The film is based on Jack El-Hai’s book, The Nazi and the Psychiatrist, which tells the story of the relationship between Dr Douglas Kelley, an American army psychiatrist (played by Rami Malek), and Hermann Göring (Russell Crowe), the second most powerful figure in Nazi Germany.

The subject of the book remains crucial today, as the Nuremberg trials were an unprecedented event and continue to serve as a reference point for all modern war crimes tribunals.

Importantly, the film does not attempt to cover the entirety of the Nuremberg proceedings. Instead, as in the book, it focuses solely on the psychological interaction between Kelley and Göring.

This narrower perspective gives the story a sharp psychological dimension and enriches the viewing experience, especially knowing that most of what we see is grounded in documented reality. While certain scenes are dramatised, the overall picture remains faithful to historical truth.

Vanderbilt shapes Nuremberg into a political-historical thriller that effectively conveys the emotional atmosphere of the post-war period. He balances documentary authenticity with dramatic tension, keeping the viewer engrossed. Rather than offering simple answers to complex questions, the director poses moral challenges about the nature of evil and gives space for the viewer to have their own reflections.

Another element that sustains the film’s intensity is the outstanding performance of the leading actors. Russell Crowe is impressive as Göring – charismatic, dangerously intelligent, relentlessly manipulative, capturing attention whenever he appears.

Rami Malek offers an equally strong performance as Kelley, conveying a man torn between professional obligation and moral discomfort. Additionally, Leo Woodall is very compelling as Sergeant Howie Triest, showing the emotional strain carried by those working behind the scenes of the tribunal in Nuremberg.

Kelley is trying to find a somatic or psychological explanation for the violent acts committed by the Nazis. He is split between supporting the Nazi prisoners and preventing their suicides, and forming a hypothesis regarding the essence of evil. This hypothesis is a driving factor in his behaviour throughout the film. His actions in obtaining information, developing a profile of Nazi leaders, and searching for the common denominator among them is a central theme.

Nuremberg’s artistic representation features a dark and muted palette ranging from grey to green to black to brown, representing the seriousness of the events portrayed in the movie. The pacing is deliberately slow and often very dramatic, with lengthy conversation sequences occupying about one-third of the total time.

Overall, we highly recommend seeing Nuremberg, as it addresses topics that are still relevant. The questions raised by the film, especially those revealed in the final scenes, are very important and timely.