{"id":80010,"date":"2022-01-08T14:41:57","date_gmt":"2022-01-08T21:41:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=80010"},"modified":"2022-01-09T00:52:49","modified_gmt":"2022-01-09T07:52:49","slug":"murderers-are-among-us-the-1946","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=80010","title":{"rendered":"Murderers Are Among Us, The (1946)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;I know there is no longer any point in healing mankind.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Among-Us-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Among-Us-Poster-210x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"210\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-80011\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Among-Us-Poster-210x300.png 210w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Among-Us-Poster-89x128.png 89w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Among-Us-Poster-189x270.png 189w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Among-Us-Poster.png 483w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 210px) 100vw, 210px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nA German concentration camp survivor (Hildegard Knef) arriving back at her ruined apartment encounters a traumatized military surgeon (Ernst Wilhelm Borchert) who has been living there, and the two decide to share the space. Meanwhile, Borchert is unsure how to act when he encounters his former captain (Arno Paulsen): will he seek vengeance, or move forward into a career of healing and hope?\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Doctors and Nurses<\/li>\n<li>German Films<\/li>\n<li>Survival<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nThis German film is notable for being the first in a genre known as <em>Tr\u00fcmmerfilm<\/em> (or &#8220;rubble films) &#8212; that is, movies set within the detritus of bombed out cities after the end of World War II, and focusing on survivors&#8217; experiences. Aesthetically speaking, such films are inherently dramatic: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Are-Among-Us-Rubble.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Are-Among-Us-Rubble-1024x759.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"474\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-80013\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Are-Among-Us-Rubble-1024x759.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Are-Among-Us-Rubble-300x222.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Are-Among-Us-Rubble-128x95.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Are-Among-Us-Rubble-768x569.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Are-Among-Us-Rubble-364x270.png 364w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Are-Among-Us-Rubble.png 1111w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; and this one is made even more so through the use of highly atmospheric cinematography: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Mirror-Rubble.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Mirror-Rubble-1024x756.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"473\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-80025\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Mirror-Rubble-1024x756.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Mirror-Rubble-300x222.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Mirror-Rubble-128x95.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Mirror-Rubble-768x567.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Mirror-Rubble-366x270.png 366w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Mirror-Rubble.png 1109w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>While some have criticized the appearance of healthy-looking Knef as a supposed concentration camp survivor: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Knef9.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Knef9-1024x748.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"468\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-80015\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Knef9-1024x748.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Knef9-300x219.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Knef9-128x94.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Knef9-768x561.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Knef9-369x270.png 369w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Knef9.png 1115w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; it&#8217;s easy enough to forgive this given the unrelenting bleakness she&#8217;s surrounded by, and the fact that her character is meant to symbolize hope. <\/p>\n<p>Indeed, the entire film should be viewed less as a realistic tale, and more as a meditation on the various coping mechanisms of German survivors. As the film opens, we see an elderly optometrist (Robert Forsch) in Knef&#8217;s apartment building assisting a young woman whose glasses need soldering:  <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Glasses2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Glasses2-1024x749.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"468\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-80016\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Glasses2-1024x749.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Glasses2-300x220.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Glasses2-128x94.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Glasses2-768x562.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Glasses2-369x270.png 369w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Glasses2.png 1119w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>When Knef comments to him, &#8220;You are still working here as if nothing had happened!&#8221; he shares with her his &#8220;good fortune&#8221; in being a hoarder: <\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;This is all I was able to rescue out of the rubble down in the cellar. People always used to laugh. I hoarded things for ages. Now all this old junk I kept over the years is my start to a new life.&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>For Forsch, maintaining a daily work schedule is what keeps him sane and hopeful: <\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;I have a lot of work to do&#8230;. If [my son] is still alive, he will return home one day. The house will be ready and waiting for him. His father will await him.&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Next we see Knef interacting with drunken Borchert; sensing his pain, she convinces him it&#8217;s fine to share the space for awhile:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Window.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Window-1024x761.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"476\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-80028\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Window-1024x761.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Window-300x223.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Window-128x95.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Window-768x571.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Window-363x270.png 363w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Window.png 1105w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>She focuses on busily cleaning her apartment and getting back to her art: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Among-Us-Cleaning.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Among-Us-Cleaning-1024x752.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"470\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-80020\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Among-Us-Cleaning-1024x752.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Among-Us-Cleaning-300x220.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Among-Us-Cleaning-128x94.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Among-Us-Cleaning-768x564.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Among-Us-Cleaning-368x270.png 368w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Among-Us-Cleaning.png 1115w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; while Borchert escapes once again into drink and women: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Drink-Away.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Drink-Away-1024x757.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"473\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-80017\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Drink-Away-1024x757.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Drink-Away-300x222.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Drink-Away-128x95.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Drink-Away-768x568.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Drink-Away-365x270.png 365w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Drink-Away.png 1105w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Although his skills as a doctor are vitally needed, Borchert is too traumatized to pick his career back up (&#8220;I can no longer bear to hear the moans of people in torment.&#8221;) Soon Borchert runs into his former captain (Paulsen), who is living a happy, stable family life, seemingly not at all concerned about the deaths he was responsible for just before the end of the war: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Dinner.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Dinner-1024x750.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"469\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-80022\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Dinner-1024x750.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Dinner-300x220.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Dinner-128x94.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Dinner-768x563.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Dinner-369x270.png 369w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Dinner.png 1107w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Borchert feels differently about this than Paulsen &#8212; but when he has a random encounter with a very sick young girl while out walking amongst the rubble, his perspective changes once again: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Sick-Girl.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Sick-Girl-1024x760.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"475\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-80023\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Sick-Girl-1024x760.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Sick-Girl-300x223.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Sick-Girl-128x95.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Sick-Girl-768x570.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Sick-Girl-364x270.png 364w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Sick-Girl.png 1103w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Yes, it&#8217;s all melodramatic &#8212; but the heightened narrative makes sense within the context of the surreal post-conflict landscape these individuals are inhabiting; and the final showdown offers some sense of the future &#8220;truth and reconciliation&#8221; that would necessarily begin to occur in Germany. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Notable Performances, Qualities, and Moments:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Highly atmospheric cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Paulsen-Borchert.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Paulsen-Borchert-1024x750.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"469\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-80032\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Paulsen-Borchert-1024x750.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Paulsen-Borchert-300x220.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Paulsen-Borchert-128x94.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Paulsen-Borchert-768x562.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Paulsen-Borchert-369x270.png 369w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Murderers-Paulsen-Borchert.png 1113w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, for its historical relevance, and as a fine little film. Listed as a film with Historical Importance and a Sleeper in the back of Peary&#8217;s book. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Historically Relevant<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0038769\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s528murder.html\">DVD Savant Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/chicagoreader.com\/film\/the-murderers-are-among-us-3\/\">Chicago Reader Capsule Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;I know there is no longer any point in healing mankind.&#8221; Synopsis: A German concentration camp survivor (Hildegard Knef) arriving back at her ruined apartment encounters a traumatized military surgeon (Ernst Wilhelm Borchert) who has been living there, and the two decide to share the space. Meanwhile, Borchert is unsure how to act when he encounters his former captain (Arno Paulsen): will he seek vengeance, or move forward into a career of healing and hope? Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=80010\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-80010","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80010","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=80010"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80010\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":80093,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80010\/revisions\/80093"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=80010"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=80010"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=80010"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}