MPAA. As a war film, there was some war violence, but nothing on the scale of Saving Private Ryan. The film included adult themes, like homosexuality, especially between an adult and a minor. The film also featured some nudity, but the most disturbing nudity was the awful simulated scene showing the effects of tying off the end of ones penis. This film should be fine for thirteen and above.
I enjoyed Europa Europa, which retells the amazing story of survival of the then young Solomon Perel. His ability to adapt along with his quick thinking clearly saved his life. His ability to stand in the jaws of "the beast" without flinching demonstrates his willingness to suppress his own identity in exchange for the continued privilege of drawing breath. While the story deviates from the original, the dramatic elements did not alter the overall theme. 8/10.
