Until Germany’s defeat in World War II, defying the ruling Nazi party was an extremely risky undertaking. “Truth and Treason,” a new film directed by Matt Whitaker, tells the true story of a group of young resisters.
As is typical of films produced by the Christian-oriented Angel Studios, this movie leans heavily into the inspirational aspects of the narrative. Viewers first meet Helmuth Hübener (Ewan Horrocks), who belongs to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as a cheerful teen wending through tree-lined paths of Hamburg with his friends. The sense that his carefree days will soon end is brought home when a Jewish comrade is hustled off by the police.
Helmuth starts his own anonymous postcard campaign, typing out impassioned anti-Nazi messages and tacking them up around town, with some help from his friends. His typewriter ends up betraying him in a sense — its letters provide clues to a dogged Nazi officer determined to root out these propagandists.
There’s a lot here that one has seen before. During an interrogation scene, a Nazi knocks his subject off a chair and shouts “Get up!” — then sure enough, he shouts louder, “I said get up!” But there are also a few harrowing shocks in this genuinely appalling story.
No matter its flaws, “Truth & Treason” is very well acted. Rupert Evans stands out as Erwin Mussener, the Nazi officer who’s at turns befuddled by, mildly sympathetic toward and infuriated with the anti-Hitler teens. His work, and that of Horrocks, keeps this uneven film watchable.
Truth & Treason
Rated PG-13 for themes as well as some violence. Running time: 2 hours. In theaters.
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