God on Trial
God on Trial
PG | 03 September 2008 (USA)
God on Trial Trailers

In the Jewish tradition of arguing with God, Jewish prisoners in Auschwitz decide to put God on Trial.

Reviews
VeteranLight I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.
Bluebell Alcock Ok... Let's be honest. It cannot be the best movie but is quite enjoyable. The movie has the potential to develop a great plot for future movies
Jenna Walter The film may be flawed, but its message is not.
Taha Avalos The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.
levelat41 Can the idiots who wrote the initial introduction to the movie, "God on Trial" actually spell the word--G.O.D. There is no dash between G and D it's spelled GOD. Do these bastards placed dashed in Muha-mad? What is it about these idiots that they fear even mentioning GOD and now that feared that turned to fear in spelling name GOD? This reminds of the Cold War when the educational system in America would literally have school districts CUT OUT THE MADE OF CHINA so kids would not recognize the communist nation. The end result was the more they did this the more China was recognized because of the questions from kids as to what was cut out. The same thing is taking place with misspelling it. It is the same scenario of the idiots of the Cold War.GOD, HOW I MARVEL AT YOUR GLORY AND WONDERS. Lord, there is no more wonder and puzzling than those you forgot to bestow a brain to, like the democrats and liberals. Please for give them for they know what they do, these must be the missing linking evolutionists are searching for. The reason they cannot find is because it is they, 'Ask now for whom the bells toll....they toll for thy.'Amen
Consistency_Check This is not a movie you need popcorn for, neither doubly surround nor a big screen. But it is the movie I chose to make an IMDb account for. Indeed, "movie" is somewhat the wrong term, "play" is more accurate. Facing their death in Nazi gas chambers, a group of Jews put God on trial. The charge: violating the covenant. The story portrays differing characters, from the fearful believer, to the scholar, from the scientist to the simple man - everyone with differing views and arguments. The lively debate with strong arguments on all sides in front of this horrible setting is what makes this film so great. To get the most out of the play one probably should have a (little) knowledge about the Jewish faith or the Old Testament and allow oneself to enjoy a religious-philosophical debate.
billcr12 Most television dramas are a complete waste of time. This is not the case with God on Trial which is one of the best films I have ever seen on TV. The questions asked throughout the 84 minutes are right on target. A group of prisoners at Auschwitz; some of whom are awaiting execution, the others unsure of their fate, debate the meaning of God's supposed covenant with the Jewish people.I am not Jewish & I don't believe any one group of people are chosen above all others because of their religion. I was told that the Catholic Church was the one true one in my childhood. Muslims are taught that Allah is the true path. Hindus believe in another God. It leads us all on a dangerous path.This film is made for people not afraid to search within themselves no matter what they believe. I was very impressed.
bob the moo Despite opening with a rather clumsy narrative device for framing the story, this film is almost entirely set in a dormitory block in Auschwitz. The Jewish men in the block have already been divided into who will die tonight and who will not, while new arrivals are poured into the block a day earlier than expected. What comes out of this environment is a sort of trial where God is in the dock accused of breaking his covenant with the Jewish people – a debate about his actions, inactions and motivations if you will. It doesn't sound like a lot of fun to watch and indeed it sat on my HDR for quite some time before I recently got round to being in the mood for it (on a Saturday night weirdly enough, which probably says a lot about me). Seeing for myself I must admit to not being as won over by it as most other viewers seem to have been and I'm not sure if it me "not getting it" or others reviewing their feelings on the Holocaust generally rather than this film.You see, the film is moving towards the end for reasons that should be obvious given the subject but for the vast majority the focus is on the discussion/trial between the men. This aspect is not as emotive but it did have the potential to be challenging and insightful. Mostly it is, and I found my attention easily held as different opinions were raised and evidence examined. The problem with it is that it is never as good or thought-provoking as I expected it to be. At times it is challenging but at others it seems less coherent and the "trial" structure weakens at these points. It is very good at times though and it was a shame that in some regards the final bookend scene felt like too neat a summary of the questions considering the emotion that had gone before, not quite a cop-out perhaps but not a million miles away from it either.Where the film doesn't have a single problem is with the cast because every one of them is excellent. To pick one out would be unfair and Skarsgård, Dillane, Sher, Sheppard and all others are passionate and convincing. DeEmmony directs well within such a tight space – keeping it part of the story of course, but not letting it constrict the ability of the camera to get in and around the characters; although the material remains the feel of a play in regards the dialogue, the film certainly doesn't look like filmed theatre.So mostly God on Trial is excellent, full of passionate performances, engaging dialogue and a real sense of place. It is not a massive problem that it feels like it doesn't deliver in the end and that the final scene itself just feels weak and convenient, flying in the face of everything that had gone before. Not as perfect as some have suggested here but still a very good piece of television drama from BBC2.