Nebel im August

Firstly, I'd like to give my interpretation of what the title "Fog in August" means, since a previous reviewer was rather baffled at the title. The "fog" (nebel) was the deception employed by the administration when continuing the T4 (euthanasia) programme even though it had "officially" been abandoned by the Nazis. The "August" is the summer - the season that the film was obviously set in.

The two nurses are worthy of a mention here because they defy the stereotype: one, the hatchet-faced Catholic dogmatist is the true humanitarian. The other, an attractive, sweet talking and easy-going blue eyed young woman, is the reliable child killer, using raspberry juice to keep the lethal dose of barbiturate down. On the other hand, the medical director is a man who seems determined to see his projects through with efficiency no matter what the cost - the epitome of a Nazi stooge stereotype (but a well defined and well acted one).

The children were portrayed brilliantly. There are touching and realistic moments here that don't descend into sentimentality and help you to empathize with the victims rather than merely sympathize.

This film is difficult to watch but it has to be, because it's portraying an event in history many people would rather not contemplate. An event that occurred at a time when many people went mad in the wake of recession and populist extremism. It's a warning from history put into film. And it's a well acted and considered warning at that.

A very good movie where it shows the great performance of the new generation of German actors. It tells a story very little shown in the history of the cinema about the systematic murders in Germans not worth living because of their mental or physical disability.

A horrible and dark subject. Urgent and yet reserved. Around 1940 little Ernst was admitted to a mental hospital. The diagnosis: "not educable". But in the institution the patients are systematically killed. A process that is supposed to help rid the German race of hereditary diseases in the Third Reich. A film that is badly affected and gets under the skin.

Finding this movie was a big surprise. The title and subject were a drawcard but, did not expect to find a modern German treatment of this theme, to be so near perfection. It's un-sensationalistic and visually striking - with both the director Kai Wessel and cinematographer Hagen Bogdanski pulling out all stops to create a fully involving experience. Based on actual events as documented in Robert Dome's novel (Domes won both the Gustav Heinemann Peace Prize and the Lufti literature prize for this work). The screenplay adaptation by prolific writer/actor Holger Karsten Schmidt, might perhaps feature some over extended elements (in a couple of minor details) - for some, this may also include the unnecessary addition of a 'symbolic' character - in an attempt to add an uplifting finale (although the movie is honest enough to fully acknowledge this!).

Impressive performances litter this thoughtful production - featuring standout leads from Ivo Pietzcker as Ernst Lossa, the young Yenish lad sent to a Nazi sanatorium while waiting for his father to be processed in a camp, Sebastian Koch as the enigmatic Dr Veithausen (a character not easily forgotten) Henriette Confurius and Fritzi Haberlandt as nurses with conflicting views on the Fuhrer's methods. Many other vibrant cast members shine throughout. There's even a look at the acquiescence of the Catholic Church during this shocking time. The situations depicted creep up on you until the full extent of their seriousness is realised. While this theme (factual) may not appeal to everyone (but what does?) those who like movies based on contemporary historical events - brought to life in compelling detail, should not be disappointed. Highly recommended for serious viewers.

Considering the horrors of both the euthanasia program as well as the mass-murder of romani people and disabled in nazi-germany and the fact that we don't hear that much about this part of history, Nebel im August (Fog in August) has an important role to play. What could've been over-blown melodrama is a rather simple story about a young boy in the cold, isolated german hospital. The portrait is filled with authentic looks, almost to the point of feeling a bit flat but Ivo Pietzcker as the lead fills the film with a glow. It's sometimes crippled by a hamfisted storytelling, but does manage to convey an interesting image of the nazi program without feeling too didactic, proving that there's still important stories from this time in history worth telling on screen.