Mensch Nr. 217

This film tells the story of a young woman who is forced into slavery by the Nazis during WWII. We observe the hardships she endures and the cruel treatment she receives at the hands of her German enslavers.

The plight of such prisoners during WWII, known as Ostarbeiters, is not as often the focus of WWII dramas, so this film offers some insights we have rarely seen. That said, the tone is aggressively anti-German / pro-USSR, unsurprising given the film was produced during the war its self, so it has a distinct propaganda vibe, which some may find off-putting.

Nevertheless, the production values here are high and the performances, while melodramatic, are moving. The director, Mikhail Romm, was very highly regarded in the USSR, and this film (which screened at Cannes), is evidence of his talent.

This film would hold up next to any Hollywood production of the same era. Well worth a look.