Taking Sides

2002 1h 48m EN

😐

6.3

MID

★6.3TMDB · 50

DramaWarMusic

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

One of the most spectacular and renowned conductors of the 1930s, Wilhelm Furtwangler's reputation rivaled that of Toscanini's. After the war, he was investigated as part of the Allies' de-Nazification programme. In the bombed-out Berlin of the immediate post-war period, the Allies slowly bring law and order to bear on an occupied Germany. An American major is given the Furtwangler file, and is told to find everything he can and to prosecute the man ruthlessly. Tough and hard-nosed, Major Steve Arnold sets out to investigate a world of which he knows nothing.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Where to watch · US

Amazon Prime VideoSubscription

Amazon Prime Video with AdsSubscription

Amazon VideoRent

Amazon VideoBuy

Cast

Harvey Keitel
Steve Arnold
Stellan Skarsgård
Wilhelm Furtwängler
Moritz Bleibtreu
David Wills
R. Lee Ermey
General Wallace
Birgit Minichmayr
Emmi Straube
Ulrich Tukur
Helmut Rode
Oleg Tabakov
Colonel Dymshitz
Hanns Zischler
Rudolf Werner

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: István Szabó
Writers: Ronald Harwood
Languages: English, French, German, Russian
Countries: Austria, Germany, France, United Kingdom

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 24 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 4 languages: English, French, German, Russian.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 4 countries: Austria, Germany, France, United Kingdom.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by István Szabó, shot by Lajos Koltai. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Sylvie Landra shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Harvey Keitel and Stellan Skarsgård and Moritz Bleibtreu carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0260414 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 50 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

István Szabó directs. Lajos Koltai behind the camera. Sylvie Landra cuts. Produced in Austria, Germany, France, United Kingdom. Dialogue in English, French, German, Russian.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Released 24 years ago.
2Dialogue crosses 4 languages: English, French, German, Russian.
3International production across 4 countries: Austria, Germany, France, United Kingdom.
4Directed by István Szabó, shot by Lajos Koltai. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Editor Sylvie Landra shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Harvey Keitel and Stellan Skarsgård and Moritz Bleibtreu carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt0260414 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 50 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.