Europa Europa is a 1990 biographical war drama film directed by Agnieszka Holland. The film is based on the memoirs of Solomon Perel, a Jewish boy who grew up in Nazi Germany during World War II. The film follows Solomon's incredible journey as he manages to survive the war by posing as a German orphan and eventually becoming a member of Hitler Youth.
The film begins with the Perel family being torn apart following the Nazi invasion of Poland in 1939. Solomon's parents and siblings are sent to a concentration camp while he and his brother escape. During his journey, Solomon is separated from his brother and ends up in a German orphanage. Fearing for his life, he decides to hide his Jewish identity and pretends to be German.
Over the course of the film, Solomon's deception becomes more and more elaborate. He manages to convince his fellow students and even his teachers that he is a German boy, eventually joining the Hitler Youth. Solomon becomes a well-respected member of the Nazi community due to his supposed bravery and dedication to the cause. However, he is constantly living in fear of being exposed as a Jew.
The film explores themes of identity, survival, and the blurred lines between victim and perpetrator. It is a powerful and thought-provoking look at one person's journey through one of the darkest periods in human history.
Europa Europa was praised for its performances, particularly that of Marco Hofschneider who played Solomon. The film received critical acclaim and was nominated for several awards, including an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. It remains a poignant and moving depiction of the holocaust and its survivors.