Socha (Robert Wieckiewicz) is a sewer worker who, although anti-Semitic, hides a handful of Jews in the sewers in exchange for a monthly stipend. But as suspicions amongst his superiors rise, and the war takes a sour turn across Poland, Socha's family and life become targets.
In Darkness was directed by Czech-born filmmaker Agnieszka Holland, a two-time Oscar nominee, having received a Best Foreign Language Film nomination in 1986 for Angry Harvest and a Best Adapted Screenplay nomination for Europa, Europa in 1992. Holland has made a name for herself in recent years directing high-end television series, including episodes of The Wire, Cold Case, Treme and AMC's retread of The Killing.
The film was nominated for the Best Foriegn Language Film Oscar and won the Audience Choice Award for Best Feature Film at the St. Louis International Film Festival. Philip French in The Observer said that the film, "compels you to experience something of what it was like to live for 14 months hungry, cold and knowing that at any minute the agents of a cruel, vindictive regime could arrive to treat you like the rats that shared your sewer," while Trevor Johnston in Time Out called it "an incredible true story of courage and humanity, Agnieszka Holland's film combines nail-chewing suspense and moral uplift." Worth a look, wouldn't you say?
In Darkness will be released on UK DVD on 9th July 2012 by Metrodome Distribution at a yet to be confirmed retail price.
