Jeri Jacquin
Coming this week to DVD and Digital HD from director Mark
Schmidt and 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment is a film based on a
true story when WALKING WITH THE ENEMY.
It is World War II when Elek Cohen (Jonas Armstrong), a
young man who is aware that the Germans are moving into villages all around
them. Going away to be part of a work crew, their treatment is nothing short of
horrible.
When Elek walks away with his friend Miklos (Simon Dutton),
they return to their village in Budapest
only to discover none of their family can be found. They have disappeared and a
new family has taken over the house.
They learn that the families may have been moved west but no
one really knows for sure. Told they are in Yellow Star houses, Elek finds
Hannah (Hannah Tointon) who tells them Jozsef (Simon Kunz) is there.
Told there is a place up in the mountains called Waldensee
where they might be. It is hard to know. Needing Schutz-pass, they are told it
is the only way to be safe. But, when Hannah is chased home by German soldiers,
the unthinkable happens in a series of horrific events.
Regent Horthy (Ben Kingsley) of the town is under pressure
by Col. Skorzeny (Burn Gorman), a man who doesn’t reason at all. Niklos Horthy
(Shane Taylor) tries to back up his father but to no avail.
Elek is taken in by Miklos, Hanna’s Uncle who gives him a
job delivering the precious Schutz-passes. Soon Col. Skorzeny announces that
these passes will no longer be valid putting the Hungarian Jews in even more
jeopardy.
When Elek has to rescue his friend from the Germans, they
dig up a suit belonging to soldiers and make a daring rescue like nothing that
has been seen before. When an armistice comes it doesn’t stop the Germans for
attacking. Now Regent Horthy does what he must to protect Hungarian citizens
but to no avail.
The Germans begin to tear the city apart and its Jewish
citizens are rounded up. Elek decides the only way to help is by putting on the
German uniform and using it to their advantage. Saving those he can he knows
that Eichmann continues to deport more and more Jews. The Glass House were they
are taken too is overflowing with those they have saved.
When the trains are cut off, Elek knows there has to be another
way to get them out. Walking on the road are those who are holding Swiss passes
and when a German convoy comes upon them, he knows not all can be saved. The
Germans attack the Glass House and take everyone into custody but as they come
under attack from the Russians, Elek is still in the German uniform.
He will never stop trying to save as many as he can.
Armstrong as Elek is devastated that his family was gone
when he returns to the village. Watching all the Jews around him go through the
same, his plan to save them by wearing the German uniform is as dangerous as
one would imagine. Armstrong gives his character such sadness yet a strength
that comes across so genuinely.
Kingsley as Horthy is a small role but important in that he
wanted to protect all the citizens of his country. Trying to keep the Germans
at bay for as long as possible, it was only a matter of time before even his
attempts would fail. I enjoyed his performance as I always do.
Dutton as Miklos is of the same heart as Elek in his passion
for saving as many lives as he can working with others who sacrifice everything
– even their lives. Kunz as Jozsef does what he can and his sacrifice includes
a beard.
Gorman as Col. Skorzeny is as vicious as he can be. Pushing
his way past Regent Horthy, he doesn’t care what anyone thinks when putting
Eichmann in charge of the Jewish population. Gorman has the perfect appearance
of someone to be afraid of!
Tointon as Hannah is the one thing Elek has to keep him
whole. She tries to stay strong for him, even at the cost of losing her own
family. Tointon is a bright spot in the middle of darkness.
Other cast includes, William Hope as Carl Lutz, Flora
Longhurst as Rachel, Simon Hepworth as President Szalasi, Andrew Brooke as
Capt. Kovarcz, Charles De’Ath as Lt. Krieger, Mark Wells as Ferenc Jacobson,
Mark Wingett as Sorenzi and Charles Hubbell as Adolf Eichmann.
Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment brings
award-winning global product and new entertainment to DVD, Bluray, and Digital
HD. There amazing collection offers fans an opportunity to expand their own
home libraries with the best films. To discover what other titles they have
please visit www.fox.com.
WALKING WITH THE ENEMY is a story that not only teaches
history of a dark time but what human beings are capable of. Elek is just one
of so very many who put their lives at risk to save anyone they could. That is
what makes these story’s that come to screen so very powerful.
The film is inspired by the story of Pinchas Rosenbaum who
dealt with the German occupation of Hungary
and the towns and village
of Budapest
WALKING WITH THE ENEMY is love, loyalty, family, community
all rolled in to self-sacrifice and dignity to always do the right thing. That
makes this film a teachable moment for us all.
In the end – a hero emerges!
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