Berlin, 1940. The city is paralyzed by fear. Otto and Anna Quangel, a working-class couple, live in a modest neighborhood where, like the rest of the population, they try to keep a low profile in the face of the Nazi party.
But when they learn that their only son has died at the front, the Quangels decide to join the resistance. Throughout the city, they place anonymous messages criticizing Hitler and his regime. If they are caught, they know they will be executed…
Inspector Escherich of the Gestapo soon takes an interest in their actions, and a formidable game of cat and mouse ensues. The danger only strengthens Otto and Anna’s determination and their love. Gradually, their silent but profound rebellion transforms their lives and their marriage…
Alone in Berlin is adapted from the eponymous novel by Hans Fallada, whose real name was Rudolf Ditzen, inspired by a true story and published in 1947. It is one of the very first anti-Nazi books, which became an international bestseller. The author based it on actual Gestapo documents, which told the story of Otto and Elise Hampel, who became Otto and Anna Quangel for the fiction.
Alone in Berlin is Vincent Perez’s third feature film, following Peau d’ange (2002) and Si j’étais toi (2007). He had decided to end his career as a director before discovering Hans Fallada’s book.
While some exteriors were shot in Berlin, most were filmed in Görlitz, located at the Polish border, where The Grand Budapest Hotel and The Book Thief were also filmed. Unlike Berlin, the city did not experience bombings and has remained intact since the war. The shoot extended over seven and a half weeks in the spring of 2015. Meanwhile, 55 Jablonski Street was entirely reconstructed in a real building in Görlitz.
