A thought-provoking and intelligent film dealing with brooding and interesting deeds. The picture blends courtroom thriller, political post-boiler and domestic melodrama. It revolves around an advocate at law, Jessica Lange, defending her father , a too quiet Armin Mueller Stahl, of being a Hungarian war criminal, accused to commit grisly massacres in Hungary. The allegedly good father is a retired Hungarian blue-collar living in Chicago these last 37 years and is today framed of being head of a Hungary Special Section, a death squadron under Nazi supervision . If she loses, her daddy faces deportation charges, and then juzged at Hungary by a strict and expeditive criminal court . As the case progresses, she must struggle to remain objective, but things go wrong.

Very fine drama with emotion, suspense, intrigue and a curiously impactanting finale. This thoughtful film provides a series of portrayals of some ethnic roles who result to be highly convincing. Awesome interpretation from Jessica Lange as the obstinate solicitor who comes to terms with the possibility his dad is culprit and adequate acting by Armin Mueller Stahl as the accused father who faces extradition counts . Most of the other interpretations are fine, as Donald Moffat, Frederic Forest as the prosecutor attorney, Cheryl Bruce, Michael Rooker as lawyer's boyfriend and a little boy, Lukas Hass, in spite his age he gives one of the best performances.

It contains an evocative and sensitive musical score by Philippe Sarde, including Hungarian and ethnic sounds. As well as atmospheric and appropriate cinematography by Patrick Blossier, being shot on location in Chicago and Budapest, Hungary . The motion picture was compellingly directed by Constantin Costa Gavras. He is a veteran filmmaker with a long career, nowadays, he's directing still, including several provoking, political and engaging movies, such as : Z, State of siege, The confession, The sleeping car murders, Missing, Hanna K, Conseil de Familie, Betrayed, Mad city, Amen, The axe, among others. Rating 8/10. Above average. Essential and indispensable seeing. Well worth watching.

The oscar-nominated performance from Jessica Lange is not the only outstanding element of this important social drama that deals with war crimes from a time other than World War II. Attorney Lange has the most difficult case of her career, defending her own father (Armin Mueller-Stahl) about something that she is sure he is innocent of. He has been accused of being guilty out some of the most inhumane treatment of humanity, and even though it looks like the evidence is stacked up against him, she proceeds with a very strong case, and as evidence against him and in his favor is revealed, the viewer will be unsure of what the final revelation will be. One thing is certain however, if he is indeed innocent of these crimes, the person who perpetuate adem is one of the most evil beings of the 20th Century, as the evidence of what occurred to the victims who testify as well as others unable to that what is revealed is indeed the truth no matter who was responsible.

Just kept me going and guessing for the second time, and having seen this 30 years ago, I had forgotten the outcome. That is the great thing about revisiting films like this is that a second viewing can be a rediscovery as well as the emergence of a forgotten memory. At first, Lange seems to has an easy assignment because all she is doing is cross-examining witnesses and objecting, but eventually, the case begins to impact her very much and that's where her brilliance comes out. Donald Moffat, Frederic Forrest and Lukas Haas (as her son who is very close to his grandfather) all deliver excellent performances, and the supporting players may have the viewer in tears at times. Tales of wartime torture and rape and downright evil are horrifying to listen to, and at one point, a woman is heard sobbing in the courtroom.

Excellent location filming goes from Chicago to Budapest, the stunning ancient locations there exquisite to look at. That's where everything begins to come together and where this Rises to near excellence. Director Costas Gavras adds another modern classic to his credits. Armin Mueller-Stahl has a very difficult assignment. If he is innocent, he must have sympathy throughout. If he is guilty, the viewer must have been feel guilty for having sympathy before all is revealed. Lange once again reveals why she was one of the top stars of the 1980's, underplaying most of her role, being commanding and a shirt of herself in court and never doubting what she is there to do. Other stars would have chewed the scenery where she basically comes off very realistic as an attorney fighting to defend her client and learn the truth regardless of his relationship to her.

A lawyer (Jessica Lange) defends her father (Armin Mueller-Stahl) accused of war crimes, but there is more to the case than she suspects.

Roger Ebert gave the film a lukewarm two star review. Among his complaints were that the film was "not about guilt or innocence; it is a courtroom thriller, with all of the usual automatic devices like last-minute evidence and surprise witnesses" and that "Nazism is used only as a plot device, as a convenient way to make a man into a monster without having to spend much time convincing us of it." He is right, but I do not think this takes away from the film. Maybe not as hard-hitting as other political thrillers, it is still a strong drama.

For me, it was great to see Michael Rooker. His role is very small, unfortunately, but it may be one of the most "normal" roles he has ever had to play. He is not a killer or an alien or anything weird, just a member of the family.