The Judgment (1997)

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Movie
Original title The judgment
Country of production Germany
original language German
Publishing year 1997
length 90 minutes
Age rating FSK 0
Rod
Director Oliver Hirschbiegel
script Paul Hengge
production Nicole Keeb
Hubertus Meyer-Burckhardt
music Oliver Hirschbiegel
camera Rainer Klausmann
cut Inge Behrens
occupation

The judgment is a German television - thriller from director Oliver Hirschbiegel made in 1997.

action

The antiquarian Siegfried Rabinovicz from New York wants to change his flight to Hamburg at Munich airport , but is approached by a hostess who makes him an exchange offer: his ticket for the booked connecting flight for a first-class ticket for a flight the next morning and a rare edition of the Haggadah . Without thinking about the background, he agrees and goes to an airport lounge of the airline to bridge the waiting time.

In the waiting area, Rabinovicz notices a stranger who observes and photographs him conspicuously. He feels threatened. Now it turns out that the hostess was acting on behalf of an unknown airline and that the original flight was not overbooked at all. Seemingly by chance, he starts talking to another waiting passenger about a spectacular murder on a cruise ship. The newspapers on display are full of it, and the murder case has been a topic in the media for days. The entrepreneur Hamilton is found murdered in his cabin on a cruise ship. There is a central witness who overheard an argument in the neighboring cabin shortly before the crime and immediately afterwards saw the suspect Wolf come out of the cabin.

An engaged discussion quickly developed between the stranger and Rabinowicz. The stranger doubts the witness and criticizes the allegedly one-sided investigations by the public prosecutor's office. Rabinovicz is firmly convinced of the main suspect's guilt and is well informed about the details of the investigation.

In the course of the dispute it turns out that Rabinovicz is the main witness who is reported in all newspapers. He is on his way to the trial, which begins the next day. In a multi-faceted verbal exchange of blows, the stranger manages to create doubts about Rabinovicz's originally clear assessment of his observations. The stranger calls Rabinovicz a judge because the prosecution's investigations are so one-sided that the verdict mainly depends on Rabinovicz's testimony in court. He agrees to this in the further course.

During the discussion, the childhood of Rabinovicz in Germany, his experiences as a child in a concentration camp (during the time of National Socialism ) and the meaning of the Haggadah will be discussed.

At the height of the discussion, Rabinovicz wrote his revised verdict covertly on a piece of paper - not guilty. Suddenly the stranger is called out by name. He should report to his editorial office. Rabinovicz recognizes him as the editor who, for the past few days, was the only one in his newspaper who had been agitating for the innocence of the main suspect and against the witness. Rabinovicz recognizes the orchestration of his stay in the lounge by the journalist. The journalist describes Wolf as a father figure and tries to justify his behavior.

With deep dislike and uncertainty, Rabinovicz wants to rebook in order to stay away from the process. He is no longer sure of his judgment. Meanwhile, the new daily newspapers that open with the cover story 'Wolf confesses' are being delivered.

The journalist and Rabinovicz separate neutrally, Rabinovicz shows understanding for his behavior and is relieved. He invites the journalist to visit New York.

Awards

Adolf Grimme Prize 1998
  • Adolf Grimme Prize for Paul Hengge (screenplay), Klaus Löwitsch (leading actor) and Matthias Habich (leading actor)
  • Prize of the Marler Gruppe for Oliver Hirschbiegel (director), Klaus Löwitsch (leading actor) and Matthias Habich (leading actor)
Bavarian Film Award 1998
  • Bavarian Film Prize for Paul Hengge (screenplay) and Klaus Löwitsch (leading actor)

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