| Diplomacy | |
|---|---|
 Film poster | |
| Directed by | Volker Schlöndorff |
| Screenplay by | Cyril Gely Volker Schlöndorff |
| Based on | Diplomatie by Cyril Gely |
| Produced by | Marc de Bayser Frank Le Wita |
| Starring | André Dussollier Niels Arestrup Burghart Klaußner Robert Stadlober Charlie Nelson Jean-Marc Roulot |
| Cinematography | Michel Amathieu |
| Edited by | Virginie Bruant |
| Music by | Jörg Lemberg |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | Gaumont(France) Koch Media(Germany) |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 88 minutes |
| Countries | France Germany |
| Languages | French German |
| Budget | $4.8 million[1] |
| Box office | $4.2 million[2] |
Diplomacy (German and French:Diplomatie) is a 2014 Franco-Germanhistorical drama film directed byVolker Schlöndorff and adapted from the playDiplomatie by Cyril Gély, which premiered in 2011.[3] Set in Paris in 1944, the film offers an imagined account of the efforts by the Swedish diplomatRaoul Nordling to avert the destruction of the city by the German generalDietrich von Choltitz. The film premiered at the64th Berlin International Film Festival on 12 February 2014.[4] It was also screened at theTelluride Film Festival in August 2014.[5] It won theCésar Award for Best Adaptation at the40th César Awards.[6]
As the Allied Forcesmove toward Paris,Adolf Hitler commands GeneralDietrich von Choltitz to destroy the city. Choltitz sends engineering teams to demolish the city's famous landmarks and to overflow theSeine, led by Lieutenant Hegger and advised by a captured Parisian engineer named M. Lanvin. The landmarks targeted include theEiffel Tower, theLouvre, thePlace de la Concorde,Notre Dame Cathedral andLes Invalides.
The Swedish consul,Raoul Nordling, sneaks into the general's office in theHotel Meurice by means of a secret staircase originally built for a famous courtesan who lived there. He points out the loss of innocent lives if the demolition goes through, and asks the general not to do it. The general is not swayed and is determined to do his duty.
Parisians start to revolt against the German patrols. Fighting fills the streets. Choltitz reveals that through its policy ofSippenhaft, the Nazi government punishes the families of disobedient officers. Nordling tries to downplay its significance, but Choltitz points out that it was enacted right as he was promoted, meaning that Hitler has his eyes on Choltitz.
Nordling offers the chance for theFrench Resistance to try to evacuate Choltitz's family. He confesses that he would not be able to choose between saving his family and saving Paris, were he in Choltitz's position. However, if he chooses Paris, the world will remember him as a hero. Choltitz relents and cancels the demolition. Lt Hegger tries to trigger it anyway, but is shot by Lanvin.
After the fall of Nazi Germany, Choltitz serves a two-year prison sentence for his earlier actions during theSiege of Sevastopol. Nordling is awarded a medal for his persuasion of Choltitz in Paris, but he passes it over to Choltitz, recognizing him as the real hero.
The movie was well received by the critics. Review aggregatorRotten Tomatoes reports that 93% of 45 critics gave the film a positive review, for an average rating of 7.4/10. The site's consensus states that "For filmgoers who value character development and smart dialogue over plot, Diplomacy yields rich, powerfully acted rewards."[7]
Brenda Benthien of kinocritics.com judged the "theatrical tour-de-force" was "aValentine to Schlöndorff’s beloved Paris".[8]