Film

What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases


Hanna's War (1988)

Director: Menahem Golan

Average user rating
No reviews

Movie review

From Time Out Film Guide

1944. When Hanna (Detmers) abandons the rough comforts of her kibbutz to help kilted Andrews chase the Nazis out of the Balkans, nothing goes as it should. They are astonished to discover cattle trucks full of Jews, and even more surprised to learn that the ferryman paid to smuggle them into Hungary is a German spy. Hanna consequently falls into the capable hands of torturer Pleasence, who persuades her to betray her mother, brave, moving Burstyn. But all's well that ends well. Mum is released, and Hanna finds the slick Hollywood martydom she seems to be after. Written, produced and directed by Golan, the film's supposed to be a serious piece, refuting the anti-Semitic slur that the Jews were a load of namby-pamby defeatists when, in fact, they fought the Nazis like everybody else. The bad script is based on a stale polemic, which produces an expensive and self-righteous piece of propaganda. Top-notch performances by Detmers and Pleasence do nothing to make it the slightest bit gripping.

Author: PHo

Time Out Film Guide


What do you think?
Post your review now

clear rating
Min 1 star. Zero stars will be treated as unrated.

*mandatory fields




Most popular on this site


Top Stories

Has David Cronenberg turned tame?

Has David Cronenberg turned tame?

Has director David Cronenberg veered too far from his radical and bloody roots with new film 'A Dangerous Method'?

The 10 worst date movies

The 10 worst date movies

Just in time for Valentine's Day, we present ten of the least romantic films ever made

Where to watch this year's Oscar-nominated films

Where to watch this year's Oscar-nominated films

Find out where to watch 2012's Oscar-nominated films in London cinemas

10 unlikely badboy biopics

10 unlikely badboy biopics

Featuring Phil Collins, Jeremy Clarkson, Nick Clegg, David Starkey and a host of other unlikely subjects

Interview: Sean Durkin on 'Martha Marcy May Marlene'

Interview: Sean Durkin on 'Martha Marcy May Marlene'

The first-time director of the brilliant new thriller discusses religious cults and robot boxing

Pop-up cinema for Valentine's Day

Pop-up cinema for Valentine's Day

Side-step romantic clichés with some alternative Valentine’s viewing