LINSE Filmkunst: Das Verschwinden des Josef Mengele

The Disappearance of Josef Mengele

Biopic

Directed by: Kirill Serebrennikov

Starring: August Diehl (Josef Mengele) · Max Bretschneider (Rolf) · David Ruland (Hans Sedlmeier) · Friederike Becht (Martha) · Mirco Kreibich (Alois Mengele)

The infamous Nazi war criminal and camp doctor of Auschwitz-Birkenau, Josef Mengele, went underground after the war. Living under a false name with the help of a far-reaching network of collaborators, he successfully evaded prosecution for decades in South America. This biographical drama meticulously traces Mengele's historical stages, contrasting them with his carefree life during the Nazi era, and culminates in a confrontation between the old man and his son. However, while the film works with black-and-white images and suggestive sound design, it fails to capture the essence of Mengele, remaining confined to clichés about the monster within humans beyond the main actor's high-pressure performance.

Age rating: FSK 12

Runtime: approx. 135 min.