Goldman is accused of several robberies, to which he pleads guilty with one exception: a robbery in which two people were killed. With witness statements, questions from the judge and the defendant's answers, the narrative repeatedly makes excursions into dialogue. Not just into Goldman's past and the day of the heist; his book “Dark Memories of a French-born Polish Jew” (“Souvenirs obscurs d'un juif polonais né en France”) is also discussed, which he wrote during his imprisonment and in which he accuses the investigating authorities of racism and anti-Semitism. The austere, almost minimalist staging of the trial paints a multifaceted picture of a morally ambivalent and intellectually complex individual who strives to follow the resistant spirit of his parents: as a “Jewish fighter” he seeks to liberate himself from the stigma of the “Jew as victim”. The action takes place almost exclusively within the confines of the courtroom, creating a space for dialogue that the leading actor Arieh Worthalter proves himself more than capable of filling. Goldman's determination and eloquence cast a spell on the audience, making the oppressive 4:3 format the film is captured in appear almost expansive.
Text: Merlin Webers
English: Peter Rickerby
On June 19 at Thalia Babelsberg and on June 22 at Filmkunst 66, the screenings will be followed by Q&As with screenwriter Nathalie Hertzberg.
