This "incredible, true story" (Los Angeles Times) is at once "eye-opening, harrowing and humorous" (Leonard Maltin) as it recounts the severe actions a young boy must take in order to survive the Holocaust. Based on the autobiography of Solomon Perel, a young German Jew, the film "bounds from one jaw-dropping episode to the next" (The New Yorker) and puts you in the middle of war-torn Europe where ingenuity, timing and luck are the key to survival. Separated from his family at the age of thirteen, Solly (Marco Hofschneider) takes on various identities to hide his Jewishheritage. First passing himself off as an orphan and later as one of the "Hitler Youth," Solly carries on his charade, hoping desperately to keep his identity hidden and make it through the war alive.
This wonderful film by Polish director Agnieszka Holland (Total Eclipse), based on an autobiography by Solomon Perel, concerns a Jewish-German boy who manages to conceal his identity from the Nazis and ends up a member of their Youth Party. An admirably full experience, the film is both black comedy and horror show, with the central character taking the full measure of everyone's perspective on the war and Nazi crimes. --Tom Keogh
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
A startling true story of survival...:
I adore European films (German, Russian, Hungarian) and so I was really anxious to get my hands on `Hitlerjunge Salomon' (also known as `Europa Europa'). The film is gloriously shot, with beautifully engaging cinematography; from claustrophobic indoor sets to vastly luminous outdoor cascades, but it is the engaging story itself that will leave you more than spellbound. `Europa Europa' is a true story that is as tragic as it is uplifting as we watch this young man struggle to survive in a cold world bent on... more info
Life, Love, Redemption:
"Europa, Europa" Life, Love, Redemption Amos Lassen Salamon Perel, a German Jew, is the hero of "Europa, Europa", one of the finest films I have ever seen. It beautifully captures what goes on in the mind of an adolescent as he searches for an identity after the infamous Kristallnacht. Even without the background of Nazi Germany, this is a film that deals with a universal theme.
Here is a true story of luck, incredible luck during the darkest period in the history of the world. It is... more info
An excellent film on the period:
I originally saw this film on cable years ago. Despite that single viewing, it left a lasting impression on my mind. So I was pleased to discover it was available on DVD. And despite the time and the poor recollection of some details, the film still delivers a very powerfull punch. You barely realize that the film is subtitled into English, and I say that as someone who rarely watches subtitled films. A great movie, more amazing given that it's closely based on one man's real experiences.
Outstanding:
This is a very good movie. The theme is great and the acting as well. It is based on a true story and is amazing as to the good luck and craftyness of the main character. I highly recommend it.
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