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Amazon.com
In Emir Kusturica's allegorical Underground, an entire community waited out World War II below the streets of Yugoslavia. By contrast, Agnieszka Holland (Europa, Europa) draws from actual events for her third Oscar-nominated adaptation. Unlike the respectable businessman at the heart of Steven Spielberg's Schindler's List, Leopold Socha (Robert Wieckiewicz in a terrific performance) is a sewer worker and petty thief living in Lvov, Poland (now Lviv, Ukraine), during the height of the Holocaust. When the Catholic encounters a band of Jewish citizens attempting to avoid deportation to the Janowska camp by hiding out in the city's sewer system, he senses an opportunity to better provide for his wife (Kinga Preis, Four Nights with Anna) and daughter. Socha and his partner, Szczepek (Krzysztof Skonieczny), are hardly altruistic--Nazis will pay $500 for each Jew they turn in--but they know the nooks and crannies of the terrain. For an even steeper price, they provide food and other resources to a group that includes con man Mundek (North Face's Benno Fürmann), de facto leader of a multilingual group that includes women, children, and an especially vulnerable baby. The next 14 months will test them all. In drawing from Robert Marshall's In the Sewers of Lvov, Holland has made one of her finest films. Though it shares themes and visual parallels with The Pianist and even The Descent--most of the movie takes place in cramped spaces--Socha's segue from sewer rat to humanitarian registers as a surprisingly convincing, profoundly inspiring evolution. --Kathleen C. Fennessy
Product Description
It is 1943, the Polish town of Lvov is occupied by the Nazis. One day a sewer maintenance worker named Leopold Socha encounters a group of Jewish refugees - and hides them for money in the labyrinth of the town's sewers. At first only interested in lucrative business, the whole thing reaches more and more Socha's conscience. The Polish small-town crook makes up his mind and finally risks his own life for the refugees.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
40 of 41 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
"In Darkness" (2011 from Poland; 144 min.) brings the true story of how a group of Jews in Nazi-occupied Poland take shelter in the large underground sewer system of the city, with the help of a couple of locals. As can be expected, many troubles ensue. I don't want to spoil the plot and you'll just have to see for yourself how it all plays out.
Several comments: first, there are a number of very graphic scenes in the movie (just as an example, in one of the first scenes of the movie, we see Nazi soldiers chase down a group of (naked) women running for their lives into the woods--later we see that none survive), so be aware that this movie is not for the faint of heart. Second, the movie's title accurately reflects what this is about, as a significant portion of the movie plays out in the underground sewer system, where of course there is little to no light. Last but not least, this movie takes its time to develop both the main characters and the story line, so this is not for anyone in a hurry.
This movie was nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Movie, and it certainly deserved that honor (it did not win, though). I left the movie theater where I saw it this past weekend full with haunting images in my head from this movie. Many movies before have brought Jewish survival tales from WWII, and this more than adds to that long roster. In sum, an important topic, and a great and haunting movie. With this, I've now seen 3 of the 5 Oscar-nominated best foreign movies (the others being Bullhead and A Separation). I hope to get a chance to see the remaining two (Footnote; Monsieur Lahzar) in the near future. Meanwhile, if you like quality foreign movies, "In Darkness" is highly recommended!
Several comments: first, there are a number of very graphic scenes in the movie (just as an example, in one of the first scenes of the movie, we see Nazi soldiers chase down a group of (naked) women running for their lives into the woods--later we see that none survive), so be aware that this movie is not for the faint of heart. Second, the movie's title accurately reflects what this is about, as a significant portion of the movie plays out in the underground sewer system, where of course there is little to no light. Last but not least, this movie takes its time to develop both the main characters and the story line, so this is not for anyone in a hurry.
This movie was nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Movie, and it certainly deserved that honor (it did not win, though). I left the movie theater where I saw it this past weekend full with haunting images in my head from this movie. Many movies before have brought Jewish survival tales from WWII, and this more than adds to that long roster. In sum, an important topic, and a great and haunting movie. With this, I've now seen 3 of the 5 Oscar-nominated best foreign movies (the others being Bullhead and A Separation). I hope to get a chance to see the remaining two (Footnote; Monsieur Lahzar) in the near future. Meanwhile, if you like quality foreign movies, "In Darkness" is highly recommended!
