Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #39243 in DVD
• Released on: 2005-06-20
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 71 minutes

Synopsis
Filmmaker Costa-Gavras (MAD CITY, MUSIC BOX, MISSING) has a reputation for controversial political cinema, and he does not fail to raise eyebrows with AMEN. Focusing on the Vatican's unwillingness to oppose the Holocaust, and two men who tried to change the system from within, AMEN is adapted from the play THE REPRESENTATIVE by Rolf Hochhuth. It is based on a true story about officer Kurt Gerstein (Ulrich Tukur), a Nazi soldier who moved up the SS ranks by devising a chemical method to purify soldiers' drinking water. Gerstein is unaware of the horrors of the concentration camps until he is recruited by "The Doctor" (Ulrich Muhe) to adapt the same chemical for use in the gas chambers. Though Gerstein is overwhelmed by the reality of the impending massacre, he does not turn a blind eye. He informs the Swedes, the German Protestant Church, and even the Vatican. But he is sent away, dismissed, and otherwise silenced by all but the tenacious Father Riccardo Fontana (Mathieu Kassovitz), a fictitious character based on a number of priests who fought against the Holocaust. Father Riccardo takes life-threatening risks in a fruitless effort to convince the cardinal (Michel Duchaussoy) and the Pope (Marcel Iures) to rise above their fears of Nazi retribution.

Customer Reviews

This certainly brings back the memories of a cracking gig
Amen had been through hell and back before this. Getting stuck in a messy rut with Virgin over the rights to their songs and contract issues resulted in them becoming labeless. The pressure must have seriously taken its tole as all members of the hardcore punk act departed except for Chasey.
Back, better and stronger than ever with an all new line up, Amen prove they're here to stay. This phoenominal performance is Chasey's personal V sign to all those who thought Amen wouldn't pull through it and survive on top.
This DVD most certainly captures the primal, kinetic energy of Casey and co as the slay the stage with classics such as The Waiting 18, Refuse Amen and the fantastic Buy American.
The Crowd interaction of the gig, picture and sound quality of the DVD are both top notch. (The sound may have been digitally enhanced and altered as I don't remember the band being THIS tight on night.)
This is not a bad thing though and I certainly recommend this DVD to all Amen fans, especially those who were there on the night.
The fact that it's on DVD means you can freeze frame clearly when your face comes on. ("HI MUM!")
The only thing that prevents me from awarding this the full five stars is the often irritating camera tricks which have obviously been put in to compensate for the lack of stage set and pyrotechnics. The director probably thought a claustrophobic band performance was not enough to occupy a viewer for 70min so gimmicky colour shading would have to pop up every now and then. This is totally uneccessary and spoils the fluidity of the performance.
On the plus side again, the extras are worth having, insightful interviews with Casey and the new band members in Manchester, fan interviews ("LOOK MUM, ME AGAIN!") and more.

Definately one for the collection.

REFUSE AMEN!!
recorded at manchester university this is an excellent dvd. if u like amen then buy this it captures the live show extremely well and contain a lot of material from the first 2 albums and two tracks from the extremely rare buy american album. it has a pretty short documentary which features a live track from london and an interview with casey chaos that's pretty much it but the main point of this dvd is the gig, just buy this for the gig it really is a wicked concert.

On fire!
Speaking from the perspective of someone who actually attended this gig this Amen DVD was always going to be an essential purchase for me. A rabid night it was and this disc goes some way to highlight the connection and devotion Amen have to their fans. Beware though -Dream Theatre-style perfection this ain't! This is a warts and all production, everything is on show here from the many drumming mistakes to the often hoarseness of Casey Chaos' voice. But then again Amen have never been about perfection, they are an attitude - and this DVD has it in spades.