Rent Escape from the Third Reich (2015)

Curious cartoon-character Bruce Lee meets Sam Pekinpah via Tarantino tale LOOSELY based on truth - Escape from the Third Reich review by PV

The reason I am giving this oddity 3 stars is not because of the quality of the acting or direction or writing - pretty dire at times on all 3 counts. It is because it is a real oddity, a curiosity based on the tiniest thinnest sliver of truth in film history perhaps?

It IS true that 20,000 Jews fled Europe mainly to Shanghai which had an established Jewish community as it was a very European place with British and French zones (sadly it was also invaded by Japan so many ended up in camps there; watch Empire of the Sun). China also had a community of Jews from way earlier - 7th. 8th. 9th centuries AD vis the Silk Road from the middle east, Persia etc. A tiny community survives despite Chinese oppression and the fact China does not recognise those 2500 Jews as one of China's minority groups.

Anyway this is a very odd film - full-on Kung-Fu bruce Lee style at times - Chinese versus the Nazi stormtroopers! Lots of fake blood a la Sam Pekinpah and I suspect Tarantino's awful films like the Inglorius Basterds one (I hate his films) were an influence. Weirdly even Ian Fleming pops up.

Truly bizarre BUT less than 90 minutes, entertaining and weirdly fun, hence 3 stars.

Someone one day will make a serious film about the same issue of Jews fleeing to China before and during WWII. However, until then, we have this cartoon character B-movie. So be it!

Btw the credits at the end credit the wedding march to 'Johann Wagner'. No such composer; they mean Richard Wagner. I think Johan Wagner is a footballer... Ho hum...