The narrative unfolded through the recollections of a Jewish person who had escaped from Auschwitz, a concentration camp under Nazi German control during World War II. While presented as historically grounded, I sensed some fictional elements were woven in. It’s the initial installment of a three-book series about Jewish women, titled 'Colette: A Girl from Antwerp,' and author Arnost Lustig, himself a survivor of wartime atrocities, drew on his experiences. The confusion arises concerning Vili Feld, not Arnost Lustig, who serves as the central male character. The film proved to be decent and delivered a disturbing World War II horror story. Those who lived through such horrors shared their accounts, leading one to wonder how many more stories remain untold. Though centered on a young woman named Colette Cohen, the narrative is filtered through Vili Feld’s memories of events within the prison camp—Colette being the object of his affection. He relinquished an opportunity for personal gain simply to see her daily. His secret love, the suffering he endured, and the deaths surrounding him all form the core ingredients of this story, existing on a precarious line between good and evil. Vili spent his life searching for answers to lingering questions. Existence within the prison and engaging in a clandestine relationship felt akin to a chess match. The storytelling mirrored this, with pieces moving across the board from both sides, sacrificing some to achieve victory. Ultimately, the setup for a significant conclusion was resolved abruptly, before adhering to the expected timeline. Survival became paramount, particularly safeguarding the King and Queen figures within that metaphorical game. This explains why the deaths—the pawn sacrifices—didn’t evoke as much immediate emotional impact as one might expect. > The greatest thing a person could ever do... > Is to save someone's life. Technically, the film was impressive; the cinematography, editing, and music effectively recreated the 1940s era. The acting wasn’t bad either, but I found the ending somewhat anticlimactic. While it might have accurately reflected actual events, there wasn't enough evidence to confirm this, nor did the movie offer much explanation at its conclusion. Given the subject matter's inherent cruelty, I was surprised by the lack of emotional depth and rawness. The screenplay bordered on dark comedy, set against a backdrop of brutal war, with an emphasis on thriller elements interspersed with moments of unexpected calm. Consequently, it appears to deviate from the original novel, selectively adapting certain passages, particularly those focusing on the romance, while omitting other aspects. Certain narrative points left me with lingering doubts after viewing the film; perhaps another viewing would reveal something I missed. The effort made by a country like the Czech Republic is remarkable, especially producing a film in English that brings global attention to this subject matter. While it meets international standards, what’s needed is an original perspective—I noticed scenes seemed directly influenced by other World War II films. Aside from that, it bore similarities to ‘Life is Beautiful,’ though without the comedic elements. It's worth watching once, as with any story related to this war which humanity will forever regret. 6.5/10

Source on TMDB