A REPORT ON THE FILM EUROPA EUROPA

A MINI PROJECT REPORT

Submitted by

SHRAVANTH S SENNIMALAI

in partial fulfillment for the award of the

internal marks for the AISSCE-2024

in

ENGLISH CORE

Subject Code: 301

SUGUNA PIP SCHOOL

COIMBATORE

NOVEMBER 2024
 BONAFIDE CERTIFICATE

Certified that this project report “A Report on the Film Europa Europa” is the
bonafide work of Shravanth S Sennimalai. Who carried out the project work under
my supervision.

SIGNATURE OF INTERNAL SIGNATURE OF EXTERNAL

SIGNATURE OF THE PRINCIPAL

I would like to convey my heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Abhilash Ashol for his tremendous
support and assistance in the completion of my project. I would also like to thank our
Principal, Mr. M.Poovannan, for providing me with this wonderful opportunity to work on
a project with the topic A Report on the Film Europa Europa. The completion of the
project would not have been possible without their help and insights.
Movie Report on Europa Europa

Introduction

Released in 1990 and directed by Agnieszka Holland, Europa Europa is a powerful war drama
based on the true story of Solomon Perel, a Jewish boy who survived the Holocaust by
pretending to be a German of Aryan descent. The film takes us on a gripping journey through
World War II, showing how one young man’s survival depended on concealing his identity and
adopting multiple false personas. What makes Europa Europa stand out is its exploration of
identity, deception, and the emotional cost of surviving such a brutal time. The movie doesn’t
just show historical events; it shows the moral and psychological struggles of an individual
caught in the chaos of war.

In this report, I’ll explore the plot, characters, themes, historical significance, and the director's
message in Europa Europa. Holland uses Solomon's story to convey both the absurdity of Nazi
ideology and the psychological toll that comes from living a lie in a world where your identity can
mean life or death.

Plot Summary

The story begins with Solomon "Solek" Perel's birth in Germany in 1926. As the Nazi Party rises
to power, his family, sensing the growing danger for Jews, moves to Poland in search of safety.
But when Germany invades Poland in 1939, Solomon's family is forced to flee once again.
Solomon, separated from his family during the escape, ends up in Soviet-controlled territory.
Initially, he finds refuge in a Soviet orphanage and becomes a loyal supporter of the Communist
regime.

However, when the Nazis push eastward and invade the Soviet Union, Solomon is captured by
German soldiers. Realizing that his Jewish identity could mean his death, Solomon makes the
split-second decision to claim that he’s not Jewish but an ethnic German. To his surprise, the
Germans accept him, even treating him like a hero. This leads to the central tension in the film:
Solomon, a Jewish boy, is sent to a prestigious Nazi school for Hitler Youth, the very
organization that exists to train young men to become leaders in the Third Reich.

Throughout the film, we watch Solomon’s harrowing struggle to maintain his false identity. Every
day brings the risk of exposure, as his Jewish background could be discovered at any moment.
He lives in constant fear while trying to blend in, even forming friendships with other boys who
are ardent believers in Nazi ideology. The film builds on this tension, with Solomon constantly
having to hide his true self, not just from the Nazis but from his friends and even a girl, Leni,
who falls in love with him.

The film concludes with the war coming to an end and Solomon reuniting with his brother, Isaak.
Though Solomon has survived, the psychological scars of living a double life linger. He has not
only been physically separated from his family, but his sense of identity has been fractured by
the experiences he endured during the war.
Character Analysis

1. Solomon Perel (Solek): The protagonist, Solomon, is the heart of the film. His story is
one of survival at all costs, but it’s also a tale of deep internal conflict. Solomon is forced
to take on different identities, first as a Soviet, then as a Hitler Youth, all while concealing
the fact that he is Jewish. His journey is about more than just staying alive—it's about
the emotional cost of living a lie. Solomon’s constant fear of being discovered is
palpable, and it shapes every action he takes. His moral struggle runs throughout the
film, as he grapples with guilt and confusion over who he is and who he is pretending to
be.
2. Robert Kellerman: Robert is one of Solomon’s closest friends in the Hitler Youth
Academy. He represents the indoctrinated German youth—those who have fully bought
into the Nazi ideology. Robert’s deep belief in Nazi ideals contrasts with Solomon’s
hidden Jewish identity, making their friendship complicated and ironic. Robert’s character
highlights how ordinary boys were swept up in the Nazi propaganda machine, turned
into firm believers in the racist ideologies that defined Nazi Germany.
3. Leni: Leni is Solomon’s love interest, a passionate supporter of Nazi ideology who
dreams of having children for the Aryan race. Her character is important because she
embodies the absurdity of Solomon’s situation. She falls in love with him, but the irony is
that her love is based on the belief that Solomon is a pure Aryan—if she knew the truth,
her feelings would likely be very different. Leni’s character underscores the ever-present
danger Solomon faces, even in moments of personal connection.
4. Solomon’s Family: Although Solomon’s family plays a more background role, they are
still crucial to his emotional journey. His separation from his family during the war is a
major source of trauma for him. The bond with his brother, Isaak, remains one of the few
connections to his Jewish identity. His family’s absence and eventual reunion represent
the loss and potential recovery of his identity after years of pretending to be someone
else.

