Template:Infobox film After the Truth (German: Nichts als die Wahrheit) is a 1999 German film depicting the fictional trial of Dr. Josef Mengele, known as the "death angel of Auschwitz". The film, starring Götz George as Mengele and Kai Wiesinger as his lawyer, is based on the original English-language screenplay by American writers Christopher and Kathleen Riley. The German title translates to "Nothing but the truth". The German phrase on the US promotional poster translates to "Thou shalt not kill", one of the Ten Commandments.
Synopsis[]
The infamous Nazi doctor Josef Mengele, who killed more than 300,000 people in the Auschwitz concentration camp, comes back from his hideout in Argentina as an 87-year-old man who is in his last days. Back in Germany, he must face trial for his crimes. Peter Rohm, a young solicitor and expert on Mengele, has to defend him. But Rohm feels unable to do so; when he decides to take on the case he endangers not only the relationship to his wife but also their very lives.
Production[]
In reality, Mengele died of a stroke in Bertioga, Brazil in on February 7, 1979. The film plots around the man who died in Brazil being a close relative of Mengele rather than the doctor himself.
Actor Götz George was also a co-producer of the film, which had problems finding financial support. The actor invested heavily to see the film completed.
Cast[]
- Kai Wiesinger as Peter Rohm
- Götz George as Josef Mengele
- Karoline Eichhorn as Rebekka Rohm
- Doris Schade as Hilde Rohm
- Peter Roggisch as Heribert Vogt
- Bastian Trost as Felix Hillmann
- Peter Rühring as Dr. Füglein
- Michaela Rosen as Judge Gunda Friedrichs
- Traugott Buhre as Dabrowski
- Stephan Schwartz as Daniel Ginsberg
- Heinz Trixner as Müller
- Detlef Bothe as Siebert
- Volker Risch as Prosecutor
- Frank Röth as Wendler
- Peer Martiny as Adlatus Vogt
- Jockel Tschiersch as Commissioner Wichmann
- Michael Schenk as Judge Kürten
Further reading[]
- Johannes W. Betz, Beate Veldtrup: Nichts als die Wahrheit Fischer October 2001, (ISBN 3-596-14492-2)
External links[]
- Template:Imdb title
- Screenwriters' website with press quotes and festival history
de:Nichts als die Wahrheit (Film)