EUROPA, EUROPA
A film review by Frank Maloney
Copyright 1992 Frank Maloney
EUROPA, EUROPA is a film by Agnieszka Holland. Rated R due to nudity and violence.
EUROPA, EUROPA (released in Europe as SOLOMON HITLERJUGEND) is the true story of Solomon Perel who traveled not only through the geography of central and eastern Europe in war but more importantly through the ideological minefields of its competing systems -- Nazism and its war on Jews, Communism at war with Hitler. Solek joins every side, and successfully hides his Jewishness and his circumcision for years. He survives to find finally an identity. He is the ultimate chameleon, but he is a charmed one. He is a very cute boy and his physical attractiveness make him acceptable to every group. He is almost too lucky--one has to be reminded that Holland's script is based on the autobiography of the real Solomon Perel, a man alive in Israel today--the level of coincidences, breaks, and miracles is almost too high to work.
But it is Holland's script and her sure-handed direction that yield up a a delightful, horrifying, funny, intensely human movie. There are many excellently drawn characters who pass through Solek's bizarre adventure: the gay German actor who discovers the secret of Solek's circumcision and who becomes a beloved friend. There is an hilarious Nazi functionary who has her way with the new hero of the Fatherland. There is the sweet and chilling Leni who wants to bear a baby for Hitler and to slice Jewish throats. And there are telling moments, little epiphanies like Solek practicing his Hitler salute which becomes a little jazz dance step.
This is a brilliant, biting, funny, disturbing, threatening, affirming film. It has been playing in the Seattle area since last June 28 and is still drawing crowds. Germany declined to make this its official entry in the Oscar competition for a variety of bogus reason. Obviously, EUROPA, EUROPA hits the wrong buttons in today's unified Germany.
I regret I hadn't gotten around to seeing it before today. I recommend you see it as soon as possible. It is worth full price at the box office.
-- Frank Richard Aloysius Jude Maloney .
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