Trailers
Description
In the aftermath of the Second World War, Josef Mengele, the Nazi doctor at Auschwitz, escapes to South America to rebuild his life in hiding. Through the eyes of his son who finds him again, Mengele is confronted with a past he can no longer ignore. From Buenos Aires to Paraguay via Brazil, the man who became known as “The Angel of Death” will organize his methodical disappearance to avoid any form of trial.
Starring
Awards
Key opinion
La Disparition de Josef Mengele is a meditative, psychological character study that eschews thriller tropes in favor of a slow-burn depiction of an unrepentant war criminal's internal decay. While the film is praised for its technical craft and a transformative lead performance, it is frequently criticized for a disjointed narrative and a formalistic style that some viewers find monotonous or confusing.
| Acting | August Diehl delivers a powerhouse performance, convincingly capturing Mengele’s physical and psychological transition from a vigorous Nazi officer to a withered, paranoid fugitive. | |
| Cinematography | The use of black-and-white cinematography combined with stark visual metaphors effectively underscores the film's themes of guilt, stagnation, and the erasure of morality. | |
| Pacing | The film’s slow, atmospheric pace divides audiences; some appreciate the focus on the protagonist's internal rot, while others find the experience tedious and lacking the momentum of a thriller. | |
| Screenplay | The narrative structure is polarizing, with the surreal shifts and erratic chronology leading to confusion rather than a clear or impactful exploration of the subject's post-war life. |