Trusted (2003)

Directed by: Giacomo Battiato | 184 minutes | drama, thriller | Actors: Giovanna Mezzogiorno, Klaus Maria Brandauer, Thierry Lhermitte, Thomas Heinze, Thomas Sangster, Claire Keim, Stephen Moyer, Ken Duken, Dominique Pinon, Gottfried John, Giorgio Pasotti, Rufus

This three-hour film is directed by Giacomo Battiato. In the past, Giacomo Battiato has directed films about the life of sculptor Benvenuto Cellinitde and about the life of Pope John Paul II. We cannot place his film Entrusted in the list of biographies. This film is also based on true events, namely the persecution of Jews in World War II. The film paints a picture of the life of a woman who risks everything, even her own, to save as many Jews as possible.

The lead role in this film is played by fourteen-year-old Thomas Sangster. Under the name Thomas Von Gall, he plays an 11-year-old boy who actually lives the life of an adult. He learns from his mother how hard life is at an early age and later he sees with his own eyes what it is like in the war. Very moving are the moments when young Thomas Von Gall speaks to his enemies and says things like: I am only a child. It is also impressive to see how Thomas inherited his mother’s toughness. A difficult role for a fourteen-year-old boy, but for Thomas Sangster it seems to be no problem. He plays his part with conviction and as a viewer you get the feeling that you live in his world.

‘Entrusted’ is an excellent example of how things went during the Second World War. The atmosphere of the film is grim and the tension is always present. We see violence, but it is very good that this does not dominate in the film. The film is not really gruesome, as you might expect from a film about the Second World War. It is also good that the story of this film cannot be compared with all other films about the Second World War and the persecution of the Jews.

Unobtrusive images and shots show how everyday life went. For example, we see children playing and shooting each other. All these scenes make this film a beautiful and compelling story that you really should watch with your full attention. The film is very long and sometimes a bit slow, but in retrospect this is precisely what makes the story so strong. In any case, ‘Entrusted’ is definitely worth it.