Genre Grandeur Finale – Europa Europa (1990)

This month’s Genre for Genre Grandeur was Biopics and we had a total of 11 reviews for this genre (including this finale). If you missed any of them, here’s a recap

The Wolf of Wall Street – Natasha
Erin Brockovich – Kim
J. Edgar (2011) – Natalie
Lisztomania (1975) – Anna
Goodfellas (1990)- Justine
Lincoln (2012) – MovieRob
Thirty Two Short Films About Glen Gould (1993) – Eddie
Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (2013) – Tom
Chaplin (1992) – MovieRob
The Story of Louis Pasteur (1936) – MovieRob

In addition, I had 9 reviews for my new complementary series Genre Guesstimation. Where 2 of them are now among my favorites in the Genre.

Here’ a list if you missed any of them:

1. The Miracle Worker (1962)

2. Jersey Boys (2014)

3. My Left Foot (1989)

4. Jobs (2013)

5. Erin Brockovich (2000)

6. The Diary of Anne Frank (1959) ****

7. Young Winston (1972)

8. Ray (2004)

9. Kennedy (1983) ****

Next month’s Genre chosen by Kieron of What About the Twinkie? is 80’s action flicks, so send me the review of your favorite film in that genre by 25th Nov to action80@movierob.net and I’ll post it.

Here’s my review of my favorite movie from this genre…Europa, Europa (1990)

“The landowners and the bourgeois keep the people in ignorance. They encourage religious superstitions, and with the help of the popes, priests and rabbis they smother all revolutionary instinct. That’s why we call religion the opium of the masses. ” – Salomon Perel

Number of Times Seen – Between 5-10 times (Theater in ’90, video, DVD and 29 Oct 2014)

Brief Synopsis – A young Jewish teenager escapes Nazi persecution during WWII when he is mistakenly thought to be a pure-bred German. Based on a true story

My Take on it – I saw thins movie with my parents at an art house theater in 1990 when I was 16. I wasn’t really interested ins seeing a foreign language film, but after reading the synopsis, I decided to give it a try.

This movie tells a harrowing story based on true events that helped save Solomon Perel from Nazi persecution.

Many of the events in the story show some possible divine providence in his circumstances that constantly keep him out of mortal danger and once again thrust him into more.

This movie depicts Nazi Germany in a way that the German government at the time felt was disgraceful, so they even refused to submit it for an Oscar for Foreign language film eventhough it had won numerous other awards including the Golden Globe.

It’s ironic, because it has gone on to become one of the most financially successful films from Germany and the story is so powerfully done.

This is probably my favorite Biopic ever and despite my disdain for non-English Language movies, I can watch this one again and again.

Bottom Line – One of the best biopics ever made. We feel for the boy’s predicaments and it’s astounding to believe some of the things that happen because it seems as if someone above was looking out for him. Highly Recommended!

Rating – Oscar Worthy

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