It's no wonder Schlondorff favors close-ups; with Mattes on screen, The Ninth Day gets right to its emotional core.
The Ninth Day
2004 · 1h 38m · Not Rated
Drama, Thriller, War
Directed by
Volker Schlöndorff
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The Ninth Day
Overview
During WWII, head priest Henri Kremer is mysteriously freed from Dachau. He learns that he can return home to Luxembourg, for only nine days, during which he'll have to face a persuasive Gestapo chief who will put his faith to the test.
Director and cast
- Volker Schlöndorff Director
- Ulrich Matthes as Abbé Henri Kremer
- August Diehl as Untersturmführer Gebhardt
- Hilmar Thate as Bischof Philippe
- Bibiana Beglau as Marie Kremer
- Germain Wagner as Roger Kremer
- Jean-Paul Raths as Raymond Schmitt
- Ivan Jiřík as Armando Bausch
- Götz Burger as Generalvikar Gerard Mersch
- Michael König Cast
- Karel Dobrý Cast
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes
Top critics, in their words
The Ninth Day is far from perfect, but is still thought-provoking and intriguing, a film that can begin its own kind of debate.
Plays more like a philosophical debate than a war drama.
An accomplished, confident work.
It just feels like too much over too little.
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