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Movie rec: Labyrinth of Lies

Thought-provoking movie about efforts in the late 1950s to uncover and bring to justice everyday Germans who participated in the holocaust - specifically those who perpetrated atrocities in Auschwitz. Although I've always been interested in history (and recently visited Auschwitz), I had not realized the degree to which so many Germans in the post-war years remained very much in denial about the holocaust - which I guess shouldn't come as a surprise, but it did. The film depicts the efforts of one young prosecutor who made it his mission to prosecute those who worked at Auschwitz, and to open the eyes of everyone to what their own neighbors, co-workers and family members had done.

Very well acted and directed, beautifully shot, it really gives you a feel for what it would have been like to be living in Western Germany in the late 50s and early 60s, as many people wanted to just move on and be a part of the swinging sixties without acknowledging the crimes of their friends, family members and neighbors. If you have an interest in Germany, Poland, WWII or history, I think you would enjoy it. Available through the usual movie services.

Labyrinth of Lies on IMDb

Posted by
11289 posts

Thanks, David. Anything WWII interests me. Amazing how many stories still emerge from that period!

Posted by
1543 posts

Thanks for the information. I just arrived at work (in a public library), and we have it in DVD format. No doubt if my library has it, many others do as well.

Posted by
8938 posts

Most of this movie was filmed in Frankfurt so if you visit here, you can find some of the sites, like the Römer, I.G. Farben.
Excellent movie.

Posted by
1543 posts

We just watched and enjoyed it. DH noticed the American officer was Trivago guy. I checked and he was right.

Posted by
6788 posts

the American officer was Trivago guy

Yeah, I noticed that too - found it weird and it took me right out of the movie a couple times. (He speaks German very well!)

The film was a 2015 release, so was probably made a year or so before that. Maybe he became the Trivago guy after the movie?