The Ninth Day explores the issue of collaboration with pathological ideologies such as National Socialism in Germany. An exceptional film in which the moral strength and outwardly unassuming personality of a Catholic priest stands out clearly in the midst of the perverse world of pseudo-progressive secularists.

Kramer is one of the priests placed by the Nazis in the Dachau concentration camp during World War II. He experiences terror and pervasive torture and suffering.

One day, he receives a notice that he has been released. He has the right to go to his family in Luxembourg.

There he learns that he has not actually received a pardon, but has merely been released on a nine-day leave. The intention of this move is an offer from the Nazis for cooperation.

The primary aim is to cause a rift between the Luxembourg Church and the Vatican. Kremer has, as a first step, to persuade the Bishop of Luxembourg to cooperate with the German occupiers.

The Nazi Gebhart, originally an ordained deacon, first tries to convince him with theological arguments. Later he is reduced to more vigorous means.

Kremer experiences a struggle between his conscience and the horror of returning to the concentration camp.

Parents Guide: Violence such as beating, shoving, slapping, putting a crown of thorns on a prisoner’s head and pulling him by the arms to the cross occurred more than once. One scene from the opening with the beating of a prisoner on the head with a dagger. Insults to the priest such as “parish pig” etc, 1x disrespectful remark to the Pope by a priest. About 1x taking God’s name in vain. More times smoking and drinking wine. A couple of times somewhat distorted statements about the Church and the Vatican in relation to actions or inactions towards the Nazis.

Cast: Ulrich Matthes, August Diehl, Hilmar Thate, Bibiana Beglau, Ivan Jiřík, Adolf Filip, Zdeněk Pecháček, Karel Dobrý, Vladimír Fišer, Petr Janiš, Vladimír Gut, Václav Krátký

Crew: Volker Schlöndorff

Germany / Luxemburg / Czech republic, 2004

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