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IMDbPro

Le triomphe de l'esprit

Original title: Triumph of the Spirit
  • 1989
  • R
  • 2h
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
3K
YOUR RATING
Le triomphe de l'esprit (1989)
In Greece during World War II, a young Jewish boxer, meets regularly with girlfriend Allegra until they and their families are sent to Auschwitz. When the Nazis learn of his boxing, they force him to participate in weekly boxing matches.
Play trailer1:56
2 Videos
56 Photos
BiographyDramaHistorySportWar

In Greece during World War II, a young Jewish boxer, his girlfriend, and their families are sent to Auschwitz. When the camp guards learn of his boxing abilities, they force him to participa... Read allIn Greece during World War II, a young Jewish boxer, his girlfriend, and their families are sent to Auschwitz. When the camp guards learn of his boxing abilities, they force him to participate in weekly boxing matches.In Greece during World War II, a young Jewish boxer, his girlfriend, and their families are sent to Auschwitz. When the camp guards learn of his boxing abilities, they force him to participate in weekly boxing matches.

  • Director
    • Robert M. Young
  • Writers
    • Shimon Arama
    • Zion Haen
    • Andrzej Krakowski
  • Stars
    • Willem Dafoe
    • Edward James Olmos
    • Robert Loggia
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.8/10
    3K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Robert M. Young
    • Writers
      • Shimon Arama
      • Zion Haen
      • Andrzej Krakowski
    • Stars
      • Willem Dafoe
      • Edward James Olmos
      • Robert Loggia
    • 19User reviews
    • 14Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos2

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:56
    Trailer
    Triumph of the Spirit
    Clip 1:56
    Triumph of the Spirit
    Triumph of the Spirit
    Clip 1:56
    Triumph of the Spirit

    Photos56

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    Top cast72

    Edit
    Willem Dafoe
    Willem Dafoe
    • Salamo
    Edward James Olmos
    Edward James Olmos
    • Gypsy
    Robert Loggia
    Robert Loggia
    • Poppa
    Wendy Gazelle
    • Allegra
    Kelly Wolf
    Kelly Wolf
    • Elena
    Costas Mandylor
    Costas Mandylor
    • Avram
    Kario Salem
    Kario Salem
    • Jacko
    Edward Zentara
    Edward Zentara
    • Janush
    Hartmut Becker
    • Major Rauscher
    Burkhard Heyl
    • Aid to Rauscher
    Zofia Saretok
    Zofia Saretok
    • Momma
    Grazyna Krukówna
    Grazyna Krukówna
    • Sister Julie
    Karolina Twardowska
    • Bemmi
    Juranda Krol
    • Sarah
    Wiktor Mlynarczyk
    • Beppo
    Jerzy Gralek
    Jerzy Gralek
    • Kapo Kyr
    Jack Messinger
    • Greek Prisoner
    Tuvia Tavi
    • Greek Prisoner
    • Director
      • Robert M. Young
    • Writers
      • Shimon Arama
      • Zion Haen
      • Andrzej Krakowski
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews19

    6.83K
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    Featured reviews

    10johnmbale

    Powerful and Uncompromising Film

    Triumph of the Spirit takes an uncompromising view of the horrors of the Auschwitz Concentration Camp, dealing with the fate of Greek gypsies, and particularly a boxing Champion Salamo Arouch who fights to amuse the brutal Nazi Officers, enabling his father's and his own survival. He was allowed life while his losing opponents perished. Based on a true story, without doubt the most devastating film ever made on the topic of death camps, it is extremely realistic in its presentation having been filmed in the bleak winter of 1989 on location in Auschwitz, and that shows. It must have effected the cast and the crew extremely. Willem Defoe's performance proves the depth of feeling that was thus achieved, and this is reflected by the whole cast. Certainly not an easy film to watch, but it is rewarding and extremely moving to those who make the effort. Perhaps in some small way this film might prevent such evil being perpetrated on the world again. A remarkable achievement that predates and eclipses Schindler's List, yet sadly not widely shown.
    7Erik_Surewaard

    This movie is based on the true events that Salamo Arouch experienced in Auschwitz

    Movie about a jewish camp inmate of Auschwitz named Salamo Arouch, which is given privileges by the camp leadership for his boxing skills. Coming from Greece, he and his complete family were interned at Auschwitz, whereby this movie is based on the true events he experienced.

    This movie very well shows how the camp arrival and consequential selection for gassing takes place. It also very well shows the daily struggles that the inmates faced that were not gassed upon arrival. Especially the unique position that certain inmates had. Like e.g. Kapos and inmates with special skills like a boxing champion.

