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Mephisto Details

1981

70
from 760 members

Starring	Klaus Maria Brandauer, Ildiko Bansagi
Director	Istvan Szabo
Genres	Drama, World Cinema

Mephisto

Based on Klaus Mann's novel, Mephisto details the rise of a Faustian character who figuratively sells his soul in exchange for greatness. Hendrik Hofgen (Klaus Maria Brandauer, offering an electric performance) is the star of a state-funded theater department who tires of his job. Like his friends, he pays lip service to socialist ideals fashionable for artists of his time -- that is, until the Nazis rise to power. He then sees an opportunity to achieve his objective of fame: he will perform propaganda plays and thereby use the Nazis as a vehicle to spread his name across the country -- only too late does he realize his mistake. This well-adapted version of the book featured the first teaming of Brandauer with director Istvan Szabo; they would later reunite to make Colonel Redl and Hanussen. Brandauer first gained attention in the U.S. after the film's release and would be cast as the villain in Never Say Never Again as a result.~ Jeremy Beday, All Movie Guide

Starring	Klaus Maria Brandauer, Ildiko Bansagi
Director	Istvan Szabo
Studio	FREMANTLE
Run time	DVD: 2 hrs 19 mins
Certificate
Genres	Drama, World Cinema
Language	DVD: German
Released	Production year: 1981 To Rent: DVD: 14 Aug 2006

Critic's review of Mephisto
View all critics' reviews (3)
- A superbly modulated, fruitfully ambivalent central performance by Brandauer carries the emotional and intellectual weight of the political dilemma
- 40822
- - Time Out
  - 08 Oct 2007 at 15:25
Most helpful member's review of Mephisto
View all members' reviews (17)
- - 10
  - 0
  A superb film
  
  It is difficult to have empathy with any of the main characters but this is a chilling and beautiffully studied depiction of the ease with which complicity in ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 681074
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - a customer
  - London
  - 04 Jan 2009 at 15:02
Most recent members' reviews of Mephisto
View all members' reviews (17)
- - 0
  - 0
  what ? hell
  
  20s turn to 30as in medieval Europe where masks are reversed. Ambitious actor turns from communist to fascist and wonders what got him to act it first place...
  
  Report this review
- 1064289
- - juradino
  - 623 reviews
  - London
  - 18 Nov 2011 at 18:29
- - 0
  - 0
  Not as good as the play
  
  THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS | Show review anywayHide
  
  If I had not been aware of the play from which this film was adapted I might well have liked it more, but unfortunately the film does not have anything like the... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1061572
- - Kulturmonster
  - 34 reviews
  - Ipswich
  - 11 Nov 2011 at 19:12
- - 1
  - 0
  As thought provoking as you want it to be....
  
  I saw this when it was released during my pretentious 'art cinema' days - watching it now as a grown up was a revelation. Not only is Klaus Maria ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1019629
- - ash53
  - 45 reviews
  - newbury
  - 20 Jul 2011 at 15:30
View all members' reviews (17)
News and features
View all
Evening
- 19 Sep 2007
It's been a while since a single movie mustered a roster of actresses like this (in order of seniority): Vanessa Redgrave, Eileen Atkins, Meryl Streep, Glenn Close, Toni Collette, Natasha Richardson, Claire Danes, and Mamie Gummer. I suppose the closest challenger I can think of would be The Hours. Coincidentally, or not, novelist Michael Cunningham is responsible for the screenplay here, based on Susan Minot's best-seller. Ironically, while Evening affects an even split between then and now,... Read more
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Rating breakdown

760 Member ratings

100	100
90	72
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30	14
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- Mephisto
  
  Based on Klaus Mann's novel, Mephisto details the rise of a Faustian character who figuratively sells his soul in exchange for greatness. Hendrik Hofgen (Klaus Maria Brandauer, offering an electric performance) is the star of a state-funded theater department who tires of his job. Like his friends, ...