Anonyma – Eine Frau in Berlin (A Woman in Berlin)
2008
***
Director: Max Färberböck
Cast: Nina Hoss, Jewgeni Sidichin, Irm Hermann, Rüdiger Vogler, Ulrike Krumbiegel, Rolf Kanies, Jördis Triebel, Roman Gribkov
Berlin falls in the spring of 1945. After months of gruelling war, the Red Army take their wrath on the German women with wave after wave of brutal rapes. Nina Hoss plays a young woman who attempts to turn this horrific situation into her advantage. Her story is based on an autobiographical book, which caused a controversy upon its publication in 1959. The book dared to portray German women as morally bankrupt and willing to do anything to survive. Max Färberböck's adaptation is balanced, too balanced perhaps. The film is determined to portray these horrific war crimes, but it never lets you forget who started the war and who won it. The resulting drama is fascinating, but not as gripping and touching as I'd hope.
