Berlin 36

Berlin 36

Synopsis

Inspired by the true story of Jewish high jumper Gretel Bergmann, “Berlin 36″ replays a remarkable piece of forgotten Olympic history. Bergmann (Karoline Herfurth) was considered a top contender for the gold medal at the 1936 Summer Games in Nazi-controlled Berlin. With the Americans threatening an Olympic boycott if Jewish athletes were barred from competing, Bergmann is invited to training camp. But uncomfortable with a Jewish athlete on the Aryan team, the Nazis conspire to replace her with an unknown uber-athlete (Sebastian Urzendowsky), who years later is revealed to be a man. “Berlin 36″ is the exploration of a tenuous friendship between two outsiders who find themselves in unimaginable circumstances. Bergmann eventually escaped to the U.S., where she still lives, and was invited by the German Olympic Committee to be its guest at the Centennial Games in Atlanta.

Official Site: www.berlin36.x-verleih.de

Singapore Release Date: 29th July 2010, Thursday

Running Time: 100 minutes

Ratings: G

Genre: History

Cast: Karoline Herfurth, Sebastian Urzendowsky, Axel Prahl

Crew: Director (Kaspar Heidelbach), Writers (Lothar Kurzawa), Music (Arno Steffen)

The Trailer

The Review

This is a look a how the pursuit of Gold can be so misleading by a nation bent on seeking glory to serve a political agenda.

The story is told by two main athletes characters who became friends, and it is this forbidden friendship that draws and create tension.

It was excellent performances by the cast, although the plot was somewhat loose and predictable.

Do stay until the end, it has a heartening end.

The Good

• Excellent ensemble cast
• An excellent lesson in history

The Bad

• Can be tad a bit slow on the movie pace

Editor’s Ratings