The low-budget Holocaust drama Aryan Papers, written and directed by Danny Patrick, has been heavily criticised for its poor quality. Set in 1942 Stuttgart, the film follows a woman at a Nazi breeding facility who attempts to smuggle two Jewish children to safety. However, reviewers have noted glaring anachronisms, such as modern wheelie bins visible in several shots, and described the script as inept and the acting as insultingly bad.
The film should not be confused with Stanley Kubrick's unrealised project of the same name, based on Louis Begley's novel Wartime Lies. Kubrick abandoned his version partly due to concerns about competition with Schindler's List. Director Luca Guadagnino is now rumoured to be reviving the project. Patrick's film, by contrast, has been dismissed as a shockingly poor effort that will likely be forgotten quickly.
The plot centres on Gisella (Celia Learmonth), a Spanish-born woman at a Lebensborn facility, who tries to help Benjamin (Jacob Ogle) and Judith (Niamh Ogle) escape. Her plans are thwarted by Helga (Leona Clarke and Cara Chase), a cruel Nazi collaborator. Critics have noted the film's fractured editing and monotone performances, suggesting the cast may have been recruited via a newsagent's advert and paid minimally.
While the film's sincerity is acknowledged, reviewers argue that its poor execution is an insult to Holocaust victims. The production's budget constraints might be forgivable, but the lack of rehearsal and historical accuracy have been widely condemned.
