Der Fall Collini

I have to admit, I was surprised to see Elyas M’Barek, known for his comedic roles, take on something so serious — and he absolutely nailed it. He chose a film where Germany once again confronts its painful history, poking at old wounds in the hopes that airing them out might lead to some healing. I have a lot of respect for German films like this. They’re unafraid to revisit the dark chapters of their past, especially the world wars, and acknowledge their mistakes. And in The Collini Case, there were plenty of those mistakes to go around. Aside from M'Barek’s impressive performance, Franco Nero also stands out. He may not have many lines, but every word he utters carries a weight that elevates his character to another level. Overall, this is a very solid courtroom drama. (21.01.2022)

Fans of courtroom dramas can't complain. Germany surprised and Elyas M'Barek, a comedy actor, handled the serious role with ease. The film has a great theme, with a newly graduated lawyer getting his first case where he has to defend a murderer who killed his former lover's grandfather, and on top of that, he's up against a hostile and well-respected opponent. Great courtroom verbal shootouts, decent twists and turns, great actors and the biggest legal scandal in German history ever. What more could you ask for? 8/10. (06.02.2020)

A suffocating atmospheric courtroom drama led by the great Elyas M'Barek. The first hour is the requisite lawyerly chatter, but once the central twist is revealed, the film starts to turn on its head and goes pure courtroom until the finale. The dialogue is incredible, the atmosphere is depressing and grim, the actors are convincing, and the idea itself is insanely original and unorthodox, because we haven't seen a combination of war crimes and modern courtroom drama-thriller before, I don't think. I applaud it, I had fun, and the "based on true events" tag makes the film far more chilling as a result. (05.09.2022)