Alone in Berlin

In 1940, Germany was at the height of World War II. The Third Reich was at their peak and optimism filled the air. It is here in this setting that we meet Otto and Anna Quangel, two individuals who take controversial measures to bring down the Nazi regime. Based on the international best-seller by Hans Fallada, Brendan Gleeson and Emma Thompson are powerhouses on the big screen, each delivering nuanced performances of people who have nothing left to lose. 

Much of the film takes place in an inner-city apartment building that houses a mishmash of residents with differing opinions on the war, including an elderly Jewish woman who hides from the Gestapo for fear of persecution.

Connecting them all is the unassuming and sympathetic mail woman, delivering parcels and letters from soldiers at war — bringing the horrific realities of warfare to the doorsteps. Otto and Anna are left devastated when they learn their only child has been killed in combat. 

Paralysed by grief, Otto and Anna become disillusioned with their tyrannical Führer and the increasingly oppressive world they live in, and they set out to speak out against the Fascist propaganda. Using postcards as a medium for his message, Otto condemns Hitler as a murderer and voices his treacherous opinions, urging his fellow men to spread the word and resist the regime. Anna, a member of a Nazi women’s group, feigns passion for the job and becomes ostracised by her friends. Fuelled by their devastation, Otto and Anna work together and distribute over 267 cards in Berlin.

The controversial postcards soon cross into the paths of the Gestapo and a game of cat-and-mouse ensues. Police inspector, Escherich (Daniel Brühl), is charged with finding the culprits; an occupation which soon develops into a twisted obsession, one that has the inspector feeling a level of admiration for these individuals who dare defy the Nazi regime. Facing enormous pressure to make an arrest, Escherich works tirelessly to capture the Quangels, where they ultimately meet a merciless and dire end.

Based on true events, Alone in Berlin masterfully captures the stark realities of war, exposing how neither side is free from pain, sacrifice, and the loss of life. The film never fails to keep the momentum up, especially as Otto and Anna’s world collapses around them – a testament to Gleeson and Thompson’s brilliant acting and chemistry. Thompson is a star as a mother struggling to keep her sanity following the death of her only child, and is matched by Gleeson’s spiritless yet enraged portrayal of Otto. The supporting cast are terrific and their characters are well-rounded enough that you connect with their extremely difficult predicaments. Brühl’s portrayal of Escherich in particular is superb, evidenced by the sympathy you feel for this complex character.

Alone in Berlin teaches you that World War II is full of extraordinary stories – Otto and Anna Quangel’s heroic yet outlandish attempt to take Hitler down is just one of them.

Alone in Berlin 
In cinemas now
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