Europa Europa Movie Review (1990)
Based on a true story, Europa Europa shows one Jewish teen’s luck, humor, and resilience in hiding with German soldiers during WWII. A hugely charming and engaging film.
There are many films about World War II that are told from all perspectives. It is important to keep history alive and available so that we don’t repeat past mistakes, and it is always fascinating when a movie can communicate a horror and leave a lasting impression because it is different and unique.
Europa Europa is a movie about Solomon Perel (nicknamed Salek), a Jewish teenager living with his parents and teenage siblings in Germany in the 1930s. After Kristallnacht (the night of broken glass), Salek’s parents send him and his brother away for safety. They quickly get separated and Salek is relocated to a Russian orphanage, where he studies and learns several languages. When the war intensifies, Salek disguises himself as an Aryan German and begins to work as an interpreter for the German army. From here, he rises in the ranks, always hiding his Jewish ancestry.
What struck me right from the beginning of this film is that the energy is often lighthearted and humorous, as seen through the slightly sarcastic and amused eyes of a teenage boy. It is shot in a way that makes you feel as if his life is a movie, and although he is often surrounded by war, death, and blood, he is naïve and just trying to stay alive.
His circumcision becomes a main topic of concern, which is hugely distinctive to this film. He obviously has to hide his body, something that becomes more difficult as he ages. Whether taking a shower, using the bathroom at wartime (which is fairly public), living with a roommate, or getting romantic with a girl, it is the one thing that will prove to everyone that he is Jewish.
In the first half of the film, much of the violence is implied or off screen. You feel his youth in the aversion of his eyes as seen through the aversion of the camera. Towards the end of the film, and as Salek ages and is exposed to more, the camera does show some of the horrors of the ghettos and results of concentration camps.
Marco Hofschneider is excellent as teenage Salek. You enjoy watching him, he has tons of personality, and his eyes communicate without him having to speak. It is also a privilege to meet the real Solomon Perel at the end of the movie – the man whose youth you have just watched. Based on his book and life story, I Was Hitler Youth Salomon, seeing him here takes on a whole new meaning. There is a reverence about it.
Europa Europa is a fantastic film about a real man told in a very unique way. It is clever, funny, and sometimes very serious, but it falls into the realm of “special films” easily. As strange as it seems because of the subject matter, it is truly a pleasure to watch.
Runtime: 112 minutes
Motion Picture Rating: R
Languages Spoken In The Film: French, German, Russian, Hebrew, Polish, and Yiddish with English subtitles
Should You Watch It? Yes, it’s excellent
Did I Cry? No tears, but I got choked up
My Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Available: Free on Max, to rent on Prime Video, or may be available for free on other streaming platforms
