TIFF '18 Film Review - Transit

German director Christian Petzold mixes eras and events in his latest film Transit. World War II era German refugees are plunked down into modern times scrambling to get out of France before they are swept up by the French authorities looking for those without papers. Their plan; get to Marseilles then arrange travel by sea to the U.S. or Mexico a feat requiring Transit papers.

Into this setting steps Georg (Franz Rogowski) a survivor who agrees to take two letters to a renowned writer in exchange for a fee. He arrives to a disturbing scene ending up escorting the critically injured author to Marseilles where he will meet his wife then secure passage to Mexico via the U.S. However due to tragic developments on the journey, Georg arrives alone with all of the author's paperwork  There he meets and befriends a young middle eastern boy Driss (Lilien Batman) Georg goes to the American Embassy where he takes the authors place jumping to the head of the line for transport out of France.

The other story-line focuses on the author's mysterious wife Marie (Paula Beer),who is already in Marseilles searching for her husband while continually crossing paths with Georg who's taken his place. She spends most of her time with Richard (Godehard Giese) a doctor who is on his way to set up a much needed medical clinic in Mexico.

Petzold adapts the story from Anna Seghers 1942 novel littering the landscape with many elements of that time period despite the modern vehicles roaming the French streets. The main bistro meeting spot could easily be from that era along with the rent by week apartments that the German refugees inhabit as they wait for passage while trying to avoid capture by the French authorities. This loving location is in stark contrast to the boys' apartment building housing modern refugees in traditional garb. Themselves trying to keep to themselves to avoid deportation.

Transit is a modern day telling of a multiple generational stories of the fate of refugees. They all have fear of the authorities with packed embassies of hopefuls with their paperwork in order waiting for hours to hear their number called to get their transit documents. The politics of those that rise to the top are explored juxtaposed to those that struggle, become desperate and the element that ultimately give up all hope. It's a tale that's well worth a watch and comparable to classic films that have tackled this subject in the past.

*** Out of 4.

Transit | Christian Petzold | Germany / France | 2018 | 101 Minutes.

Tags: Refugee, Identity, Papers, Consul, Mexico, U.S., Sea Passage, Marseilles, Paris, Police, Train Ride, Hunger.