The German Doctor

Plot

Josef Mengele is in exile in Argentina in 1960, living under a new identity. He makes a long journey by road to a new location by following a family, as the roads are dangerous. Initially, Mengele has his own place to stay in Patagonia, but after taking an interest in the daughter of the family, Lilith, he moves into their hotel by paying six months' rent upfront.

Lilith was born prematurely, and as a result she is much shorter than her classmates. She is bullied at school because of her size. Mengele, who is working as a doctor, suggests that he can help her grow more quickly and Lilith's mother, Eva, agrees to this.

Meanwhile, people who have been searching for Mengele believe they have found him and begin to gather evidence on his true identity.

Eva is pregnant with twins, much to Mengele's fascination. He compiles copious notes on them, Lilith and the rest of her family as he continues to aid in her growth. Lilith becomes sick as a side effect of the growth hormones that Mengele has given her. When her father, Enzo, finds out the truth, he is furious and demands that Mengele leave the hotel. Eva goes into labour, and as the only doctor around, Mengele is allowed to help with the delivery of the twins.

The twins are born prematurely, and Mengele starts experiments to ensure their survival. He is conscious of the fact that people are trying to find his true identity, and when he's almost caught, he escapes the remote location on a seaplane.

Cast

Release

It was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival. The film was selected as the Argentine entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 86th Academy Awards, but it was not nominated.

Reception

The film received positive reviews from critics. It currently holds a 73% rating on the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes based on 59 reviews, with an average score of 5.7/10. The site's consensus reads, "The German Doctor applies a refreshing level of restraint to its intriguing premise, and boasts solid performances from a talented cast."