Should I see it?
Yes.

Klaus Maria Brandauer's performance as actor Hendrik Hoefgen who comes to prominence playing Mephistopheles during pre-World War II Germany is powerful and is considered by many to be one of the great screen performances. His performance is striking to be certain, the film itself however, does suffer from being slightly boring. Much of the punch of the film is watching Hoefgen implode under the weight of his own corruption. Even though he only has meager talents, he knows how to play to the Nazis and is given rewards for his efforts. He performs for the rising regime that tramples his colleagues under its heel. The obvious connection here is that he is making a Faustian deal with the devil (Nazis) and he pays with his soul.

Labels: film, German cinema, Klaus Maria Brandauer, movie review, Nazis, World War II