31 of 33 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
"In Darkness" is a 2011 Polish film nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the 2012 Oscars. It tells the true story of a sewer inspector in Nazi occupied Lvov (then Poland, now The Ukraine) who agrees to shelter a group of Jews escaping from the death squads intent on exterminating them. The film is based on the 1990 book "In the Sewers of Lvov" by Robert Marshall.
Lvov was a thriving city prior to the war, and at the start of the war it was annexed by the Soviet Union and Jews from German occupied Poland fled to the city. The Lvov Ghetto became one of the largest Jewish ghettos in Nazi occupied Poland with more than 200,000 people. Aided by the Ukrainian militia, the Nazis accelerated liquidation in 1943 when the story begins. Ultimately less than 1,000 people survived.
FWIW - Although not a part of this film, it's worthy to note that Simon Wiesenthal (1908-2005) was one of the survivors. Wiesenthal gained international fame after the war as one of the most successful Nazi hunters.
"In Darkness" is reminiscent of "Kanal", a 1956 Polish film about the Warsaw Uprising - a 2 month struggle by the Polish resistance movement to liberate Warsaw from Nazi occupation while the Russians were advancing That film takes place in September 1944 and follows a platoon of 43 resistance fighters as they make their way through the city's sewer system to escape a Nazi offensive.
"Kanal" was the second of 3 films by Andrzej Wajda (1926) about this period, a period in which he himself was a resistance fighter. Wajda (1926) has 4 Oscar nominations for Best Foreign film - "The Promised Land" (1975), "The Maids of Weilko" (1979), "Man of Iron" (1981), and "Katyri" (2007) and won a BAFTA for "Danton" (1982). He won the Palme d'Or at Cannes for "Kanal", "Man of Marble" (1977), "Bez znieczulenia" (1978) and "Man of Iron" (1981).
The director of this film, Agnieszka Holland (1948) worked with Wajda early in her career as a writer and served as an assistant on the critically acclaimed "Danton" (1982). In this film she directs with such skill that she makes you feel the hopelessness and dread which the fugitives must have felt. Holland was nominated for an Oscar and a BAFTA for her work on "Europa Europa" (1990) and for an Emmy for "Treme" (2010).
The film is relentless in its tribute to the survival instinct, both with respect to the fugitives living in the sewers for more than a year, and the Polish worker and his family who keep them alive at the risk of their own lives.
The NY Times called the film "suspenseful, horrifying and at times intensely moving" and said "the visual contrast between the worlds above and below ground is handled beautifully and evocatively." Rex Reed in "The Observer" called it "beautifully filmed, sensitively acted and expertly written" and said "It's harrowing, sometimes difficult to watch and wrenchingly moving to the point of tears. It is also brilliant. Do not miss it."
Bottom line - a powerful film.
Lvov was a thriving city prior to the war, and at the start of the war it was annexed by the Soviet Union and Jews from German occupied Poland fled to the city. The Lvov Ghetto became one of the largest Jewish ghettos in Nazi occupied Poland with more than 200,000 people. Aided by the Ukrainian militia, the Nazis accelerated liquidation in 1943 when the story begins. Ultimately less than 1,000 people survived.
FWIW - Although not a part of this film, it's worthy to note that Simon Wiesenthal (1908-2005) was one of the survivors. Wiesenthal gained international fame after the war as one of the most successful Nazi hunters.
"In Darkness" is reminiscent of "Kanal", a 1956 Polish film about the Warsaw Uprising - a 2 month struggle by the Polish resistance movement to liberate Warsaw from Nazi occupation while the Russians were advancing That film takes place in September 1944 and follows a platoon of 43 resistance fighters as they make their way through the city's sewer system to escape a Nazi offensive.
