Europa, Europa

Play trailer

Europa, Europa

R

Released Jun 28, 1991

1h 55m

History

Drama

War

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

95%

Tomatometer

22 Reviews

90%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Jewish teenager Salek (Marco Hofschneider) is separated from his family when they flee their home in Germany after Kristallnacht. He ends up in a Russian orphanage for two years, but when Nazi troops reach Russia he convinces them he is a German Aryan, and becomes an invaluable interpreter and then an unwitting war hero. His deception becomes increasingly difficult to maintain after he joins the Hitler Youth and finds love with beautiful Leni (Julie Delpy), a fervent anti-Semite.

Watch on Max

Stream Now

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

The overall sweep of Europa Europa as both spectacle and story telling is effortless throughout.

Rated: 4/4

May 24, 2022

Full Review

Stefan Pape

Common Sense Media

So astonishing is this WWII drama, it is hard to believe it is actually based on real events.

Oct 9, 2024

Full Review

Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

Agnieszka Holland narrates this incredible, but true, story in the tone of a picaresque adventure. [Full review in Spanish]

Dec 12, 2022

Full Review

David Harris

Spectrum Culture

In a time when nationalism and hatred fuel political campaigns both in the United States and abroad, Europa Europa remains relevant.

Feb 14, 2020

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Perhaps never before (or since) in film history has circumcision played such a pivotal role in a movie's plotline. Yet that's the almost absurdist thread running throughout Europa Europa.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jul 20, 2019

Full Review

Vanessa Letts

The Spectator

The film leads you to wonder to what extent the hero has been indoctrinated... but the question is raised via the film's deficiencies rather than its merits.

Jul 23, 2018

Full Review

Read all reviews

Juan C

The only bad movie I've seen on this topic. The main idea is interesting, but there are several scenes that are as unnecessary as they are ridiculous. Add to that the poor performance by the lead actor, and it feels like a waste of time. An overrated movie.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

04/19/25

Full Review

Comrade Y

This movie is amazing, It shows the life of Solomon Perel and how his life evolves during the rise of Nazi Germany and how he did everything to survive the war, and joining the Hitler youth, and as well as being in the Soviet Youth, amazing movie 10/10 Highly recommended.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/25/23

Full Review

Dave S

If it weren't based on actual events, Agnieszka Holland's Europa Europa would seem like a pretty improbable story. While certain liberties were probably taken with the actual events, it remains a compelling tale of survival and assimilation set during the horrors of WW2 in Europe. Torn from his family, 16-year-old Salomon masks his Jewish roots while he travels the countryside, ultimately finding himself enrolled as a member of the Hitler Youth. Beautifully shot and acted, especially by Marco Hofschneider in the lead role and Julie Delpy in a brief appearance early in her career, Europa Europa is a cautionary tale that is, sadly enough, as relevant today as it was when it was released over thirty years ago.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/23/23

Full Review

Audience Member

An extraordinary and true story about a German Jewish boy who due to extreme circumstances finds himself in the elite Hitler Jugend, fully underlining how absurd and insane the Nazi race ideology is and forever will be. Oustanding acting by a young main cast and otherwise well executed. A timeless film about an exceptional pocket of time.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I thought the film was stunning in telling this story that is incredible yet true. Aside from any documentaries that I've been, I thought that it was the finest film covering the the atrocities of Holocaust up until Steven Spielberg's masterpiece, Schindler's List. It's a shame that it wasn't nominated for best foreign film at the Academy Awards.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/09/23

Full Review

s r

1001 movies to see before you die. This one did not affect me despite its at times interesting plot. Overall, it was tedious and fictionalized. Saw on HBO.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Agnieszka Holland

Director

Marco Hofschneider

Solly (Salomon Perel)

Julie Delpy

Leni

André Wilms

Soldier Robert Kellerman

Ashley Wanninger

Gerd

Hanns Zischler

Captain von Lerenau

A Midnight Clear

88%

79%

A Midnight Clear

Watchlist

Full Metal Jacket

90%

94%

Full Metal Jacket

Watchlist

The Pianist

95%

96%

The Pianist

Watchlist

Glory

95%

93%

Glory

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Glory

The Thin Red Line

80%

80%

The Thin Red Line

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

Jewish teenager Salek (Marco Hofschneider) is separated from his family when they flee their home in Germany after Kristallnacht. He ends up in a Russian orphanage for two years, but when Nazi troops reach Russia he convinces them he is a German Aryan, and becomes an invaluable interpreter and then an unwitting war hero. His deception becomes increasingly difficult to maintain after he joins the Hitler Youth and finds love with beautiful Leni (Julie Delpy), a fervent anti-Semite.

Director: Agnieszka Holland
Producer: Margaret Ménégoz, Artur Brauner
Screenwriter: Paul Hengge, Agnieszka Holland
Distributor: Orion Pictures
Production Co: Zespół Filmowy Perspektywa, Les Films du Losange, Telmar Film International Ltd., Central Cinema Company Film (CCC)
Rating: R (Mature Treatment of Holocaust)
Genre: History, Drama, War
Original Language: German
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 28, 1991, Wide
Release Date (DVD): Mar 4, 2003
Box Office (Gross USA): $23.2K
Runtime: 1h 55m

Most Popular at Home Now