Escape from Germany

Comparing this movie to big-budget Hollywood films with A-list actors is impossible. So within the genre of modest-budgets with aspiring actors, this movie shines bright. Based on the true account of missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who are forced to flee Germany before the advent of WW2, Director/Producer TC Christensen weaves a story with suspense, humor, and limited political context.

Some of the one-line actors (Elders) could have been better coached, and I didn't care for the delivery from some of the primary characters.

Despite these shortcoming, the sets were fantastic, scenes were realistic, and the overall atmosphere was beautifully done. Beyond that, the core message of God supporting his missionaries in a period of crisis was spot-on and inspiring.

The additional details, during the end-credits were a huge bonus. I will watch this again, and I'll recommend this to others who wish to know the true 1939 account.

I appreciate the emotion and action packed film. I felt helpless when seeing the Nazi soldiers. I am glad having to witness little violence. I take 2 stars away because it is able to touch on the deprivation and mental terror toward the Jews only briefly. It has a brief quaint meeting between children which adds stars. It is a tribute to anyone who has been witness to the power of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit fulfills the mission. They know the danger and were given resilience. I know of stories like this and would like to have more available. I did not think the Mormon faith was on display too much.

The writing was drab and stiff. The idea of 'Show Don't Tell' falls flat. The script could have used another 3-4 full revisions before going to production. So many dialogue elements could have been cleaned up. The acting was horrific and hard to stomach. The protagonist's constant 'smoldering' looks and dry delivery was nauseating. I laughed out loud on a few parts only to realize they were not meant to be funny.

I understand it is low budget and for a specific audience but this one was a hard pill to swallow.

2/3 of the movie was unbearable. The latter half of the 3rd act was redeeming and interesting. I enjoyed the end credits and the stories about the real people.

I got a big kick out of this and qualifiedly recommend it over the streams of crappy films to be found on Freevee, Netflix, and Tubi. However it has to be said that a really interesting story has been poorly served by a somewhat careless script and intermittently inspired direction. The acting is all over the place. However if you can't get past all that you may be missing something fun and even important.

Mormons (LDS: Latter Day Saints) are an evangelical sect and LDS teenagers are sent abroad on a missionary year to proselytize while living with local Mormons. There have to be many amazing stories of culture shock and personal development, but this film somehow doesn't convey that, in spite of the fact that it's set in Nazi Germany in 1939.

Shortly before the German invasion of Poland, the president of the European LDS organization has a premonition that war is about to start and, despite the denials of the U. S. Embassy, orders the German mission to close and repatriate its missionaries. Chaos ensues since German Mormons are being drafted, the Nazis are requisitioning transportation and food for the military, and neighboring countries begin closing their borders. Mission personnel struggle to leave behind some kind of church structure, convince at-risk parishioners to leave the country, and account for nearly thirty young missionaries who are stranded somewhere in Germany. One young missionary, Norm Seibold (Paul Wuthrich), is given some cash and sent to go find the boys and help them out. Meanwhile the mission personnel try to escape the Kafkaesque Nazi maze. Inspiration, determination, and faith struggle against bureaucracy and inhumanity in the kind of story Hollywood can't seem to tell except as a children's movie.

As an old man who's been a movie buff for over 50 years, I have to say this film was painful to watch. Why? Because it was so poorly made in every aspect you can think of. The dialogue was ridiculous and the music was repetitive and annoying.

Although I am not "LDS" as they say in Utah, I did live in Salt Lake City for 3 years and I know from experience that members of "The Church" as they call it there, do NOT talk like the characters in the movie. It's obvious to me this is just a propaganda film to promote the Mormon faith. I found the local adherents of "The Church" to be very nice, polite people but at the same time, if you are not "one of them" -- you will never be fully accepted. At least, that was my experience there and one of the reasons why I came back to "America".