Kirill Serebrennikov returns with a new historical drama, The Disappearance of Josef Mengele, presented in the Cannes Première selection at the Cannes 2025 Festival. The Russian director, already noted for Limonov, this time adaptsOlivier Guez 's 2017 Prix Renaudot-winning novel. The film stars August Diehl as the Nazi doctor on the run, accompanied by Friederike Becht and Dana Herfurth.
Presented at the Cannes Film Festival 2025, this trailer reveals a glimpse of Josef Mengele's post-World War II journey, between flight, clandestinity and the quest for identity in a changing South America.
The Disappearance of Josef Mengele will be released in cinemas from October 22, 2025.
Synopsis: In the aftermath of the Second World War, Josef Mengele, the Nazi doctor at Auschwitz, managed to escape to South America to rebuild his life in hiding. From Buenos Aires to Paraguay, via Brazil, the man nicknamed the "Angel of Death" methodically organized his disappearance to avoid any form of trial. Adaptation of the novel by Olivier Guez, winner of the 2017 Prix Renaudot.
Filmed between Uruguay and Latvia, The Disappearance of Josef Mengele is a continuation of the work of Kirill Serebrennikov, a Russian artist renowned for his committed works and his reflections on historical memory. After Limonov, he adapts a second French novel and signs a new exploration of controversial figures in history.
The director, who also wrote the screenplay, collaborated with Olivier Guez to validate the interpretation of the original text. The latter made a number of adjustments to the story to preserve the historical rigor and moral complexity of the main character.
The film takes a psychological approach to Josef Mengele 's years of wandering. Kirill Serebrennikov chose to place the camera as close as possible to the fugitive in order to question his perception of the world and the slow erosion of his convictions. The filmmaker's approach was inspired by Jonathan Littell's novel Les Bienveillantes, which also explores the subjectivity of a former Nazi officer.
Scenes shot in Auschwitz and the Krakow ghetto recall the reality of Nazi crimes and underline the director's desire to confront viewers with the memory of the Holocaust. This visual and documentary work aims to combat all forms of Holocaust denial.
This feature film is aimed at audiences interested in historical films and biopics exploring the great figures of the 20th century. Fans of literary adaptations and works such as The Pianist or The Kindly Ones may find the same depth of reflection on collective memory and individual responsibility. The film is aimed at an adult audience, curious to understand the darker side of contemporary history.
Presented at Cannes in 2025 in the Cannes Première section, Kirill Serebrennikov's film focuses on the trajectory of a Nazi criminal on the run, while questioning the mechanisms of memory and redemption. Its sober aesthetic and historical ambition are in line with the continuity of committed European cinema.
This article is based on information available online; we have not yet viewed the film or series mentioned.
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