Well-acted and conveyed in a number of areas, this movie captured my attention but also disappointed me in the end. The story, based on fact, was a slight let-down, but in fairness, unless the writer were to decide to sway from the facts, there isn't anything to be done with the disappointing ending. However, the last train scene came across as lacking realism, and it took away from the impact of the piece as a whole.
The viewer is frustrated with the historical tale because Suskind might have allowed his wife to try and leave with their daughter--if there would have been a way for them to escape. As he was able to save so many children, one wishes he might have saved his daughter, knowing that his work was putting his wife and child in such extreme danger! At the end, once Suskind learns his wife and daughter have been put on the trains, despite the SS Commander's "word", he chooses nobly but foolishly to go back to die, but even more ridiculous is his decision to give diamonds to the Commander. Those diamonds might have been bargaining chips for him in the camps. Obviously the viewers grow to care deeply for the characters due to their superb acting. On the other hand, the roundest and deepest character of them all is portrayed by the antagonist German Officer, whom we hate but with whom we also somehow sympathize, as well. We understand his motivations, even when we despise them.
But the film, the portrayal,ultimately disappoints when Suskind walks amongst hundreds of helpless people on the train platform, and he seems to be able to pass unobstructed, magically. Here, at this crucial point, I just didn't by it. And finally, while this tale is truly not a story to pass on as it's quite important and heroic, it's a similar story to that of Schindler, and Spielberg is a tough act to follow.
The viewer is frustrated with the historical tale because Suskind might have allowed his wife to try and leave with their daughter--if there would have been a way for them to escape. As he was able to save so many children, one wishes he might have saved his daughter, knowing that his work was putting his wife and child in such extreme danger! At the end, once Suskind learns his wife and daughter have been put on the trains, despite the SS Commander's "word", he chooses nobly but foolishly to go back to die, but even more ridiculous is his decision to give diamonds to the Commander. Those diamonds might have been bargaining chips for him in the camps. Obviously the viewers grow to care deeply for the characters due to their superb acting. On the other hand, the roundest and deepest character of them all is portrayed by the antagonist German Officer, whom we hate but with whom we also somehow sympathize, as well. We understand his motivations, even when we despise them.
But the film, the portrayal,ultimately disappoints when Suskind walks amongst hundreds of helpless people on the train platform, and he seems to be able to pass unobstructed, magically. Here, at this crucial point, I just didn't by it. And finally, while this tale is truly not a story to pass on as it's quite important and heroic, it's a similar story to that of Schindler, and Spielberg is a tough act to follow.