After a rocky start for some at this year's Cannes Film Festival, Polish director Paweł Pawlikowski has delivered a knockout with his latest film, Fatherland. The black-and-white post-World War II drama, which stars Oscar-nominated actress Sandra Hüller, has already earned a stellar 93% score on Rotten Tomatoes, making it one of the most acclaimed war thrillers of the year.
Set in the aftermath of WWII, Fatherland follows Hüller's character as she returns to a devastated Germany alongside her father—none other than exiled Nobel laureate Thomas Mann, played by Hanns Zischler. August Diehl co-stars as Mann's son. The film's first teaser trailer, released alongside its Cannes premiere, offers a haunting, dialogue-free minute-long tracking shot that follows the two protagonists driving along a war-torn road. Critics are already praising Pawlikowski's immersive direction, with many calling the shot one of the most impressive feats of cinema this year.
Hüller, who recently appeared in Project Hail Mary and won acclaim for her role in the Oscar-winning The Zone of Interest, is once again drawing raves. Early reviews highlight her powerful performance, though not everyone is completely sold. ScreenRant's review, while praising the central performances, found fault with other aspects, causing the film's initial perfect 100% score to dip. Still, outlets like Time Out have called it "another expansive, enriching work from a modern master," and The Guardian described it as "an impossibly elegant, poised historical vignette."
Pawlikowski is no stranger to critical acclaim. His previous films Ida and Cold War both earned Oscar nominations and were shot in stunning black-and-white by cinematographer Łukasz Żal, who returns for Fatherland. Żal also worked with Hüller on The Zone of Interest and with Chloé Zhao on the Oscar-winning Hamnet. Given the pedigree, it's no surprise that Fatherland is already being whispered as a potential contender for next year's Academy Awards.
For fans of gripping historical dramas, Fatherland joins a strong lineup of recent WWII thrillers. If you're looking for more edge-of-your-seat action, check out our list of edge-of-your-seat thrillers that deserve a spot on your watchlist. And if you prefer modern spy games, our review of Jack Ryan: Ghost War breaks down Prime Video's latest espionage entry.
Fatherland is set for a Polish release on June 19, with MUBI handling North American distribution at a later date. Stay tuned for more updates as the film continues its festival run.