Themes

1. Identity and Disguise: The film’s central theme is the idea of identity—how it is shaped,
concealed, and distorted by external pressures. Solomon spends much of the film hiding
his true identity in order to survive. His life becomes a series of performances, as he
takes on different roles: Jewish boy, Soviet orphan, Hitler Youth. His real self is buried
deep within these false identities, leading to an internal struggle between the person he
knows himself to be and the person he must pretend to be. This theme raises questions
about the nature of identity and how much of it is shaped by circumstance rather than
personal choice.
2. Survival vs. Morality: One of the most difficult moral questions raised by the film is
whether survival justifies the actions Solomon takes. Is it right for him to hide his Jewish
identity and pretend to be a Nazi sympathizer if it means he gets to live? Europa Europa
doesn’t offer easy answers, instead allowing the audience to sit with the complexity of
Solomon’s decisions. His struggle isn’t just about staying alive—it’s about the moral
 compromises he has to make to do so. Solomon is constantly weighing the cost of these
decisions, and the film forces us to think about what we would do in his place.
3. Indoctrination and Propaganda: The film highlights the frightening power of
indoctrination, particularly in how young people were influenced by Nazi ideology.
Through characters like Robert and Leni, we see how deeply ingrained these beliefs
became in ordinary German citizens. Robert, for instance, is portrayed as kind and
good-natured, yet he holds deeply anti-Semitic beliefs. This contrast shows how even
well-meaning individuals can be swept up in destructive ideologies when they’re
subjected to propaganda from a young age.
4. Absurdity of War: There is a certain dark humor running through Europa Europa,
particularly in how absurd some of Solomon’s situations are. The fact that a Jewish boy
can be accepted into the Hitler Youth, hailed as a model of Aryan purity, speaks to the
ridiculousness of Nazi racial ideology. The absurdity of Solomon’s situation highlights the
broader absurdity of war and the racist policies that drove the Holocaust. In moments of
tension, the film often presents ironic or humorous scenes, emphasizing how irrational
and arbitrary the persecution of Jews really was.

Historical Significance

Europa Europa offers a unique perspective on one of the most devastating periods in modern
history: World War II and the Holocaust. It sheds light on the lengths people went to in order to
survive, especially those, like Solomon, who were caught between conflicting identities.
Solomon’s story isn’t typical of Holocaust survival tales, and that’s what makes it so compelling.
While many Holocaust films focus on the horrors faced by those in concentration camps,
Europa Europa focuses on a boy who survives by becoming part of the very system that seeks
to destroy his people.

The film also illustrates the impact of Nazi indoctrination on German youth. By focusing on
Solomon’s experience within the Hitler Youth, it shows how Nazi ideology was ingrained in the
next generation, making it all the more difficult to challenge or escape from within Germany. This
makes the film not just a story of survival, but a story about the terrifying power of propaganda
and how it can shape a society.

Director’s Vision

Agnieszka Holland’s direction brings out the emotional and psychological depth of Solomon’s
story without turning it into melodrama. She uses tension and irony to make the viewer feel the
constant danger Solomon is in, but she also allows moments of humanity and humor to shine
through. Holland’s approach makes the film feel realistic and grounded, even in its most absurd
moments. Her decision to emphasize the personal, psychological effects of the war—rather than
focusing solely on the large-scale violence—adds a layer of emotional complexity that makes
Europa Europa resonate on a deeper level.
Conclusion

Europa Europa is a powerful, thought-provoking film that explores the complexities of identity,
survival, and morality in the face of unimaginable horrors. Through the true story of Solomon
Perel, the film takes us into the heart of Nazi Germany, showing the absurdity of racist ideology
and the lengths to which people had to go to stay alive. It is not just a war film, but a personal
journey of a young boy forced to become someone else in order to survive. Agnieszka Holland’s
direction brings this story to life in a way that is both deeply human and historically significant,
making Europa Europa an essential film for anyone interested in understanding the human cost
of war.

Comparison of the Story “The Enemy” with the movie “Europa Europa”

In both the movie Europa Europa and the passage "The Enemy" from the book Vistas (Class
12), we see characters caught in moral dilemmas where they must choose between loyalty to
their country or ideology and the basic principles of humanity. In Europa Europa, Solomon, a
Jewish boy, hides his true identity and pretends to be a German to survive during World War II.
Similarly, in "The Enemy", Dr. Sadao, a Japanese surgeon, faces a difficult decision when he
must decide whether to save an American enemy soldier washed up on the shore or turn him
over to the authorities during wartime.

Both stories highlight the inner conflict between adhering to societal or nationalistic expectations
and following one’s own moral compass. Solomon must navigate the danger of being a Jew
under Nazi rule, and Dr. Sadao must confront the idea of helping someone considered an
enemy by his country. Ultimately, both works emphasize the universal theme that, even in times
of war and conflict, the values of compassion, kindness, and humanity can transcend borders
and ideologies.
Bibliography

● NCERT English Supplementary Textbook ‘Vistas’ Class 12