Saturday, June 21, 2008

"In Between"

Author(s): George
Location: Atlanta

"In Between"

Directed by: Billy Ray
Written by: Billy Ray
Music by: Klaus Badlet

Main Cast

Thomas Kretschmann as Wilhelm
Tim Roth as Andrew
Kate Beckinsale as Anna
Jason Isaacs as Gustav

Tagline: "N/A"

Synopsis: It’s December in 1938 Germany. Wilhelm is an average German who feels as if he does not belong to his country. He has been a failure at every job he has done since he ran away from home when he was sixteen. He is completely oblivious to Germany ’s rise to power because of his own self-pity. He decides to end his life, but is saved by a military officer named Gustav. He shows Wilhelm the glory and power of the Third Reich and Wilhelm finally sees a place where he belongs, and is swept off his feet by the new way Germany is taking over the world. He is finally happy.

It’s December in 1939 Germany, a year after Gustav showed Wilhelm the greatness of the Nazi party. He has fallen in love with Gustav’s friend, Anna, and they are living happily while Gustav is on duty in eastern Berlin . Wilhelm has now learned how terrible every other country in Europe is, and how they must be killed quickly along with America and the pesty Jews. Gustav has not gone into details about where the Jews go, but Wilhelm does not care as long as he is happy. While at a Nazi parade, Wilhelm is pulled aside by a well-cultured Englishman. He learns that he is a journalist named Andrew, trying to do a story on the average Nazi German. Wilhelm is happy to tell him about the greatness of the Party and how inferior the other European countries are. Andrew probes him about how he feels about Jews and America . Wilhelm feels insulted and his temper runs high. Andrew tries to make amends, but to no avail.

The next day he bumps into Andrew again after a row with Anna. Andrew says he is sorry and he has to show him something. He shows him information about where the Jewish people go. Into camps where they die and are starved. That is why so many are migrating to England and America . Wilhelm is repulsed and accuses Andrew of being evil. He then goes to the local pub and embraces himself in beer, trying to forget what he saw. When goes home he sees Anna has moved her family into the apartment. Wilhelm is very stressed about how much food he needs, and starts to yell about how he has to do everything, but gets quiet once he starts to get dizzy. Andrew appears at the place, having tailed Wilhelm home, and gives some money to him. He then invites Andrew to spend the night. They both have a mutual understanding that they are enemies, but Wilhelm can find no evil in this man. Over the week he talks more and more with Andrew and sees that he has been blind by his own happiness. Germany has been evil to many people and places. Wilhelm still does not want to believe it. How can this happen? How did his perfect life get turned upside down so quickly? Wilhelm is in a place where he cannot turn back, and now realizes the winning side is not always the right one.

Wilhelm cannot see sense and goes home to collect his thoughts and try to see where his life is going. Gustav has been visiting and is living in the apartment next to him. When he goes home, he sees Anna and her family climbing out of the window. Anna explains that her family is Jewish, and she can’t just leave them. Wilhelm is shocked and horrified. He starts for the door to get Gustav, and Anna and her family are crying for him not to. What should he do? He is caught in between. Between his love for his wife and his love for his country. He yells for Gustav, and he comes crashing in with more guards. He says he has been suspicious of Anna for a while, and orders Wilhelm to stand away, but Wilhelm does not move. He is still stunned. All of a sudden Andrew breaks into the apartment. He tries to fight the guards off, but is held back and shot. Wilhelm yells and is clubbed to the floor. Anna and her family are taken away, as Wilhelm lies on the floor dazed. He goes over to Andrew and starts to cry for the first time in his life. He asks why Andrew told him that information about Germany . Andrew smiles and says because Wilhelm was good man, and dies. Wilhelm cries over the body, knowing he has killed everyone he loved because he was in servitude of the wrong side. He was the real villain, and he would have to live with that for the rest of his life…

What the Press would say:

Billy Ray is a semi-unknown, but amazing director, best known for his very interesting films including SHATTERED GLASS, and BREACH. Both of these films have main characters that aren’t very hero-like at all, and IN BETWEEN is no exception. Its main anti-hero being a Nazi himself provides lots of room for Ray to use his mastery over camera and script. Thomas Kretschmann gives an amazing and smart performance as Wilhelm, a Nazi caught in between. He is a joy to watch as you go through highs and incredible lows with him and see something freshly different about a Nazi man simply swept off his feet. The film itself is a character study of one man and his desperate attempt at happiness, which gives the viewer a sense of claustrophobia and makes the film even more real. The rest of the cast does their job well, Beckinsale showing good range, Roth having amazing chemistry with Kretschmann, and Isaacs looking as evil as ever. The film moves at a pace some would consider to slowly, but the pacing really makes an unforgettable mood to the picture. This film really should be seen by regular people and historians alike to see how each will respond to its main character. This film leaves an impression on you long after it’s over, and will not be forgotten soon.

Awards:

Best Picture
Best Actor (Kretschmann)
Best Director (Ray)
Best Screenplay (Ray)
Best Cinematography
Best Costume Design
Best Make-Up

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