"In Darkness" was nominated for the Best Foreign Language Oscar for 2012 and you can rightly assume it's a very good movie. The only real problems with it are that there already are many movies about the Holocaust and the film's theme is a bit like that you'll find in films like "The Shop on Main Street" and "Schindler's List". But it is well worth your time.
The film is based on a true story that happened in the town of Lvov, Poland during WWII. A group of Jews in the ghetto knew that the end was near and in a desperate move, they tunneled into the sewer system. However, it was a confusing maze and they wouldn't have had a prayer of finding their way through the system. However, a sewer worker (and part-time thief) finds the folks and agrees to help them--if they pay! Leopold Socha initially had no interest in these Jews--he just wanted the money. However, as the film progresses, it becomes obvious that he's grown to care about these people and often risks his life to save them. A small group of Jews he keeps hidden in the sewer for 14 months--much of the film is about this small group.
The film is compelling, with very good acting and direction. I was amazed to see how horrible film conditions were--with lots of slogging through mucky water and dirty. It must have been a very uncomfortable shoot and I was impressed with the details--how it really looked as if they were filming in the sewers. Fascinating.
The film is based on a true story that happened in the town of Lvov, Poland during WWII. A group of Jews in the ghetto knew that the end was near and in a desperate move, they tunneled into the sewer system. However, it was a confusing maze and they wouldn't have had a prayer of finding their way through the system. However, a sewer worker (and part-time thief) finds the folks and agrees to help them--if they pay! Leopold Socha initially had no interest in these Jews--he just wanted the money. However, as the film progresses, it becomes obvious that he's grown to care about these people and often risks his life to save them. A small group of Jews he keeps hidden in the sewer for 14 months--much of the film is about this small group.
The film is compelling, with very good acting and direction. I was amazed to see how horrible film conditions were--with lots of slogging through mucky water and dirty. It must have been a very uncomfortable shoot and I was impressed with the details--how it really looked as if they were filming in the sewers. Fascinating.