'13 Minutes'

In cinemas July 17th!

One of the most well-known and frequently used sayings in recent cinema comes from 'Batman Begins', wherein Katie Holmes' Rachel Dawes states that "it's not who you are underneath, it's what you do that defines you". No matter the individual, whatever their circumstances and background, regardless of age, race or social standing, that is one of the greatest unifying factors in the world today. People as a whole are both shaped and defined by the decisions they make and the actions they take. Sometimes they are small and have little in the way of worldwide relevance. But sometimes they can be huge, and the outcome of them could very well affected the entire population...

'13 Minutes' is the breath-taking story of a man who, in 1939, when Hitler tricked millions of people at the height of his power, dared to do the unthinkable: say no! A man who very nearly could have changed the world. 

Two years after the widely-panned Princess Diana biopic, 'Diana', Oliver Hirschbiegel returns with another autobiographical and tragic tale. This time however his subject is a fellow German native and far less recognisable figure: Georg Elser. You could easily be forgiven for not recognising the name. Joining the likes of Stanislav Petrov, Georg Elser was a man who took the burden of responsibility for the safety of the world onto his own shoulders and acted with heart and compassion.  Also like Stanislav Petrov, Georg Elser is a man with whom the world took decades to get even slightly acquainted with. But, unlike the Russian former soldier, Georg Elser is a man that failed to hit his target.

The film, however, not only hits its target, but does so in such a way that it's nigh on impossible to walk away without a lingering mark. In what could almost be described as a pseudo-prequel to Oliver Hirschbiegel's previous, Oscar-nominated work, 'Downfall' (Yes, of internet meme fame), '13 Minutes' returns to Germany to shed light on the other side of conflict. But instead of following the story of Hitler in the final weeks of World War II, we follow the story of a ordinary citizen as he journeys from simple, womanising carpenter and musician to makeshift assassin and resistance fighter.

Running at just under two hours, it's a relentlessly paced and graphically unrelenting film, racing along from a visually stunning and extremely tense opening to a sudden conclusion that is both simultaneously tragic and a relief. Hirschbiegel smoothly and expertly ties in flashbacks that, while occasionally navigating the passing of time with baffling awkwardness, serve as a refreshing respite from the harrowing torture and punishment. As well as believably shedding light on the moments and situations that led Georg Elser to his fateful decision on that fateful November day.

As Georg, Christian Friedel is on top form, adding a degree of charm, humour, and a sense of ineffectual cowardice to the flashbacks, a stark contrast to the fiercely determined, compassionately righteous, and increasingly broken figure during his time in captivity. A man of sanity and reason in a country of brainwashed fervor and terrifying propaganda - the latter most terrifyingly demonstrated courtesy of children in Nazi uniforms dancing and singing in celebration of ongoing atrocities. Every emotion - from desire to confusion to disgust and beyond - flashes bright within Georg's eyes and is etched on his increasingly tired face as he sacrificially battles single-handedly against himself and then the tides of war. 

Equally magnetic is Katharina Schüttler as Elsa, the woman to whom Georg gives his heart. With a life brimming with abuse and tragedy, and yet eyes full of hope and compassion, it's impossible not to root for her. Numerous other characters flit in and out of the narrative, but are generally one-note and vastly unexplored. Whilst there is no truly weak performance, it is only Burghart Klaußner as Nebe that truly stands out from the recurring supporting cast, blessing his German Officer with a subtle shred of concealed decency and empathy. 

All in all, '13 Minutes' is a sombre, harrowing and recognisably human piece of cinema. Occasionally brutal, unflinchingly (and sometimes unnecessarily so) it is also a rare and fascinating exploration of morality and war. Seen through the eyes and actions of people of the opposing country, it offers individuality to people who are far too often dismissed as a single, hostile force. Many war films have tried to create such a sentiment - most recently 'Fury' starring Brad Pitt - but though a little more attention to detail and some transitions would have been beneficial, this might just be one of the few to manage it successfully and with genuine grace. And all without a single overblown battle scene in sight.

Review by Jay Thomas.

Tell us what you think!
Rate the film and why not write your own review in the comments?