Survival of the Fittest
- The Occupation review by CP Customer
Interesting film covering that period of WW2 after the German blitzkrieg through the UKRAINE and the survival of a jewish girl who steals her best christian friends identity papers and survives living as a home/farm hand. Striving to survive, working hard and becoming aware of the fragility of her employers marriage. Through all this she has to be looking over her shoulder, so as not to arise suspicions as to her true identity whilst also having to cope with the atrocities of the war. Part of WW2 which has not be well covered by the cinema which make this film if you are interested in the period one not to miss.
2 out of 2 members found this review helpful.
Life in Western Ukraine during WW2
- The Occupation review by Chris Tew
Set in the disputed border area between Poland and Ukraine during the German Occupation.It tells the story of a young Jewish girl and her brother who escape from a town the Germans are liquidating.The girl takes on the identity of a Christian friend and is taken in by a farmer in Western Ukraine to look after their children and work on the farm. .The atmosphere of the film is tense as the girl learns to take communion in the orthodox church.The family get on with their life through which there are sudden episodes of violence.Very fine production and acting.A somewhat disturbing film which highlighted the local effects of the German Occupation of Russia during WW2.At the end the Russians retook the area and the girl returned home.We were told at the end that it was a true story.The brother was betrayed and shot.The lady married one of the few remaining Jews in the town and lived in the USA where she died in 2018.A very fine film.
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.
The truth is always complicated
- The Occupation review by SS
Given the contested history of the Nazi occupation of Ukraine and the persecution of the Jews, this brilliant film lets us see how a Jewish girl managed to evince help and protection from a family suffering its own contradictions under the hammer of Nazi oppression and partisan resistance.The primitive anti-Jewish prejudice in the people who protected her and their common suffering are shown without sentimentality, as is the humanity of an Orthodox priest, the barbarity of Nazi reprisals and her own steely determination to survive.
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.
A Brilliant and Timely film in English (mostly) about Ukraine 1942-44
- The Occupation review by PV
This is the most authentic portrayal of Ukraine in The Second World War in film (apart maybe from the tragic episode of German TV miniseries Generation War).
It is mostly in English (sadly no subtitles available) but also Polish, Ukrainian, German and Russian. This is an independent US movie.
Based on the true story of a girl from the eastern flank of Poland who pretends to be a Christian classmate in order to escape the Nazis - and ends up over the border in Ukraine. Watch until the very end to see the real life woman.
The portrayal of the vast flat Ukrainian farmland and peasant farmers seems very authentic and accurate - and the film does not shy away from the problems and issues of that less than ideal world, including anti-Semitism (I loved the carnival scenes). Remember the pogroms in Russia and Ukraine in late 19th and early 20th century is why so many emigrated esp to the USA - one was a baby who became Kirk Douglas., There were many more.
A revenge for Partisans killing 2 German soldiers scene is particularly effective. The film does not shy away from the fact partisans/communists were as bad or worse than the Germans - as a character says.
This is a superb film, and so very timely. Watch it. 4.5 stars rounded up.
0 out of 0 members found this review helpful.
The Occupation film.
- The Occupation review by CP Customer
Very good world war 2 film about an unknown true story of an Jewish girl hiding from Nazis in occupied Ukraine,risking her life and Ukrainian farmer couple in rural village.
Well acted. Lots of tension, quite gripping and harrowing in places. Glad the girl survived. Worth watching.
0 out of 0 members found this review helpful.