Hi all, work's been busy, so I forgot to post in the last couple of days.

I watched this one in two fitness center sessions, and got all choked up at the end. I need to remember not to watch certain types of movies in a public setting. Sophie Scholl is crisp in script, clean in subject matter, uses great color, is beautifully shot at all times, and is superbly handled by lead actor, Julia Jentsch.

The story is basically about a small group of university students who publish literature against Hitler's regime in the early 1940s. A brother and sister, Sophie and Hans Scholl, are members of this group called the White Rose, and they are taken into custody after they distribute mass amounts of fliers in the atrium at the local university. Quickly sent to interrogation, we follow along with Sophie, who at first is great at calmly using a fabricated alibi, and then is powerfully affecting when she admits the truth and is proud of it even though it threatens her life. From interrogation to court to a verdict in practically no time at all, this is an example of good people practising free speech and the terrible reaction from a tyrant's regime. The final scenes in the courtroom are particularly strong.

This movie can be shown to any audience and is strong at showing the abuse of Hitler's power at a different level than we're used to seeing: this isn't a concentration camp feature - everything happens in interrogation rooms, prison, and courts.

Also encouraging is how Sophie turns to God in this situation, and finds strength from him even though she hasn't been a practicing Christian before these events. The emphasis on her looking through windows, up at skies, and her prayer scenes are all a glimpse into Sophie's soul, as she is otherwise keeping up a calm appearance in front of her opposition.

Loved it. Just an FYI, this one was nominated for best Foreign Film at last year's Oscars and won all sorts of German awards.