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‘La Disparition de Josef Mengele’ Opens in France With Serebrennikov’s Stark Portrait of Evil

Serebrennikov uses austere form to examine evil’s persistence through Mengele’s South American exile.

Overview

  • The film arrives in French theaters on Oct. 22 after a Cannes Première screening in May.
  • Adapted from Olivier Guez’s Prix Renaudot–winning book, it traces the Nazi doctor’s decades on the run in Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil.
  • Critics highlight August Diehl’s chilling turn in the title role and the film’s controlled, black‑and‑white aesthetic.
  • A brief color passage depicting Auschwitz atrocities anchors the director’s stated preference for “shock therapy” to confront audiences.
  • The narrative emphasizes evasion and accountability, noting Mengele’s 1979 death in Brazil without facing trial.