The People vs. Fritz Bauer
Seen it?2015 | 105 min | History, Drama, Mystery
Sunday Safe BetWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
It earned strong reviews (85% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had a box office flop and almost no lasting buzz. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who likes to be kept guessing and history buffs. If you loved Schindler's List or Nuremberg, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Tense.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 45 min.
- What might put you off
- It's in German, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
It is the late 1950s. Flourishing under the economic miracle, Germany grows increasingly apathetic about confronting the horrors of its recent past. Nevertheless, Fritz Bauer doggedly devotes his energies to bringing the Third Reich to justice. One day Bauer receives a letter from Argentina, written by a man who is certain that his daughter is dating the son of Adolph Eichmann. Excited by the promising lead, and mistrustful of a corrupt judiciary system where Nazis still lurk, Bauer journeys to Jerusalem to seek alliance with Mossad, the Israeli secret service. To do so is treason — yet committing treason is the only way Bauer can serve his country.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
85% on Rotten Tomatoes, 61 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
6.8 out of 10
- AwardsWeak
0 wins and 1 nomination from smaller awards and festivals
- Box office & staying powerWeak
$148K worldwide
- Buzz & cultural impactWeak
About 6K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Lars Kraume
- Burghart KlaußnerFritz Bauer
- Ronald ZehrfeldKarl Angermann
- Sebastian BlombergUlrich Kreidler
- Jörg SchüttaufPaul Gebhardt
- Lilith StangenbergVictoria
- Laura TonkeMs. Schütt
- Götz SchubertGeorg-August Zinn
- Cornelia GröschelCharlotte Angermann
- Robert AtzornCharlottes Father
- Matthias WeidenhöferZvi Aharoni