    I score this movie with 7.3/10, resulting in a 7 star IMDb rating.
    7TBJCSKCNRRQTreviews

    One of the best holocaust movies I've seen

    When Greece was invaded, its Jews were sent to Auschwitz. Among them was boxing champ Salamo(Dafoe, determined) and his family. When it is discovered that he can fight, he is put in the ring for the entertainment of the SS officers. This doesn't mean that they're safe, not even with him making a contact with a gypsy(Olmos) who is also granted a temporary "tolerance". Based on a true story.

    This is among the most detailed, authentic and gripping pictures about its subject that I know of. The sheer volume of awful events, ways to be singled out and murdered and lies told by Nazis to avoid panic is impressive for being fit into the 1 hour 51 and a half minute running time. Production values are high. Acting is great for all concerned, with numerous subtle performances.

    Going to great lengths to avoid being exploitative, this has few on-screen deaths, piles of dead and little naked skin. And yet, so much is communicated. Some recurring images convey far more than gore ever could. A reaction shot of conveys the horror inside the crematorium. And we know exactly what it means when we see the smoke from its chimney, or a train pulling in to, as my father solemnly put it as we watched it together, "the end of the line".

    There is a lot of disturbing, and some bloody, content in this. I wholeheartedly recommend this to everyone old enough to handle the material. 7/10
    10mailbob

    Hang on to your hats

    The events depicted in the movie are well documented in historical accounts of the concentration camp experience, and according to these accounts they are not overstated in this film. Director Robert M. Young's background in making documentaries makes this docu-drama all that much more devastating. This is the holocaust, without frills, humor, or preaching. It is what it is. I wonder about other comments criticizing the film because it is too depressing. Gee, sorry if the holocaust ruined your evening. If you don't think you can take the raw experience, don't watch the film. Of course it is depressing, more than that. However, having watched it, I can say I can better understand and appreciate the creation of the state of Israel after the war. Mr. Young did an excellent job of film making on an extremely sensitive topic. Incidentally, he was co-writer on one of my all time favorite films, a 1964 low budget black and white gem, "Nothing But a Man." Also a sleeper which received extensive critical praise but not much exposure, I believe it to be hands down the best film depicting the black experience in America, particularly southern blacks in early 1960's at the apex of the civil rights movement. See my review on this site. Don't miss it.
    9kikiloveslegwarmers

    Depressing

    Just finished seeing Triumph of the Spirit. What a sad, bleak, dark, and depressing film.

    This was based on the true story of Greek Balkins Middleweight Champion Salamo Arouch who was undefeated before World War II. Once the Nazi army invades Greece, Arouch, his entire family, and all the Jews in Greece are shipped off to the Nazi death camp in Austwitz.

    With-in moments, all the women in Arouch's family are murdered in the gas showers. He is forced with his family and brother to work at slave-labor. Arouch is brutalized by a camp Kapo who happens to be a professional boxer as well. In a brutal scene, Arouch and the Kapo have a fist fight with Arouch scoring a knockout and a Nazi camp guard finishes off the Kapo with a gun shot to the head. Arouch is then forced to box in the camp for the Nazi officers who bet on the "boxing" matches. Only problem, the losing boxer ends up the "chimney stack".

    A heart-wrenching and brutal story. Shocking to realize that not only did the Nazi murder, torture, starve and kill the inmates at Auswitz, but they also forced all the professional Jewish boxers to put on "Galdiator" matches for their entertainment.

    The Triumph of The Spirt is a triumph of film-making. A very depressing one at that.

    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      Shot on location at the actual Auschwitz death camp. Some of the existing structures were utilized in the production, however, the crematorium had to be recreated since the actual crematoria in Auschwitz were destroyed by the Nazis. The ruins still exist today.
    • Goofs
      The movie shows the end phase of life in Auschwitz and the forced death march as the camp is evacuated. Salamo Arouch is sent to work in the Sonderkomando in the crematorium where suddenly he witnesses the uprising and destruction of what is clearly crematorium II or III. In reality, the uprising occurred in October 1944, months before the evacuation. The SS dismantled the crematoriums over the preceding months and the forced death march evacuations occurred in late January. (In addition, the evacuation occurred in the middle of winter, the movie shows a nice sunny day, where in reality there would have been snow on the ground.)
    • Quotes

      Gypsy: Listen, I'm only going to say this once. For those who can hear me tell the rest. First come the SS, our lord and masters. Then comes our block health manager, Kyr. Then come the assistants, Otto and me. Then come the rats. Then come the lice... and then come you.

    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation/Roger & Me/Triumph of the Spirit/Mystery Train/Thelonius Monk: Straight, No Chaser (1989)

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    FAQ17

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 23, 1989 (South Korea)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • German
    • Also known as
      • Triumph of the Spirit
    • Filming locations
      • Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp, Oswiecim, Malopolskie, Poland
    • Production company
      • Nova International Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $12,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $408,839
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $33,963
      • Dec 10, 1989
    • Gross worldwide
      • $408,839
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 2h(120 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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