Rommel, le stratège du 3ème Reich

After being promoted to field marshal and being nicknamed the "Desert Fox" in North Africa, Erwin Rommel (Ulrich Tukur) is put in command of the German forces in northern France to defend against the imminent Allied invasion. Meanwhile there's a plot to assassinate Hitler and negotiate with the Allies since the writing was on the wall. What did Rommel know and not know about this intrigue? Benjamin Sadler (Gen. Speidel), Tim Bergmann (Hofacker) and Johannes Silberschneider (Hitler) are on hand.

A German/French/Austrian production, "Rommel" (2012) focuses on the behind-the-scenes events of the German high command mixed with occasional real-life B&W footage. It's a war drama rather than action flick and is a nice counterbalance to "Saving Private Ryan" (1997), which shows the Allied invasion, and "Valkyrie" (2008), which details Colonel von Stauffenberg's modified Operation Valkyrie to seize control of Germany from the Nazis. The events shown in "Fury" (2014) occur several months later.

While made-for-TV, this is a top-notch production in the same league as "The Longest Day" (1962) and "The Young Lions" (1958), albeit in living color and without the action. It boggles the mind to consider how the filmmakers were able to keep all the details in order to produce such an engaging war drama. I should add that the bulk of the dialogue is in German (or French), so you'll have to use the subtitles if you don't know those languages.

The film runs 1 hour, 58 minutes, and was shot in France (La Roche Guyon & Audinghen, Pas-de-Calais) and Germany.

GRADE: B+

a correct film. the choice of actors, the atmosphere, the portrait of Rommel who is not only realistic but, in same measure, useful for discover the man behind the hero are inspired ingredients for create coherent fresco of principles, sense of duty, courage and wise vision about the situation of Germany from a Nazi officer who represents the traits of a lost world under dictatorship. a film about principles more than about a man. because the actions of Rommel are fruits of a faith who , translate in smart manner in each scene, represents a kind of map of the contemporary society. a correct film. and that is more important than great, beautiful or profound. because it propose not only a biography but a model.

It's an exceptionally good television movie. The performances are uniformly fine, the photography is crisp, judicious use is made of computer-generated effect, and the narrative covering the last seven months of Field Marshall Ervin Rommel is convincing.

It's less dramatic and more believable than James Mason's tortured Rommel in "The Desert Fox," less corny actually. This Rommel never kisses his wife, Lucy. He just nuzzles her. And he does not stop on the doorstep every time he leaves and whisper, "Good-bye, Darling." Ulrich Tukur's Rommel marches through his battles and finds himself in a conundrum with only one solution. He's all business and dignity. The effect is less dramatic but more believable.

In "The Desert Fox" we are never told exactly what it was that Rommel did that earned him a death sentence. Here, we learn that he knew of the plot against Hitler but refused involvement. He would have gone along with Hitler's arrest but not his assassination. That accords with what I've read elsewhere. He knew something was afoot, and he knew many of the men behind the plan, but not exactly what they intended.

In "The Desert Fox," Mason as Rommel protests that he is a soldier, not a politician. Here the message is spelled out in boldface. He had wistful dreams, not mentioned in this film, of surrendering peacefully to the Western Allies and perhaps even forming an alliance with them against the Bolsheviks. That's not a politician speaking.

The story is a kind of docudrama in which events are presented pretty much as they happened. Private conversations, of course, are fabricated. However, it's gripping throughout -- a docudrama, yes, but a very carefully thought-out and executed docudrama.

If you are interested in Second World War history this is for you. Especially if you want to know what happened the days before the invasion in Normandie by the Allied. Rommel played a role key trying finally to find a peacefully end between the Führer and the Allied. I don't spoil more details just watch it. The story begins some months before and shows shortly the victories of Rommel so far and his new role as the Feldmarshall. He was also ordered to be involved in the strategical battle fight of Normandie. If you liked it see the other historical movies Saving Private Ryan or the top season All Light We Cannot See.

6/10.

If you are interested in WWII movies and enjoy a very realistic dramatic movie rather than an action movie this is the one for you. Great acting by German actors, realistic plots and much detail spend on uniforms, armor and real live settings in WWII. The Geman language enhances the reality of the movie. Ulrich Tukur plays Rommel with great resemblance and talent.The movie reveals the man Rommel and his aversion of Hitle in the afterdaysr and the Plot to kill Hitler (you must remember Valkyrie: with Tom Cruise). Though casted very well, it is hard to identify yourself with the main character. The actors each are casted very well, with actors who play the German Generals and officers with great resemblance. Hope you enjoy the movie!