A spellbinding mystery of identity, illusion, and deception unfolds against the turmoil of post-World War II Germany in the stunning new film — “Phoenix” — from acclaimed director Christian Petzold.
Berlin, 1945: Nelly (Nina Hoss), a German-Jewish, ex-nightclub singer, has survived a concentration camp. But, like her country, she is scarred, her face disfigured by a bullet wound. After undergoing reconstructive surgery, Nelly emerges with a new face, one similar but different enough that her former husband, Johnny (Ronald Zehrfeld), doesn’t recognize her. Rather than reveal herself, Nelly walks into a dangerous game of duplicity and disguise as she tries to figure out if the man she loves may have been the one who betrayed her to the Nazis.
Submerged in shadowy atmosphere and the haunted mood of post-war Berlin, Phoenix weaves a complex, Hitchcockian tale of a nation’s tragedy and a woman’s search for answers as it builds towards an unforgettable, heart-stopping climax.
“Mesmerizing! Out of the ashes of summer movie-going emerges a masterpiece!” — Jake Coyle, Associated Press
“An absolute knockout! A powerful allegory for post-war regeneration and a rich Hitchcockian tale of mistaken identity!” — Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter
“Nina Hoss is incredible! A noir-ish and complex emotional thriller that’s too good to pass up!” — Cath Clarke, Time Out New York
“A rapturous noir thriller so beautifully made that it comes close to perfect! Hoss is extraordinary!” — Stephanie Zacharek, The Village Voice