The German Doctor

The German Doctor

Theatrical release poster
Wakolda
Directed by Lucía Puenzo
Produced by Lucía Puenzo
Written by Lucía Puenzo
Based on Wakolda
by Lucía Puenzo
Starring Àlex Brendemühl
Natalia Oreiro
Diego Peretti
Music by Daniel Tarrab
Andrés Goldstein
Cinematography Nicolás Puenzo
Edited by Hugo Primero
Distributed by Distribution Company
Release dates
  • 22 May 2013 (2013-05-22) (Cannes)
  • 19 September 2013 (2013-09-19) (Argentina)
Running time
 94 minutes
Country Argentina
France
Spain
Norway
Language Spanish

The German Doctor (Spanish: Wakolda) is a 2013 Argentine historical drama film directed, produced and written by Lucía Puenzo. Based on Puenzo's novel Wakolda (2011),[1] the film stars Àlex Brendemühl as the Nazi Schutzstaffel officer and physician Josef Mengele,[2] infamous for performing human experiments in the Auschwitz concentration camp. It also stars Florencia Bado, Natalia Oreiro, Diego Peretti, Elena Roger and Guillermo Pfening.[3]

Plot

Josef Mengele is in exile in Argentina in 1960, living under a new identity. He makes a long journey by road to a new location by following a family, as the roads are dangerous. Initially, Mengele has his own place to stay in Patagonia, but after taking an interest in the daughter of the family, Lilith, he moves into their hotel by paying six months' rent upfront.

Lilith was born prematurely, and as a result she is much shorter than her classmates. She is bullied at school because of her size. Mengele, who is working as a doctor, suggests that he can help her grow more quickly and Lilith's mother, Eva, agrees to this.

Meanwhile, people who have been searching for Mengele believe they have found him and begin to gather evidence on his true identity.

Eva is pregnant with twins, much to Mengele's fascination. He compiles copious notes on them, Lilith and the rest of her family as he continues to aid in her growth. Lilith becomes sick as a side effect of the growth hormones that Mengele has given her. When her father, Enzo, finds out the truth, he is furious and demands that Mengele leaves the hotel. Eva goes into labour and as the only doctor around, Mengele is allowed to help with the delivery of the twins.

The twins are born prematurely and Mengele starts experiments to ensure their survival. He is conscious of the fact that people are trying to find his true identity, and when he's almost caught, he escapes the remote location on a seaplane.

Cast

Release

It was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival.[4] The film was selected as the Argentine entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 86th Academy Awards,[5][6][7] but it was not nominated.

Reception

The film received positive reviews from critics. It currently holds a 73% rating on the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes based on 59 reviews, with an average score of 5.7/10. The site's consensus reads, "The German Doctor applies a refreshing level of restraint to its intriguing premise, and boasts solid performances from a talented cast."

Awards and nominations

Group Award Result
66th Cannes Film Festival Un Certain Regard Nominated
Saint Petersburg International Film Festival Audience Prize Won
2nd Unasur Cine International Film Festival[8] Best New Actress Won
Best Actress Won
Best Director Won
Best Feature Film Won
San Sebastián International Film Festival Horizontes Nominated
Films from the South Festival Best Feature Nominated
35th International Festival of New Latin American Cinema[9] Best Director Won
Special Jury Award Won

See also

References

  1. ↑ Debruge, Peter. "Cannes Film Review: 'Wakolda'". Variety. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
  2. ↑ ""Wakolda", the film about Mengele in Argentina, chosen as Oscar precandidate". Yahoo! News Spain (in Spanish). 27 September 2013. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
  3. ↑ "Cast". Wakolda official website. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
  4. ↑ "2013 Official Selection". Cannes. 15 May 2013. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  5. ↑ "Oscars: Argentina Nominates 'Wakolda' for Foreign Language Oscar". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2013-09-28.
  6. ↑ "Argentina Chooses 'German Doctor' (aka 'Wakolda') for Oscar Race". Variety. Retrieved 2013-09-29.
  7. ↑ "Argentina Calls On 'The German Doctor' As Foreign Language Oscar Entry". Deadline. Retrieved 2013-09-29.
  8. ↑ "Unasur Cine 2013 winners" (PDF) (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 September 2013.
  9. ↑ "Premios Corales-35 Festival" (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 September 2013.
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