Mephisto DVD

Based on Klaus Mann's 1936 novel, this powerful Faustian tragedy tells the true story of young, impoverished but ambitious actor Hendrik Hofgen and his rise to prominence under the wing of the Third Reich.

Playing the part of Hofgen with stone-faced certainty, Klaus Maria Brandauer is electrifying. Hofgen cares little for politics and lives only for his craft. As the rise of Hitler threatens the liberal left, his friends, including dancer Juliette, protest against the climate of fear and flee 1930s bohemian Berlin. This makes no impression on Hofgen. He craves fame and through an artistically inclined General who becomes the actor's benefactor, marries the daughter of the head of the State Theatre.

Here he begins to tread a morally corrupt path that he cannot escape and becomes embroiled in performing propaganda plays for the Reich. He achieves his dream of success when he is finally cast in the role of Mephistopheles in Goethe's 'Faust'. In doing so he becomes Germany's most popular actor. Of course the trade off is his freedom, moral reputation - and always under the eye of the self-aggrandized Hoppe - possibly his life. As his world unravels, Hendrik finds his greatest performance is keeping up appearances for his Nazi patrons.

All the elements of Mephisto – staging, framing, lighting, cinematography, performances – combine to create a powerful masterwork of world cinema, for which Hungarian director Szabo was awarded the 1981 Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. Brandauer also went on to star in Szabo's 1985 triumph Colonel Redl.

on 15th July 2006
Author of 7 reviews