Giulio Ricciarelli’s compelling feature debut set in 1958 Germany shines light on an often-overlooked period when the country was in denial about its war crimes. Labyrinth of Lies approaches the subject using the fictional young prosecutor Johan Radmann (an amalgamation here of several real-life lawyers). Radmann is idealistic and ambitious, eager to prove that he can take on more than traffic violation cases.
After receiving a tip-off, the tenacious young man slowly unearths key documents that provide evidence of the war crimes that occurred at Auschwitz. But as his efforts to bring those responsible to justice encounter resistance, he gradually realises that most of his fellow countrymen are either unaware of or unwilling to acknowledge the atrocities committed.
‘A fascinating account of how a dense fog of nationwide amnesia was dissipated by the relentless pursuit of justice.’– Variety
‘A chilly, disquieting study of a society in a state of denial until the truth is bared.’ – The New York Times
‘Powerfully documented, carefully written, forcefully directed and skillfully acted…a devastating chapter in the history of justice, more relevant today than ever.’ – The New York Observer
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Germany, 2014| Language: German | 124 minutes | Cert: CLUB
Director: Giulio Ricciarelli
Starring: Alexander Fehling, André Szymanski, Friederike Becht, Johannes Krisch
