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The
Ninth Day
Stars: Ulrich Matthes, August Diehl Director: Volker Schlondorff Running Time: 90 minutes URL: http://www.derneuntetag.de/ In German with English subtitles What is a hero? Just what causes a man to do the deeds which in retrospect plunge him into the realm of the heroic? The film "The Ninth Day" is based on the writings of Father Jean Bernard, a priest from Luxembourg who was detained in what became known as the priest block in the Nazi concentration camp at Dachau. In all, almost 2,700 clergy, Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox were imprisoned in December of 1940; 1,000 of them died by the end of the war. In the film, the character of Father Bernard is called Henri Kremer, the film opens with his initial confinement in Dachau. Sometime later, he is released and returns to his home in Luxembourg and is reunited with what remains of his family; his brother, sister and brother-in-law. The day after he returns home he is told by the local Gestapo agent that he has only nine days, hence the title of the film, to convince his bishop to cooperate with the Nazi occupation forces or he will be returned to the death camp. If he is successful, then he will be set free, if he tries to flee, the remaining clergy in the camp will all be executed. He must report to the agent at Gestapo headquarters each day to report on his progress. What will he do, what can he do? The film shows the mind games that are played with Father Kremer each day by the agent he must report to as well as flashbacks of his time in the camp. It was totally refreshing seeing a member of the clergy portrayed as a man of faith and conviction rather than a con man or worse. It was also interesting seeing the test of faith that the character is forced to deal with and work through to its ultimate outcome. Will he stay true to his calling from God, will he flee to Paris with his brother, will he be returned to Dachau to remain and face an almost certain death? The film is starkly filmed with an amazingly appropriate soundtrack from composer, Alfred Schnitke. Director Schlondorff has been making films since 1966 and is an obvious master at his craft. This is an excellent film that I would highly recommend to anyone. Chris MacIntosh 4/22/2005
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