In the Fade

This is a completely precise work in terms of directing and acting, this time condemning racial hatred through the motif of right-wing terrorism. The story is slightly manipulative and in the end a bit hurried and therefore not completely satisfying, but everything until then is thought out and written well. The strong theme is used in a thrilling, emotional and brilliantly escalating storyline, and Diane Kruger really does an amazing job. There are many other films about this topic, but that doesn't matter. Quality is what’s important. (07/03/2017)

As an idiosyncratic study of the psychological state of a person scarred by the tragic loss of loved ones and numbed by the events around them, In the Fade works well, but as a film about correcting a failing system and fulfilling the lost meaning of life, it is somewhat flimsy and unsurprising. The best thing is the breathtaking performance of Diane Kruger, who is going for a well-deserved Oscar. (01/04/2018)

So emotionally impressive and tiring that it can get under your skin in a disturbing way “what if this happened to you". It is not a problem to ignore the fact that especially during the trial, it has glaring (extremely obvious) logical lapses (the origin of the new round, other witnesses, cameras, counter-arguments about a fake stay, etc.), just to have the screenwriting anti-system puppeteer coveted a shocking verdict. This is followed by the final act, where it gradually goes idle, fizzles out until it completely fades away. It has an effective final, but it is quite morally (on several levels) problematic due to its message. The whole third chapter seems like “we don't know where to go next, so at least we'll take a trip to the sea for a few filming days, maybe something will happen". From a personal film about loss, it suddenly turns into kind of a genre movie about revenge in an art-sophisticated style. The only strong points of the third act are (throughout the footage) the phenomenal performance of the devastated Diane and the discovery that the cold and damp Greek resorts outside the tourist season have a captivating “neo-noir" atmosphere. (02/11/2019)

A powerful experience that isn’t carried by a precisely researched, but still a bit manipulative screenplay, but above all humble directing and a fantastic performance by Diane Kruger. Thanks to her, the "silent avenger" becomes a being of flesh and bone, with whom we can sympathize until an extremely shocking decision at the end. The subject of right-wing terrorism may act as an irritant in a time of Islamist assassins, but Akin has dealt with a completely relevant subject - and he has dealt with it very well. (05/27/2017)

A depressing as fuck and unexpectedly great film. The excellent Diane Kruger loses her son and husband in a bomb attack, which results in incredible pressure and stress from the police and a subsequent trial where I couldn't breathe. Excellent dialogue, perfect acting, stifling atmosphere and a shocking finale. Good job by the Germans. 80%. (08/19/2018)