The Aryan Couple Review

Aryan Couple, The
In attempt to gather secrets for the Hungarian resistance a Jewish couple disguises themselves as Aryan.

by David Parkinson |
Published on
Release Date:

13 Oct 2006

Running Time:

19 minutes

Certificate:

12A

Original Title:

Aryan Couple, The

This tale of a Jewish couple (Kenny Doughty and Caroline Carver) who pose as Aryans to spy for the Hungarian resistance is based on fact. But the more it strains for sincerity, the less convincing it becomes — especially as the principal focus in fact falls on industrialist Martin Landau, who has cut a deal with the Nazis to surrender his assets in return for his family’s safe passage to Palestine.

Danny Webb makes a suitably oleaginous Himmler, especially when conniving and disregarding the barbs of Landau’s proud wife (Judy Parfitt). But Christopher Fulford’s SS monster is pure caricature, and his final pursuit of the titular couple (after Himmler has conspired in their escape) is like something from a flag-waving B-movie. Everyone clearly means well, but good intentions don’t always result in great cinema.

Everyone tries to make this fact-based sage seem significant. But its over-arching sincerity only results in a stiffness that gives way to B-movie melodramatics in time for the cliché-ridden finale.
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