The Investigation
The Investigation

Movie spotlight

The Investigation

1966
Movie
150 min
German

The Investigation (1965) is TV version of a play by German playwright Peter Weiss that depicts the Frankfurt Auschwitz Trials of 1963–1965.

Insights

IMDb7.2/10
Director: Peter LilienthalGenres: Drama, War

Plot Summary

This German film, based on Peter Weiss's play, dramatizes the Auschwitz Trials held in Frankfurt in the 1960s. It reconstructs the testimonies of survivors and former SS members, exposing the bureaucratic and systematic nature of the Nazi regime's atrocities at the Auschwitz concentration camp. The film focuses on the legalistic presentation of evidence and the chilling accounts of the perpetrators and their victims.

Critical Reception

While not widely released, 'The Investigation' was recognized for its powerful and unflinching portrayal of historical events, serving as an important cinematic document of the Holocaust. Critics noted its stark realism and the challenging nature of its subject matter, highlighting its contribution to post-war German cinema's engagement with its past.

What Reviewers Say

  • A harrowing and important historical reconstruction.

  • Praised for its factual rigor and dramatic impact.

  • Challenging but necessary viewing.

Google audience: Information on Google user reviews is not readily available for this historical film.

Awards & Accolades

None notable.

Fun Fact

The film is based on the groundbreaking play 'The Investigation' by German playwright Peter Weiss, which itself was based on actual court transcripts from the Auschwitz Trials in Frankfurt.

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