Amen

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Amen

2003

2h 12m

History

Drama

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Popcornmeter

67%

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49 Reviews

82%

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5,000+ Ratings

Nazi officer Kurt Gerstein (Ulrich Tukur), a chemist by training, is assigned to develop a disinfectant to purify water for the German army, but soon discovers that his invention, Zyklon B, is being used to exterminate imprisoned Jews. Horrified, he approaches a number of diplomatic figures with his story, but only Riccardo Fontana (Mathieu Kassovitz), a priest, takes him seriously. Fontana returns to the Vatican but is informed by his superiors that they have more pressing concerns.

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Critics Consensus

Amen loses some of its impact to a protracted running time and deliberate pace, but Ulrich Tukur's powerful performance helps bring the story's worthy themes to life.

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Eric Henderson

Slant Magazine

Though such elements might chip away somewhat at Amen's seriousness of intent, they do add fire to the stimulating drama.

Aug 12, 2003

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Terry Lawson

Detroit Free Press

Costa-Gavras deserves credit for staying the course; in a time when most European film directors are wringing their hands, he's still pointing fingers.

Rated: 3/4

Jul 25, 2003

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Desson Thomson

Washington Post

Tukur's performance is the centerpiece of the movie; it's a wonderful mixture of outrage and swiftly disappearing naivete.

Jun 27, 2003

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Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

Rated: 4/5

Sep 29, 2007

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 3/5

Aug 15, 2005

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Chris Barsanti

Filmcritic.com

a sputtering, wet firecracker

Rated: 1.5/5

Sep 23, 2003

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Sharon J

Well done, well acted and well filmed, if a little long. The actor looks very much like Kurt Gerstein. I do wonder why they changed the story from the truth, that it was his sister-in-law who was put to death, not his favourite niece. Some great shots of Auschwitz/Birkenau.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/12/24

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a.l.jude p

The best ever historic element or subject to support thus educate the indictment of Catholic Church, Vatican, Pope and the rest of the ignorant bunch for the atrocity and holocausts happened. No better movie or documentary ever did what this movie did. It's compelling to watch the historic events materialized before and during the WWII.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

Amen is Gavras at his most generally mainstream: not among his best, even against his more modern films, however there is no way to deny the movie's power, and not be stunned by the horrifyingly sad images.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/14/23

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Audience Member

Not as powerful as expected, kinda cheesy TV-movie scale indeed.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/04/23

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Audience Member

A very good and interesting film.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/25/23

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Audience Member

I was that close to believing that Christians were helping Jews while being massacred by Hitler...A good example of turning the other cheek...

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

Full Review

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Costa-Gavras

Director

Ulrich Tukur

Kurt Gerstein

Mathieu Kassovitz

Riccardo Fontana

Ulrich Mühe

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Synopsis

Nazi officer Kurt Gerstein (Ulrich Tukur), a chemist by training, is assigned to develop a disinfectant to purify water for the German army, but soon discovers that his invention, Zyklon B, is being used to exterminate imprisoned Jews. Horrified, he approaches a number of diplomatic figures with his story, but only Riccardo Fontana (Mathieu Kassovitz), a priest, takes him seriously. Fontana returns to the Vatican but is informed by his superiors that they have more pressing concerns.

Director: Costa-Gavras
Producer: Claude Berri
Screenwriter: Costa-Gavras, Jean-Claude Grumberg
Distributor: Kino Pictures
Production Co: Canal Plus, Katharina, Renn Productions, K.G. Productions
Genre: History, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 24, 2003, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 10, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $274.3K
Runtime: 2h 12m
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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