In Darkness (2011 film)

In Darkness
UK cinematic poster
Directed by	Agnieszka Holland
Written by	David F. Shamoon
Based on	In the Sewers of Lvov by Robert Marshall
Produced by	Andrzej Besztak Steffen Reuter Patrick Knippel Marc-Daniel Dichant Leander Carell Juliusz Machulski Paul Stephens Eric Jordan
Starring	Robert Więckiewicz Benno Fürmann Agnieszka Grochowska Maria Schrader Herbert Knaup Kinga Preis Krzysztof Skonieczny
Cinematography	Jolanta Dylewska
Edited by	Mike Czarnecki
Music by	Antoni Komasa-Łazarkiewicz
Production companies	Zebra Films, Schmidtz Katze Filmkollektiv, the Film Works
Distributed by	Sony Pictures Classics
Release dates	2 September 2011 (2011-09-02) (Telluride (USA)) 15 September 2011 (2011-09-15) (Poland)
Running time	144 minutes
Countries	Poland Germany Canada
Languages	Polish German Yiddish Ukrainian

In Darkness (

Based on true events during German occupation of Poland, the film tells about Leopold Socha, a sewer worker in the Polish city of Lwów. He used his knowledge of the city's sewer system to shelter a group of Jews who had escaped from the Lwów Ghetto during the Holocaust in Poland.^[3]

Plot

During Nazi-occupied Poland, two Lvov sewer workers, Leopold Socha and Szczepek Wróblewski, loot successfully. They witness Nazis executing Jewish women in the woods before returning home. In the Lvov ghetto, Jews face persecution and humiliation by German SS men and collaborating Ukrainian police. Illegal trade and prostitution flourish under the ghetto walls, involving smugglers like Mundek Margulies.^[4]

While working in the sewers, Socha and Szczepek encounter Jews attempting to escape to the Aryan side of Lvov. Ignacy Chiger gives Socha a watch, seeking their assistance. Socha hesitantly agrees to hide the Chiger family for payment, despite Szczepek's concerns. The Jews accept the offer. Later, at a tavern, they meet with Bortnik from the Ukrainian Auxiliary Police, who praises the Nazis. As they resume work, gunshots signal the start of the Lvov ghetto's liquidation. Paulina Chiger and others flee into the sewers. Socha, Szczepek, Mundek, and Janek Grossman organize an evacuation, with Janek leaving his family for his mistress, Chai.^[4]

Socha is captured by Ukrainian shooters but released by Bortnik. He hides his involvement with Jews from his wife, Wanda, discussing the persecution of Jews with her. Wanda mentions Jesus was Jewish, leading Socha to reflect. Socha discovers his shopkeeper knows about his actions. He descends into the sewers, learning Mania is missing. Negotiating with the Jews, Socha considers accommodating them all underground.^[4]

Shortly after, Bortnik confronts Socha about the shopkeeper's tip-off and pressures him to reveal the Jews' location. Socha initially complies but later reveals his secret to his wife during dinner, causing panic. Bortnik grows suspicious of Socha's honesty. Meanwhile, the hidden Jews argue amongst themselves, distrusting Socha. Socha decides not to accept more money from them but contemplates betraying them after Janek escapes. He argues with Szczepek and ends their cooperation.^[4]

One winter morning, Socha sees an SS man aiming at Mundek and cleverly kills him with a Jewish smuggler's help. He later discovers that ten Poles, including Szczepek, were hanged for the SS man's death. Socha's new accomplice spots the hiding Jews and plans to inform, prompting Socha to move them to safety under a church. Chaja, pregnant with Janek's child, joins them and gives birth but suffocates the baby to avoid detection. Mundek and Socha find Janek and his companions dead. Socha agrees to smuggle Mundek to find Mania, but they are shot by guards. Mundek returns to the hideout.^[4]

One spring night, heavy rain floods the sewers during Socha's daughter's first Holy Communion. Socha rushes to rescue the hidden Jews, followed by the suspicious Bortnik. Socha escapes but loses consciousness in the rising water. He wakes to find Bortnik dead and emerges to the surface. As the Soviets enter Lvov, the surviving Jews emerge from the sewers.^[4]

The film concludes with the final caption:^[4]

Leopold Socha died on May 12, 1946, saving his daughter from the wheels of a speeding truck of the Red Army. At his funeral, someone said: 'It is God's punishment for helping Jews.' As if we needed God to punish each other.

Cast

• Robert Więckiewicz as Leopold Socha
• Benno Fürmann as Mundek Margulies
• Agnieszka Grochowska as Klara Keller
• Maria Schrader as Paulina Chiger
• Herbert Knaup as Ignacy Chiger
• Kinga Preis as Wanda Socha
• Krzysztof Skonieczny as Szczepek Wróblewski
• Julia Kijowska as Chaja
• Marcin Bosak as Janek Weiss
• Jerzy Walczak as Jakob Berestycki
• Michał Żurawski as Bortnik
• Piotr Głowacki as Jacek Frenkiel
• Zofia Pieczyńska as Stefcia Socha
• Etel Szyc as Szona Grossman
• Andrzej Mastalerz as Sawicki
• Ida Łozińska as Rachela Grossman
• Laura Lo Zito as Irena
• Alexander Levit as Kovalev
• Frank Köbe as Gustav Wilhaus

Production and release

Dedicated to

As of October 2020, a majority of film critics have given the film a positive review. In Darkness has an approval rating of 88% on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, based on 114 reviews, and an average rating of 7.60/10.^[10] It also has a score of 74 out of 100 on Metacritic, based on 36 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".^[11]

A review by

• Europa Europa, Agnieszka Holland's 1990 film about Solomon Perel
• Rescue of Jews by Poles during the Shoah
• Polish Righteous among the Nations
• List of submissions to the 84th Academy Awards for best foreign language film
• List of Polish submissions for the Academy Award for best foreign language film
• The Girl in the Green Sweater: A Life in Holocaust's Shadow
  , a memoir by one of those Mr. Socha saved

References