Labyrinth of Lies

Original title: Im Labyrinth des Schweigens

2014
R
2h 4m

IMDb RATING

7.3/10

14K

YOUR RATING

Play trailer2:04

2 Videos

97 Photos

Drama History

A story that exposes the conspiracy of prominent German institutions and government branches to cover up the crimes of Nazis during World War II.A story that exposes the conspiracy of prominent German institutions and government branches to cover up the crimes of Nazis during World War II.A story that exposes the conspiracy of prominent German institutions and government branches to cover up the crimes of Nazis during World War II.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.3/10

14K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 6 wins & 18 nominations

Videos2

Photos97

+ 91

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Based on the life of Frankfurt's attorney general Fritz Bauer and three of his prosecutors. They all were instrumental for the holding of the important 'Auschwitz trials' in 1963.

Goofs
(at around 1h 45 mins) The Mourner's Kaddish, the Jewish prayer for the dead, is recited in the film using the modern Israeli Hebrew pronunciation. The version of the Kaddish that Kirsch would have known (and that his prayerbook would've contained) would have used the older Ashkenazic pronunciation used by German and Eastern European Jews. Instead of saying, "Yitgadal v' yitkadash," as they do in the film, they they should be saying, "Yisgadal v'yiskadash."

Quotes
Major Parker: You were all Nazis. In the Eastern sector, now you are all communists. Jesus, you Germans! If little green men from Mars landed tomorrow, you would all become green.

Connections
References La Strada (1954)

Soundtracks
Tipitipitipso
Performed by Caterina Valente
Music by Heinz Gietz
Lyrics by Kurt Feltz
Courtesy of Edition Rialto Hans Gerig KG, Bergisch Gladbach
(P) 1957 - Courtesy of Electrola, a division of Universal Music GmbH

User reviews40

Review

Featured review

7/10

A new portrayal of a very important matter for Germany's and the world's history

The English title "Labyrinth of Lies" should rather be a direct translation from the German title which is more among the lines "Labyrinth of Silence". And that's precisely what the main character is facing in his quest of uncovering the crimes Germany committed during WWII.

This film poses a not very often portrayed link in the chain of events during and following WWII. People in Germany are used to dealing openly with the crimes committed during WWII to the point where the time when it was not like that is barley remembered. It deals with the topic in a very non sensational way. Awful crimes are not portrayed too visually and yet the film manages to transmit the severity of those. It also explores the German people's psyche after the war and the motivation behind covering up what happened.

The cinematography is quite nice and the music fits the time and setting.

A downside to the film is its romantic relationship between the main character and his love interest. It was hard to connect to their relationship and to her. Her relevance for the story was not very clear as well. Also the screenplay felt off at times. Whenever a character had a monologue it was very catching and filled with emotions one could connect to. Unfortunately it failed in delivering meaningful conversations. They were most of the time superficial and felt stiff.

All in all it was a very interesting film with a relevant message but quite a few downsides in delivery. It feels like the big screen is a little too big for this film but it is quite a nice TV film and a good starter to get into post war history.