Volker Schlöndorff ‘s 2004 movie draws its basic story from the real life experiences of Father Jean Bernard (1907–1994), a writer and prominent Catholic clergyman of Luxembourg, who along with his fellow clergy numbering 2,720, underwent the harrowing experiences of the Dachau Nazi Concentration Camp in 1940-42.
Most people do not know that 1900 Catholic priests perished in the Nazi concentration camps. Father Henri Kremer (played by Ulrich Matthes), a priest and intellectual from a rich and influential Luxemburg family, is arrested and lives in the hellish concentration camp. We see scenes of extreme cruelty—beatings, kicks, and the killing of a priest on a cross. One day, he is called and told that he is free. When he reaches his home town, he is met by a Nazi officer, who tells him that he is on a ‘nine day leave.’ The Nazi officer, an ex-seminarian himself, gives him a task: to get the Archbishop to support Hitler. If Kremer agrees, he will be free, and his family can do their business in peace. If he tries to escape, all the priests of Luxemburg will be shot.
The gripping story is built around a series of encounters between Fr. Kremer and the Nazi Officer Gebhardt (played by August Diehl). Gebhart first tempts Kremer with his hospitality. He uses clever arguments—including religious ones—to convince the priest that the church should support Nazism. The offer is tempting, and his family would be happy if the priest were to give in. They want the patronage of the Nazi government to do their business in peace. Fr. Kremer listens, but is silent. The priest and the Nazi meet for nine days (hence the title of the movie). What will Fr Kremer do at the end of the nine days? Agree with Gebhardt, thus winning freedom from atrocious suffering for himself, safety and well-being of his family, and no harassment for the church? Or will he choose the harder path of saying No, knowing that it will mean being sent back to the concentration camp?
In deciding, he does not get useful guidance from the bishop. The latter reminds Fr Kremer how severely the Church in Holland was persecuted when the Dutch bishops criticised Nazi policies. Should the church in Germany do the same, and bring untold suffering on believers?
The frightening moral dilemma faced by this priest forms the heart of the movie. It won awards, and received reviews like the following:
“Haunting, brilliant, agonizing. Enthralling and mesmerizing. Cannot be recommended highly enough.”
“The most persistent feeling the movie leaves inside is the torturous question “What character could I actually be had I lived back then?” – and the chilling realization of the answer – “anyone of them.””
“The direction is stunning and realistic, particularly about the concentration camp.”
“A masterpiece.”
If you are looking for easy entertainment, romance or stunts, this film is not for you. If, instead, you are gripped by the moral dilemma faced by a good man in an awfully difficult political situation, then watch this movie. The acting is superb, the events true and moving, and the dilemmas challenging in the extreme.
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