"Kanal" was the second of 3 films by Andrzej Wajda (1926) about this period, a period in which he himself was a resistance fighter. Wajda (1926) has 4 Oscar nominations for Best Foreign film - "The Promised Land" (1975), "The Maids of Weilko" (1979), "Man of Iron" (1981), and "Katyri" (2007) and won a BAFTA for "Danton" (1982). He won the Palme d'Or at Cannes for "Kanal", "Man of Marble" (1977), "Bez znieczulenia" (1978) and "Man of Iron" (1981).
The director of this film, Agnieszka Holland (1948) worked with Wajda early in her career as a writer and served as an assistant on the critically acclaimed "Danton" (1982). In this film she directs with such skill that she makes you feel the hopelessness and dread which the fugitives must have felt. Holland was nominated for an Oscar and a BAFTA for her work on "Europa Europa" (1990) and for an Emmy for "Treme" (2010).
The film is relentless in its tribute to the survival instinct, both with respect to the fugitives living in the sewers for more than a year, and the Polish worker and his family who keep them alive at the risk of their own lives.
The NY Times called the film "suspenseful, horrifying and at times intensely moving" and said "the visual contrast between the worlds above and below ground is handled beautifully and evocatively." Rex Reed in "The Observer" called it "beautifully filmed, sensitively acted and expertly written" and said "It's harrowing, sometimes difficult to watch and wrenchingly moving to the point of tears. It is also brilliant. Do not miss it."
Bottom line - a powerful film.
22 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
A Polish film about Jews who hid in sewers from the Nazis during WWII. They were assisted by a local man who worked in the sewers and know his way around them. This was a very realistic movie that portrays the horrors of the treatment of the Jewish people by the German soldiers, and provides a glimpse of life on the run and the strong human desire to live. The dilemma of the man who is assisting them is apparent, as he must balance his desire to shield the Jews with his priority of protecting the lives of his own wife and child. This is a powerful movie that you do not want to miss.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
A New Tale of Survival During the Holocaust
From the director of Europa Europa, IN DARKNESS does not have either the scope or the depth of the earlier film but is well worth seeing for anyone with a sincere interest in the... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Doug Park
4.0 out of 5 stars
Harrowing tale of underground survival during the war
This largely excellent film relates the true story of what happened in tne Nazi-occupied former eastern Polish city of Lvov when the Germans decide to empty the Jewish ghetto in... Read more
Published 2 months ago by David Ljunggren
5.0 out of 5 stars
In Darkness movie
Excellent movie, must see for all generations.The actors are very good,the movie was nominated for Oscars in 2012 but did not win.
Published 2 months ago by Mark Tune
4.0 out of 5 stars
Riveting and suspenseful Holocaust drama
I loved director Agnieszka Holland's "Europa, Europa" which is a fact-based drama recounting the wartime exploits of a young Jewish teen, Jupp ( portrayed by Marco Hofschneider),... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Z Hayes
5.0 out of 5 stars
Works So Well Because it isn't Romanticising the Characters or What...
This a Polish language film with English subtitles that is really well done. There's plenty of occupied Europe during World War II movies out there, but this one stands out for... Read more
Published 3 months ago by James N Simpson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful!
I finished watching this movie a week ago, and it is still with me. I love that the characters are flawed; especially that the Jews in hiding are not elevated to "mythical... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Lisa Tower
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful, inspiring tale of survival in WW2 . . .
"In Darkness" is a wonderful adaptation (rightly so in Polish with English sub-titles) of the survival saga of "The Girl in the Green Sweater" and dramatizes the rescue of Jewish... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Dudley Ristow
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great movie
Saw this at the theater last spring and it was such a good movie and I thought my dad might like it.
Published 5 months ago by Chris J. Moore
4.0 out of 5 stars
very good movie
is real drama in this movie, very good, very real acting, picture is good too, I did pay 15.00 and I will pay double for this movie.
Published 5 months ago by saremi
4.0 out of 5 stars
olish film glory
This Polish Oscar entry in 2011 is definitely highly recommended. The true story is fascinating and keeps you guessing until the final gripping moments of the movie. See it!
Published 6 months ago by Swas
