American Traitor: The Trial of Axis Sally
Fact-based WWII crime drama has sexual violence, language.
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American Traitor: The Trial of Axis Sally
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that American Traitor: The Trial of Axis Sally is a noir-ish drama based on the true story of U.S. radio personality Mildred Gillars (Meadow Williams). While living in Nazi Germany, Gillars is coerced into working for Joseph Goebbels, the Nazi minister of propaganda, and performing a radio show designed to manipulate and misinform U.S. troops. After the war, Gillars is tried for treason in the United States. Mature content includes two sexual assaults, including cries of distress and use of violent force; frequent use of the words "f--k," "d--k," "s--t," and "bitch"; gun use and scenes of injured soldiers, limping and bandaged; and occasional cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption by adults. While some characters are motivated by positive ideals such as justice and loyalty, most steal, cheat, and manipulate to get what they want. Al Pacino and Carsten Norgaard co-star.
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What's the Story?
In AMERICAN TRAITOR: THE TRIAL OF AXIS SALLY, seasoned and embittered lawyer James J. Laughlin (Al Pacino) takes a case that no one else will: that of Mildred Gillars (Meadow Williams). Gillars, who's known to the military as Axis Sally, is an American who was living in Germany when the Nazis took over. Convinced that performing on the radio would someday land her on Broadway, she jumped at the opportunity to work on Nazi Minister of Propaganda Joseph Goebbels' radio show, which was designed to manipulate and misinform U.S. troops. As Axis Sally, Gillars speaks to the troops in a breathy, seductive drawl and spews propaganda including, "What chance do you have? It's not too late to surrender" and "I say this because I care about you." At first glance, Gillars' behavior seems treasonous. But it's soon revealed that she was repeatedly assaulted by Goebbels, and was coerced into renouncing her American citizenship and swearing allegiance to the Third Reich. As her trial ensues, Gillars' true story comes to light through flashbacks, and the jury must decide her fate.
Is It Any Good?
This drama is a highly stylized, noir-ish production that's polished to the point of being stiff. Pacino provides some relief as the disheveled, curmudgeonly lawyer. His portrayal and physical performance are expressive, and he carries the movie's only emotional throughline. But Williams is stoic and cold. Her transformation from villain to victim is the arc of American Traitor: The Trial of Axis Sally's story, but that bears no reflection in her performance. Luckily, the story itself is compelling enough to hold viewers' interest.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the ways Gillars chooses to perform and the ways she is forced to perform. How do those two things impact the verdict?
How does American Traitor: The Trial of Axis Sally deal with the subject of justice? Which characters are seeking justice, and what do they want?
The movie is based on fact. How accurate do you think it is? Why might filmmakers change things in a film based on real events?
Movie Details
- In theaters: May 28, 2021
- On DVD or streaming: May 28, 2021
- Cast: Carsten Norgaard, Meadow Williams, Al Pacino
- Director: Michael Polish
- Studio: Vertical Entertainment
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: History
- Run time: 109 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: sexual assault
- Last updated: April 19, 2022
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