Deutsches Haus

Also known as "The Interpreter of Silence", this 5-part mini-series is a based on a 2019 novel. A combination of both fiction and real events - the "Frankfurt Auschwitz Trials" that took pace during 1963 to 1965 - the series gives an idea on how difficult it was to prosecute the crimes that were committed in Auschwitz during WW2.

Apart from the Nuremberg Trials, which took place during 1946-1947, the Frankfurt Auschwitz Trials took place almost 20 years after the war. The series gives a very convincing view on how life during the 60's must have been. A combination of stunning sets with many props of those times, makes it a very attractive view.

Amongst the defendants of the Auschwitz Trials, a special focus is put on the SS-officer Wilhelm Boger, whom under the name "The Tiger of Auschwitz" was known for using extreme torture techniques on prisoners, often leading them to die instantly or within a day of the torture. That Wilhelm Boger left many people dead, also makes it difficult to prosecute. This since there were no witnesses left...

Another defendant whom is featured, is Robert Mulka, whom functioned as chief of staff under the famous Auschwitz camp commander Rudolf Hoss. This made him defacto second-in-command at Auschwitz.

Mixed with these true events is a story about the court translator. As a daughter of an owner of a Frankfurt restaurant named "Deutsches Haus", she is specialized in translating the polish language. The series shows her day-to-day life during the trial, which leads her to discover also interesting facts about her own family, friends and co-workers.

The convincing sets combined with excellent acting, makes this series a very attractive view which I myself binge-watched in one go. An extra plus is that this series educates the viewer on real events that relate to WW2. I personally think it is important that society is made aware of how evil "civilized" people can really be. And since we have come to the point that all eye-witnesses to WW2 are dead, a series like this is important in keeping alive what really happened just a generation ago.

Concluding, I award this series a score of 8.1/10 resulting in an IMDb score of 8 stars.

I definitely recommend this show because of different reasons.

The show is an impressive piece of cinema (although it is a mini series).

Character development is done with a lot of empathy and patience. Actors adding an authentic play to this really emotional story.

Sometimes it is not what they say - more how they say it (or not)

Technically it is brilliant as well. Every shot has its purpose and the light is always a support to the scene. Sounds and even silence are well done and also with a purpose.

Although the history is well known and a lot of movies were made - this one contributes in a unique way.

This is a good series with very fine cast. The focus on the main character's increasing awareness is perfect. The episodes falter when unnecessary digressions dealing with the young Jewish lawyer, his angst, prostitution, outbursts. The courtroom scenes are great and even minor roles are realized quite brilliantly. I recommend this series highly, but one must be patient enough to get thru the unnecessary digressions in order to get the magic. These people tackled a difficult subject. The music score stimulates a feeling of reality hidden inside the insanity. There are surprises that enliven the drama just when you think you've seen it all. Characters, for once, have contrasting sides to their being so one never knows what will be revealed and 'that' is one of the strengthens of this drama.

The Frankfurt Ausschwitz trials are an important topic in Holocaust history and the series potrayal of the trial is where the series shines.

Unfortunately it suffers from the same problem that much of German "history-TV" (like Babylon Berlin or Charité) has: to draw in viewers it contains numerous side plots that are supposed to fluff out the historical period but are very clichéd. I get that it is important to set a historical context, but the side plots remain completely shallow and especially clash with the horrifying descriptions of Ausschwitz in the trial.

A further (minor) point: it feels very much that the series only included an anti-Nazi old person in the form of the fiancé's father to reassure German viewers that "not everyone was bad" in their grandparent's generation. It's a shame that German productions still feel they cannot ask more of their audience.

The series shows no real sense of the authoritarian spirit of the early sixties, before the public recognition of the Holocaust, not least through the Auschwitz trials in Frankfurt depicted here. As is unfortunately so often the case with historical series, the current taste in history is catered to, which unfortunately makes the characters appear historically implausible. The same goes for the chemistry of the main figure and her fiance.

A wasted opportunity.

The two film adaptations of the life of the Hessian Attorney General Fritz Bauer, on whose initiative and persistence the aforementioned Auschwitz trial took place, are much better done and should be watched instead.