I knew that this German film had been Oscar-nominated (without winning) and that it was about a student resistance group in Germany during the middle years of World War II, but I was not prepared for the gut-wrenching experience it was as it traced the last six days in the life of a young woman. Sophie Scholl, vividly brought to life by actress Julia Jentsch, and her brother were members of a group called the White Rose who aimed to foster anti-war sentiments in the hope that this would bring a quicker end to the slaughter. When they are caught distributing their manifesto at their University, their struggle came to an abrupt end with their arrest, interrogation, kangaroo-court trial, and execution, all within a few days. The claustrophobic atmosphere was nearly overwhelming.
At first Sophie denied all involvement in an attempt to protect her brother, but when she was shown his signed confession, she proudly acknowledged what she had done and what she believed, without further implicating any of her friends. At her so-called trial where she had hoped her beliefs would be heard by the public, the courtroom was filled with Nazi officers and the pompous judge in no way allowed a fair hearing. She could only counter with the words that he might soon be standing in the same dock. When convicted, she expected the usual 99 days before the sentence was carried out, but she, her brother, and a married friend with a young family were rushed into a hurried and undignified execution. What was most moving about this reconstruction of a real-life heroine's attempt to make the world a better place was the clear indication that here was a young woman who really loved life and who deserved so much more. The scene as she feels the sunlight on her face for the last time as she is dragged to her hasty end was unbearably moving.
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