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Amen

Play trailer Poster for Amen 2003 2h 12m History Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
67% Tomatometer 48 Reviews 82% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Nazi officer Kurt Gerstein (Ulrich Tukur), a chemist by training, is assigned to develop a disinfectant to purify water for the German army, but soon discovers that his invention, Zyklon B, is being used to exterminate imprisoned Jews. Horrified, he approaches a number of diplomatic figures with his story, but only Riccardo Fontana (Mathieu Kassovitz), a priest, takes him seriously. Fontana returns to the Vatican but is informed by his superiors that they have more pressing concerns.
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Amen

Amen

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Critics Consensus

Amen loses some of its impact to a protracted running time and deliberate pace, but Ulrich Tukur's powerful performance helps bring the story's worthy themes to life.

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Critics Reviews

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Eric Henderson Slant Magazine Aug 12, 2003
Though such elements might chip away somewhat at Amen's seriousness of intent, they do add fire to the stimulating drama. Go to Full Review
Terry Lawson Detroit Free Press Jul 25, 2003
3/4
Costa-Gavras deserves credit for staying the course; in a time when most European film directors are wringing their hands, he's still pointing fingers. Go to Full Review
Desson Thomson Washington Post Jun 27, 2003
Tukur's performance is the centerpiece of the movie; it's a wonderful mixture of outrage and swiftly disappearing naivete. Go to Full Review
Cole Smithey ColeSmithey.com Sep 29, 2007
4/5
Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Aug 15, 2005
3/5
Chris Barsanti Filmcritic.com Sep 23, 2003
1.5/5
a sputtering, wet firecracker Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Sharon J @SharonJ Mar 12, 2024 Well done, well acted and well filmed, if a little long. The actor looks very much like Kurt Gerstein. I do wonder why they changed the story from the truth, that it was his sister-in-law who was put to death, not his favourite niece. Some great shots of Auschwitz/Birkenau. See more
a.l.jude p @judebd Oct 12, 2021 The best ever historic element or subject to support thus educate the indictment of Catholic Church, Vatican, Pope and the rest of the ignorant bunch for the atrocity and holocausts happened. No better movie or documentary ever did what this movie did. It's compelling to watch the historic events materialized before and during the WWII. See more
Nov 2, 2017 Amen is Gavras at his most generally mainstream: not among his best, even against his more modern films, however there is no way to deny the movie's power, and not be stunned by the horrifyingly sad images. See more
Jan 26, 2016 Not as powerful as expected, kinda cheesy TV-movie scale indeed. See more
Apr 25, 2015 A very good and interesting film. See more
Mar 10, 2015 I was that close to believing that Christians were helping Jews while being massacred by Hitler...A good example of turning the other cheek... See more
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Amen

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Cast & Crew

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Costa-Gavras

Director

Ulrich Tukur

Kurt Gerstein

Mathieu Kassovitz

Riccardo Fontana

Ulrich Mühe

Doctor

Michel Duchaussoy

The Cardinal

Ion Caramitru

Count Fontana

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Amen

Amen (2002) Ulrich Tukur as Kurt Gerstein Riccardo Fontana (Mathieu Kassovitz), the Cardinal (Michel Duchaussoy) Kurt Gerstein (Ulrich Tukur) entertains Christmas guests Mathieu Kassovitz as Riccardo Fontana Director Costa-Gavras Mathieu Kassovitz as Riccardo Fontana Amen (2002) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Nazi officer Kurt Gerstein (Ulrich Tukur), a chemist by training, is assigned to develop a disinfectant to purify water for the German army, but soon discovers that his invention, Zyklon B, is being used to exterminate imprisoned Jews. Horrified, he approaches a number of diplomatic figures with his story, but only Riccardo Fontana (Mathieu Kassovitz), a priest, takes him seriously. Fontana returns to the Vatican but is informed by his superiors that they have more pressing concerns.
Director
Costa-Gavras
Producer
Claude Berri
Screenwriter
Costa-Gavras, Jean-Claude Grumberg
Distributor
Kino Pictures
Production Co
Canal Plus, Katharina, Renn Productions, K.G. Productions
Genre
History, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 24, 2003, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 10, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$274.3K
Runtime
2h 12m
Sound Mix
Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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