Watch Genghis Cohn

Genghis Cohn is a dark comedy film that was released on 1993. It is directed by Elijah Moshinsky and stars Antony Sher, Robert Lindsay, and Matthew Marsh in the lead roles. The movie tells the story of a Jew named Otto Schatz, who is captured by the Nazis and sent to a concentration camp. In the camp, Otto is forced to work for the Nazis and serve as a translator. However, Otto is not an ordinary Jew, he is a former comedian turned spirit named Genghis Cohn, who had died a few years earlier. His fate is tied to his captors, as the Nazis begin to use him to help defeat America, Britain, and the Soviet Union.

As the movie progresses, the story moves back and forth between different time periods. We see scenes from Otto's past, where he is a successful comedian entertaining audiences across Europe. We also see scenes from the concentration camp, where he is forced to witness the atrocities committed by the Nazis against the Jews. Throughout the movie, we are reminded of Cohn's humorous nature, and we witness a few comedic moments, but the story is primarily a dark one with a subtle political theme.

Antony Sher delivers a fantastic performance as Genghis Cohn/Otto Schatz, the cynical Jew who uses his wit and humor as a shield against the horrors of the concentration camp. Robert Lindsay plays Lieutenant L. Dietary, the brutal Nazi who hopes to exploit Cohn's unique abilities to defeat the Allies. Matthew Marsh plays Colonel Hecht, a more sympathetic Nazi, who recognizes that Cohn's survival is linked to the survival of the Nazis.

The movie is well-directed, with well-paced and engaging storylines. The scenes in the concentration camp are intense, and the overall tone is dark, but there is also a sense of hope and resilience that's embedded in the narrative. The film is a commentary on the horrors of the Holocaust, as well as a critique of authoritarian regimes that seek to manipulate people for their own purposes.

Genghis Cohn is an intelligent and thought-provoking movie with a strong central performance from Antony Sher. The mix of humor and dark themes makes for a compelling viewing experience, and the strong message against fascism and genocide holds up even today.

Genghis Cohn is a 1994 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 18 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.8.