Mephisto

Dir: Istvan Szabo, Hungary, 1981 (8.8*)
Best Foreign Film (AA)

This disturbing film about an actor in Nazi Germany put Klaus Maria Brandauer on the map, with a great performance as a man who "sells his soul" in order to remain an actor, basically by doing plays that the Nazi establishment choose for him to perform in Berlin, the most popular being Mephisto in Faust’s play. The ultimate statement concerns whether one remains true to his career or true to his heart. The novel my Thomas Mann's son Klaus, is based on the life story of his brother-in-law, an actor in Berlin. You may be also interested in Szabo's other film that covers this period in history, Sunshine, a multi-generational history of a Jewish family in Austria. Oscar® for foreign language film.

Quote: I’m just an actor, what do you want from me? (Brandauer)