Bent (1997)

67% of critics liked it
(21 reviews)
77% of users liked it
(7,635 ratings)

Sean Mathias directed this screen adaptation of Martin Sherman's award-winning play about the persecution of homosexuals by Nazis during World War II. In Germany, the Nazi party's program of genocide against any and all perceived "enemies" is coming into full swing when the party begins a violent… More Sean Mathias directed this screen adaptation of Martin Sherman's award-winning play about the persecution of homosexuals by Nazis during World War II. In Germany, the Nazi party's program of genocide against any and all perceived "enemies" is coming into full swing when the party begins a violent purge of homosexuals in its membership. Max (Clive Owen), a bisexual playboy, is attending an orgy thrown by drag queen "Greta" (Mick Jagger) and featuring a number of party members when the festivities are raided by the police; Max and his lover Rudy (Brian Webber) escape, but they are later arrested and sentenced to a concentration camp. En route to the camp, Max betrays Rudy and arranges to be given a yellow identification star, marking him as a Jew, instead of a pink triangle, which would signify him as gay; while the Jews are destined to be executed, gay prisoners receive even more brutal treatment from the guards. While incarcerated, Max meets Horst (Lothaire Bluteau), an inmate who proudly wears the pink triangle. Max and Horst fall in love with each other, and Horst's bravery leads Max to accept his sexual identity. Bent was released in two versions; the original cut was rated NC-17 for a sequence featuring strong sexual content, while a trimmed version was granted an R. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: NC-17, 1 hr. 57 min.
Directed By: Sean Mathias
Written By: Martin Sherman
Genres: Drama, Romance

In Theaters: Nov 26, 1997 Wide
On DVD: Sep 6, 2010
Studio: MGM Pictures

Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy, Variety
The screen version of Sherman's play about homosexuals in Nazi Germany shows that tyro director Mathias doesn't know much about film for his erratic approach and inconsistent style bring out the play's weaknesses, though the acting is good.
Brandon Judell, PopcornQ
brave, brilliantly effective movie which has the added bonus of a crinkled Mick Jagger singing in drag while swinging from a ceiling.
Luke Y. Thompson, New Times
Tired of gay rights movies and Holocaust flicks? This is both, but it still enthralls.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Stylized yet substantive drama about the plight of homosexuals in the Holocaust.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Cynthia S

Certainly well-intentioned, and definitely with some moving moments, but unfortunately this film (based on the stage play) is extremely stagey and rather tedious. Some really great acting, and a decent attempt to show the gays were among those gravely damaged by the Nazis makes it… More
Certainly well-intentioned, and definitely with some moving moments, but unfortunately this film (based on the stage play) is extremely stagey and rather tedious. Some really great acting, and a decent attempt to show the gays were among those gravely damaged by the Nazis makes it memorable, however.
Thomas J

I am sorry to be so negative about a concentration camp movie featuring gays. I really do not know what could have made the story seem relevant. It seemed to just be a movie that says lets do something about the Holocaust and add gays to it and we are sure to get an Oscar. Just too… More
I am sorry to be so negative about a concentration camp movie featuring gays. I really do not know what could have made the story seem relevant. It seemed to just be a movie that says lets do something about the Holocaust and add gays to it and we are sure to get an Oscar. Just too over done, over acted and overrated.
_kelly .

Hot Gay Sex List Commentary:<br/>This is a rarity for this list, as there is only a smudgeon of explicit sex in it (at the very beginning), but it simultaneously contains the most erotic scene ever filmed in which two Holocaust prisoners talk each other through a sexual… More
Hot Gay Sex List Commentary:<br/>This is a rarity for this list, as there is only a smudgeon of explicit sex in it (at the very beginning), but it simultaneously contains the most erotic scene ever filmed in which two Holocaust prisoners talk each other through a sexual encounter, whilst standing ten feet apart, not looking at each other, and whispering under the ever watchful eye of Nazi guards. On top of that, I think it's the best Holocaust film; I prefer it to Schindler's List.<br/><br/>"So Fucked Up" highlight: the really cute twinky boy is brutally beaten by Nazis on the train to death camp whilst his boyfriend watches, forced to deny knowing him in order to survive
Robert C

If you decide to watch this, keep in mind it is based on a play. So much of the set design feels very theatrical, running from avant-garde/eclectic in the begining to sparse/simple towards the end. Which in my opinion only lends to the feel of the story, but which others might be… More
If you decide to watch this, keep in mind it is based on a play. So much of the set design feels very theatrical, running from avant-garde/eclectic in the begining to sparse/simple towards the end. Which in my opinion only lends to the feel of the story, but which others might be put-off by. This film touches on the many aspects of the greatly overlooked murder of some 15,000 homosexuals by the Nazis when they declared homosexuality an "aberration that threatened the German race". (Sound familiar?) Though this has been a known and documented fact, it took 60+ years, several plays, books, films and the election of a gay Mayor in Berlin to get ONE memorial built in Germany (dedicated just last month) to honor the memory of this group of individuals who were also terrorized and slaughtered (albeit to a lesser extent) by the Nazis. The film is very moving and powerfully acted. The cast consists mainly of British actors (mostly in minor roles) who have since became much bigger names then they were when this film was made. It also touches on the fact that homosexuality has always been found in ALL classes of society, but it was the poor, naive and unashamed who were mostly slaughtered. The wealthy used their money and power to avoid persecution. A sad and not "untimely" commentary on society in general.
Audrey L

An extraordinary film about nazi Germany and one group of persecuted people-homosexuals-a rarely explored piece of the nazi horror. They had to wear pink triangles that identified them as homosexuals as clearly as the stars worn by the Jewish people. I caught this on TV today and… More
An extraordinary film about nazi Germany and one group of persecuted people-homosexuals-a rarely explored piece of the nazi horror. They had to wear pink triangles that identified them as homosexuals as clearly as the stars worn by the Jewish people. I caught this on TV today and was blown away by the content,the haunting score,the acting and the amazing dialogue. The movie transcends the labels of Jew,homosexual etc and is about human endurance,survival and connection.