In The Fade (Fatih Akin, 2017): Germany/France

Reviewed by Alicia Huhn. Viewed at the Chinese
1 Theater in Hollywood at American Film Institute’s AFIFEST 2017.

Diane Kruger’s appearance is even more stunning in person, than that in the character she played.  She impressed me as an actress when she stated after in the Q & A that she is not a mother.  I hadn’t considered this at all. I was not looking forward to the theme of a mother loosing her child, I don’t usually choose that type of subject material because I am a mom and it is too hard to think of loosing a child. Kruger was extremely convincing and the movie bravely portrayed the terror of racism by Nazis and the tragedy of loosing a child and husband.   Unlike some of my other favorite films where the director chose a character based on real life experiences, to give a sense of authenticity, in this case, the role of a mother was very well played by someone who hasn’t experienced it yet.

I also like the fact they wove in the theme the question of rehabilitation of former criminals, specifically drug dealers.  “Criminals” is such a bad word but the danger of labeling a person is aptly demonstrated here in the justice system where corrupt Nazis are using the system to hide behind and commit their terrorist acts use the theme of drug addicts to discredit the victims.  The movie starts with them marrying in a Jail setting, but progresses as the family is years later well dressed, running a legit business and acting as, “normal”.

Yet, when the investigation into her families death asks demanding personal questions the theme of racism starts to unfold.  “Was he Muslim?” the detective in the film asks. No not Muslim. Turkish, its a Turkish neighborhood.  Then Katja starts to remember events and acknowledges the girl leaving the bike was German, “German as I am”.

There is a lot going on throughout the film.  Worth mentioning is the horrible comment made by the grandmother after the funeral that had she been a better mother it would not have happened.  What guilt!?  What a horribly unsupportive, unthinking thing to say. Again, I relate to peoples unkindness.  All she can think of is how she loved them and this is what is said?  Katja must endure a great deal of pain in this life.  She struggles deeply with wanting to live at all and then finally with the concept of revenge.

The director, Fatih Akin must be a sensitive soul, he was there after for Q & A and that is the impression I got.  He talked about how there were times during the making that he took a step back and reconsidered the scene to accommodate a bird that flew in. He knew how to incorporate this and make it work brilliantly.  The bird was an “accidental” add in but shows Fatih’s ability to ‘capture the moment’.  Also very significant is the choices he made about the ending which I will not divulge.

Denis Moschitto  is also an important caring soul in this film, which itself seems to care about the people portrayed in the film.

His quiet devotion and patients in walking her through the process of prosecuting the murderers of her beloved is a demonstration of the kind of humanity we hope to find in life. Without him she probably would have died already.

The theme of second chances, the fragility and preciousness of life, Motherhood, and the current pressing theme of racism and religious terrorism are all pointing us to rise above to a higher calling, a calling worth dying for.  It was truly a pleasure to get the hear from Kruger and Fatih in person; well done!