"Alone in Berlin" is a fictional depiction of the 1947 novel, "Alone in Berlin" by Hans Fallada. The main characters of the 2016 film are loosely based on Otto and Elise Hampel who were genuine historical figures that protested Hitler's government during World War Two. In real life, this German working-class couple was caught by the Gestapo and beheaded. Their Gestapo file was acquired by Hans Fallada and inspired the writer to make a deeply moving novel that was eventually published in English as, "Every Man Dies Alone".
Emma Thompson and Brendan Gleeson play Anna and Otto Quangel who are fictional versions of the aforementioned historical figures in the "Alone in Berlin". After receiving the news of the death of their only son, the Quangels become agitated with the Nazi regime and begin a campaign of civil disobedience by composing postcards and placing them in high-traffic public areas throughout Berlin. These postcards urge the German people to stand against Hitler and his Nazi party because both were bad for Germany. The postcards eventually attract the attention of a genuine and hard-working police detective named Escherich who begins an investigation seeking to capture the perpetrators of this campaign, who he refers to as a "hobgoblin".
There is very little romantic chemistry between the aging Quangels at the onset of the film. However, the combined effort of civil disobedience helps Otto and Anna rekindle some of the passion that was lost from their marriage. They grow close and continue their extended campaign of civil disobedience. Unfortunately, Otto is eventually caught when some of his postcards fall out of his pocket at his workplace. Naturally, Otto and Anna are subsequently executed by the Nazi regime. The same fate awaited the Hampel in real life after they were caught. At the conclusion of the film, the detective Escherich sits alone at his office. He had grown to admire the Quangels. He gathers up a number of the couple's postcards and scatters them out of an open window before shooting himself.
This film could have been so much more. The actors were unquestionably talented. The scenes depicting Germany during World War Two including the Hitler Youth and the factories were satisfyingly detailed. But the film is weak given the powerful effect of the original novel. The most powerful moment of the entire film is captured in a touching moment between the old Otto and Anna Quangel when Otto explains his postcard writing campaign by saying, "It's like with a machine. A little sand in the gears will not stop the machine. But if a person throws a little more sand and more, the motor begins to stutter. The assembly line stops. In my mind, I see lots of people throwing sand in the gears". "You are a romantic Otto Quangel", Anna responds. Otto insists, "Im a mechanic", to which Anna replies, "Yeah. That too".
Emma Thompson and Brendan Gleeson play Anna and Otto Quangel who are fictional versions of the aforementioned historical figures in the "Alone in Berlin". After receiving the news of the death of their only son, the Quangels become agitated with the Nazi regime and begin a campaign of civil disobedience by composing postcards and placing them in high-traffic public areas throughout Berlin. These postcards urge the German people to stand against Hitler and his Nazi party because both were bad for Germany. The postcards eventually attract the attention of a genuine and hard-working police detective named Escherich who begins an investigation seeking to capture the perpetrators of this campaign, who he refers to as a "hobgoblin".
There is very little romantic chemistry between the aging Quangels at the onset of the film. However, the combined effort of civil disobedience helps Otto and Anna rekindle some of the passion that was lost from their marriage. They grow close and continue their extended campaign of civil disobedience. Unfortunately, Otto is eventually caught when some of his postcards fall out of his pocket at his workplace. Naturally, Otto and Anna are subsequently executed by the Nazi regime. The same fate awaited the Hampel in real life after they were caught. At the conclusion of the film, the detective Escherich sits alone at his office. He had grown to admire the Quangels. He gathers up a number of the couple's postcards and scatters them out of an open window before shooting himself.
This film could have been so much more. The actors were unquestionably talented. The scenes depicting Germany during World War Two including the Hitler Youth and the factories were satisfyingly detailed. But the film is weak given the powerful effect of the original novel. The most powerful moment of the entire film is captured in a touching moment between the old Otto and Anna Quangel when Otto explains his postcard writing campaign by saying, "It's like with a machine. A little sand in the gears will not stop the machine. But if a person throws a little more sand and more, the motor begins to stutter. The assembly line stops. In my mind, I see lots of people throwing sand in the gears". "You are a romantic Otto Quangel", Anna responds. Otto insists, "Im a mechanic", to which Anna replies, "Yeah. That too".