"In The Fade" Movie Review

There's two types of powerful films in the world. There's the films that impact you, make you want to change your life or change the world around you. Then there are the films that haunt you day and night, making you cherish those around you even when they're impossibly stubborn or relentlessly troublesome. In the Fade was the latter. Truly haunting, In the Fade shows you up close what sudden loss feels like, its sad after effects, and the toll it takes on those affected. It's a fantastic film, but I warn you now, prepare to have it tear your mind and heart to shreds.

The film follows Katja Sekerci, a woman who put in so much effort to change her life only to find it suddenly shattered. She was going about her normal day, caring for her son Rocco. She dropped him off at her husband Nuri's place of work. The last time we see them, Nuri and Rocco are smiling and laughing, a sight that Katja doesn't realize will be the last time she sees them. After her day, she returns to pick up Nuri and Rocco only to find the street blocked off. After asking a cop what was going on, she learns that there's been an explosion, possibly a terror attack. Katja races past the police, desperate to find out if her husband and son are okay. Most of the victims were alive and evacuated...except for two who were unidentifiable. What follows is Katja's heartbreaking journey through not only loss but also trying to put the person responsible in prison.

Diane Kruger masterfully takes on the role of Katja, giving us what is probably her best performance of her career. She made you feel what Katja felt, the desperation, the pain, the unfulfillable desire to see her family again. She made you feel like you were there, facing the loss just like she was. That's a rare talent and I hope Diane will continue to show her skills in future films.

Writer/director Fatih Akin adapted the novel and directed the film to absolute perfection. While the ending could have been approached better, I feel that as a whole the film succeeded in doing what it was meant to do. This film made me want to find Akin's previous work and see if they are just as remarkable as this one.

In conclusion, get you a box of tissues and see this film. It's already out on digital and blu-ray so you can watch it from the comfort of your own home. That's probably a good thing too because you will shed tears during this film. I give In the Fade a perfect 4 out of 4.