Truth & Treason

Enjoyed the acting, camera work, script, and score. I thought the characters were very believable, and particularly liked the fact that all Germans were not portrayed as two dimensional thugs; even member of the party. Many will probably find the slow pace and subject matter not to their taste, but I think 85% of people will enjoy this movie very much. Though not overly violent, I feel it is still too harsh and emotional for small children.

Truth and Treason is one of those films that sneaks up on you. The first half plays like a fairly straightforward political thriller - interesting enough, but you think you know exactly what kind of movie you're watching. Then the back half hits, and it turns into something far more gripping and emotional. The tension in the second act never really lets up, and by the time it reached the ending, I was genuinely choked up.

Knowing it's a true story makes the whole thing land even harder. Ewan Horrocks plays Helmuth Hübener, a young man - not a soldier, not a politician - just someone gutsy enough to tell the truth when it mattered, even though it cost him everything. In a moment in history where truth is constantly bent, packaged, and sold, watching someone refuse to bend to power feels both inspiring and distressing.

Horrocks is excellent. By the time the courtroom scene comes around, he feels like someone you personally know and want to protect. Rupert Evans, who plays SS officer Erwin Mußener, is great in the opposite direction - not cartoonishly evil, but a man entrenched in power who slowly starts to crack as reality bleeds in. That dynamic reminded me a bit of Under the Banner of Heaven, where obedience and conscience collide.

If I break it down, the first half is a 4/10 and the second half is a 9/10, so I land at a 7/10 overall. Absolutely worth watching - and worth sitting with afterward. It's a film that lingers, especially given the times we're in.

If trying to decide to see a movie, any rating above 7 indicates I will probably enjoy it, this movie had an 8.2. This was very misleading.

The subject matter was interesting, the production was fairly decent, and the acting was acceptable but none of these things rose above a 6 to 6.5 level. It wasn't a "waste of money" but it was time and money better spent on another movie.

I knew something was up with the rating when I saw that it was supported by the Angel Guild (I really need to watch for that before going!). During the movie, there was a hefty amount of christianity mixed in, and the purported subject matter was not delved into in enough detail, or focus. The high rating was generated by getting all of their members to rate it highly (mostly 10s) whether they saw it, or not.

Wait until you can stream it, you'll be better entertained spending your money and time on something else.

Look, I believe that people have to actually watch a film before they make an opinion about it. So whatever I or anyone else says, watch the film for yourself and make your own judgement. That said, I thought this was an amazing film. It was well made, the acting was great, and the message was heartful and impactful. Are there already plenty of stories about Nazi Germany? Yes. Are there other movies with a similar message? Also yes. But that doesn't make *this* story any less important. All stories have value, and the most important thing is the message. For me, this film is more significant because it is true.

Someone else on here said the film played it safe and didn't take any risks; that's fair enough, but why overdramatize what really happened? I'm sure the makers took some liberties, but this is largely a true story. I'm sorry it's not as exciting as others, but it is recounting what actually happened. This film is really about the lesson it teaches, and the inspiration it gives. Sometimes the simplest stories have the greatest effect.

I know there are people who are going to criticize the religion in the film. To that, I just want to say that the civilians of Germany were mostly people trying their best, and it was *not* easy to balance doing what you knew was right and keeping your head down so you and people you loved wouldn't get hurt. It's not necessarily an excuse, but it's not up to us to make judgements on these people because we were not there. The truth is, not everyone had the courage to stand up like Helmuth did, and that's part of why his story means so much to me.

All in all, I would definitely recommend Truth and Treason. I hope you give it a chance.

THIS IS A MUST SEE!

I didn't know what to expect with this movie but wow was I blown away by the amazing cinematography, acting, and overall storytelling. It tells the story of a boy in Nazi Germany who discovers Germany is on the wrong side of the war and chooses to do something about it. It's inspiring and incredible, and just very well done. It's so relevant for everything that is going on in the world right now.

Everything Angel puts out just gets better and better. I'm so impressed by the quality of their movies and the quality of their storytelling.