When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit

The German movie Als Hitler das rosa Kaninchen stahl (2019) was shown in the United States with the translated title When Hitler Stole the Pink Rabbit. The movie was co-written and directed by Caroline Link.

The Kempers are successful, intellectual, highly integrated German Jews. Max (Marinus Hohmann) is a theater critic and Anna (Carla Juri} is a concert pianist. Riva Krymalowski portrays their daughter, Dorothea.

The Kempers are fortunate to escape from Germany just before the Nazis begin to round up Jews. However, although they escape the Holocaust, they have to settle for life circumstances that are far below the standards to which they are accustomed. The plot of the film relates how they fared after they escaped.

I thought the actors were excellent, the story was gripping, and the direction was outstanding.

We saw this film virtually as part of the wonderful Rochester Jewish Film Festival. The movie has an anemic 7.1 IMDb rating. I thought it was much better than that, and rated it 9.

Completely based on true events, this movie shows how a jewish family was able to just barely escape germany, thereby preventing being locked up in a concentration camp and facing a certain death.

What makes this movie very relevant is that it shows the way the jewish family was received by people in the places and countries they fled to. To think that it was only the nazi germans that discriminated and blamed the jewish people during the 1930's, is shown to be a wrong assumption.

It is very interesting to see this story being told by what the youngest daughter of the family experieced. I think the title is a good example of what decisions this girl had to take and how she personally saw those decisions: e.g. "why can't I take my favorite pluche rabbit?".

Considering that it is not easy to produce a movie that has as a small child in the main role, I think the result is excellent. The cinematography, vehicles, clothing and sets were all of such high quality that you really deem yourself in the 1930's.

Concluding, I think this movie deserves a score of 8.1/10, thereby easily making an 8-star IMDb rating. If you decide to watch this movie, I also recommend that you search the internet on what happened with the family after the war ended: I guarantee that you will surprised and/or impressed by all the achievements.

Certain things may seem hard to imagine nowadays. Not just because of certain technological advances, but just what happened and what was done to people. Humans are capeable of ruthless and horrific things ... and while you are not going to be a witness to the holocaust itself, the dread, the agony, the fear ... all can be felt here. You feel for the family - their journey is quite something to behold.

If Germans are able to do one thing right, it is dramas about the third Reich, warnings of sorts. Even if some still may not be entirely convinced of the despicable things that happened back then, the movies can only try to educate us as much as possible (outside of history lessons that is).

Very well acted, very well told and a true story (even if there are some things that may have been heightend for story telling purposes - overall it does feel like it does the situation justice though).

Watch it only if you have nothing other to do.

It is slow paced but a beautiful movie set before Hitler took the power in Nazi Germany.

A true story about a Jewish family who escaped from their origin home. Nice places are shown here.

The children and the main actors made a very good job. Perhaps too long. 6/10.

Als Hitler das rosa Kaninchen stahl is a beautiful film. The performances are absolutely great all around, and Riva Krymalowski is an outstanding lead. The movie is full of admirable dialogue, and the direction as well as the cinematography are elegantly done too. Also, thanks to the very good editing the film moves along at a seemingly perfect pace. This is an important story and it works well as a movie suitable for both children and adults. As an adult you'll definitely get more out of it overall, but I think it's something children should see and will get much of value out of. Sadly I missed the first ten to fifteen minutes of it because my mum insisted on having nachos despite the long queue. I'll catch up on what happened in those early minutes of the film once it comes out. Please try to see this one, whoever's reading. I can't imagine that movie not captivating you, yes you, as well. Every single thing works on a wholly believable emotional level. It's a film that hits hard and lets you feel how painful having to face the ugliness of humanity at such an early age must be. It's some kind of adventure family movie with a bit of comedy in one way, but mainly a hard-hitting drama you won't forget any time soon.