Kurt Gerstein—a member of the Institute for Hygiene of the Waffen-SS—is horrified by what he sees in the death camps. he is then shocked to learn that the process he used to purify water for his troops by using Zyklon-B, is now used to kill people in gas chambers.
What should have been agonizing in its impact comes off as wooden, perhaps because Costa-Gavras works in schematic fashion, spoon-feeding us issues while skimming the historical surface.
– Robert Denerstein,
Denver Rocky Mountain News,
11 Apr 2003
fresh:
In a remarkably subtle turn, the German Tukur is convincing as [Gerstein].
– Jane Sumner,
Dallas Morning News,
1 May 2003
rotten:
Costa-Gavras' political thrillers used to jab and thrust with lethal efficiency. This one just pounds against a heavy bag, huffing and puffing all the way.
– Gene Seymour,
Newsday,
28 May 2003
fresh:
Tukur's performance is the centerpiece of the movie; it's a wonderful mixture of outrage and swiftly disappearing naivete.
– Desson Thomson,
Washington Post,
27 Jun 2003
fresh:
Costa-Gavras deserves credit for staying the course; in a time when most European film directors are wringing their hands, he's still pointing fingers.