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The Captain

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Overview

Based on the arresting true story of the Executioner of Emsland, The Captain follows a German army deserter, Willi Herold (Max Hubacher), after he finds an abandoned Nazi captain’s uniform in the final weeks of World War II. Emboldened by the authority the uniform grants him, he amasses a band of stragglers who cede to his command despite the suspicions of some. Citing direct orders from the Fuhrer himself, he soon takes command of a camp holding German soldiers accused of desertion and begins to dispense harsh justice. Increasingly intoxicated by the unquestioned authority, this enigmatic imposter soon discovers that many people will blindly follow the leader, whomever that happens to be. Simultaneously a historical docudrama and sociological examination with undertones of the absurd, The Captain presents fascism as something of a game to be played by those most gullible and unscrupulous.

Reactions, Awards & Festivals

Critic’s Pick "Astonishing. A harrowing World War II psychodrama.”

Jeannette Catsoulis

THE NEW YORK TIMES

“Unnerving and surreal. Max Hubacher’s performance is a masterful physical feat.”

April Wolfe

THE VILLAGE VOICE

“Parable, historical reckoning, and pitch-black comedy. Clever and well-crafted.”

José Teodoro

FILM COMMENT

Special Presentation - 2017 Toronto International Film Festival

Best Cinematography Award - 2017 San Sebastián Film Festival

Official Selection - 2018 Rotterdam International FIlm Festival

Official Selection - 2018 Seattle International Film Festival

Best Film - 2018 Cinepocalypse Genre Film Festival

Stanley Kubrick Award for Bold & Innovative Filmmaking - 2018 Traverse City Film Festival

St. Louis Film Critics Association Joe Award for Best Narrative Feature

Cast & Crew
  • Willi Herold : Max Hubacher
  • Freytag : Milan Peschel
  • Kipinski : Frederick Lau
  • Schütte : Bernd Hölscher
  • Hamsen : Waldemar Kobus
  • Junker : Alexander Fehling
  • Gerda Schütte : Britta Hammelstein
  • Sichner : Sascha Alexander Geršak
  • Roger Kuckelsberg : Samuel Finzi
  • Schneider : Wolfram Koch
  • Brockhoff : Marko Dyrlich
  • Konteradmiral Weyher : Hendrik Arnst
  • Dr. Kremer : Haymon Maria Buttinger
  • Schnabel Wirt : Alexander Hörbe
  • Irmgard : Eugénie Anselin
  • Gefreiter Paul : Sebastian Rudolph
  • Dahler-Kaufmann : Blerim Destani
  • Writer/Director : Robert Schwentke
  • Producer : Frieder Schlaich & Irene von Alberti
  • Director of Photography : Florian Ballhaus
  • Editor : Michal Czarnecki
  • Production Designer : Harald Turzer
  • Costumes : Magdalena J. Rutkiewicz-Luterek
  • Music : Martin Todsharow
Technical Info
  • Production Year : 2017
  • Release Date : July 27, 2018
  • Countries of Production : Germany
  • Languages : German
  • Running Time : 118 Minutes
  • Screen Ratio : 2.35:1
  • Sound : Dolby
  • Color : Color
  • Rating : Not Rated
Theatrical Engagements
Theater Name
City
State
Date
New York
NY
07/27/2018
Chicago
IL
08/03/2018
Los Angeles
CA
08/10/2018
Berkeley
CA
08/17/2018
Beaufort
SC
08/27/2018
Cambridge
MA
09/07/2018
Charlotte
NC
08/31/2018
Columbus
OH
08/31/2018
Irvine
CA
08/17/2018
Philadelphia
PA
08/10/2018
Santa Barbara
CA
08/10/2018
Atlanta
GA
08/17/2018
Las Vegas
NV
08/17/2018
Winchester
VA
09/27/2018
Monterey
CA
08/31/2018
Detroit
MI
09/14/2018
Austin
TX
08/10/2018
Scottsdale
AZ
08/24/2018
Dallas
TX
08/24/2018
Washington
DC
08/10/2018
Coral Gables
FL
08/24/2018
Lake Worth
FL
09/07/2018
Portland
OR
09/07/2018
Vancouver
WA
09/07/2018
Hartford
CT
10/14/2018
Gloucester
MA
09/14/2018
Boulder
CO
11/27/2018
San Diego
CA
08/17/2018
San Francisco
CA
08/17/2018
Los Angeles
CA
08/17/2018
Honolulu
HI
08/31/2018
Ann Arbor
MI
09/14/2018
Sante Fe
NM
08/31/2018
Jaffrey
NH
09/22/2018
Cleveland
OH
11/01/2018
Norfolk
VA
10/03/2018
Huntington
NY
10/03/2018