Triumph of the Spirit (1989)

50% of critics liked it
(6 reviews)
52% of users liked it
(1,162 ratings)

Triumph of the Spirit is the true story of Salamo Arouch, a Greek-Jewish boxer imprisoned in Auschwitz during World War II. Arrested while attempting to help his family and friends escape the Nazi juggernaut, Arouch (Dafoe) is slated for extermination. He manages to survive--and to serve as an… More Triumph of the Spirit is the true story of Salamo Arouch, a Greek-Jewish boxer imprisoned in Auschwitz during World War II. Arrested while attempting to help his family and friends escape the Nazi juggernaut, Arouch (Dafoe) is slated for extermination. He manages to survive--and to serve as an inspiration for his fellow inmates--by literally boxing for his life. He does this at the orders of his SS captors, who gamble on the outcome of Arouch's bouts. With each victory, Arouch is rewarded with extra bread rations, which he passes on to his family. Counterpointing the main story is the seemingly foredoomed romantic relationship between Arouch and female inmate Allegra (Wendy Gazelle). An uplifting coda rounds out this grim factual account. Triumph of the Spirit was filmed on location at Auschwitz--the first film of its kind to be lensed in that infamous locale. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 55 min.
Directed By: Robert M. Young, Costas Mandylor
Written By: Shimon Arama, Zion Haen
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Jan 1, 2000 Wide
On DVD: Apr 16, 2002
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Gil Jawetz, DVDTalk.com
Triumph of the Spirit is more likely to make a viewer understand without really getting under the skin.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Cynthia S

A poorly written and executed film, based on a heartbreaking, harrowing tale, is still a poorly written and executed film. The boxing scenes are actually this bomb's saving grace. Aside from that, "Triumph" is a term that's about as far from proplerly describing… More
A poorly written and executed film, based on a heartbreaking, harrowing tale, is still a poorly written and executed film. The boxing scenes are actually this bomb's saving grace. Aside from that, "Triumph" is a term that's about as far from proplerly describing this as possible. Considering the powerful nature of the story, that seems hard to believe, but, behold! Here's the first film of which I am aware that does a total disservice to the plight of Jewish people during the Holocaust. Bad production values, and trite portrayals of both Germans and Jews make this move uninteresting.
Randy T

A good screenplay that seems bogged down by bad casting. Dafoe is exceptional but most of the rest seem oddly out of place. This should have been and could have been so much better.

Cast

            Willem Dafoe as Salamo Arouch

            Edward James Olmos as Gypsy

            Robert Loggia as Father Arouch

            Wendy Gazelle as Allegra

            Kelly Wolf as Elena

            Costas Mandylor as Avram Arouch

            Kario Salem as Jacko Levy

            Edward Zentara as Janush

            Hartmut Becker as Maj. Rauscher

            Jerzy Gralek as Kapo Kyr

            Burkhard Heyl as Aide to Rauscher

            Avi Keidar as Greek Prisoner

            Juranda Krol as Sarah

            Grazyna Kruk-Schejbal as Julie

            Jack Messinger as Greek Prisoner

            Sofia Saretok as Momma

            Danny Segev as Greek Prisoner

            Tuvia Tavi as Greek Prisoner

            Karolina Twardowska as Benuta

            Teddy Atlas as Silber

            Arthur Coburn as Rabbi

            Lew Rywin as Announcer

            Jan Bogdol
            
            Dorota Bialy-Wieczorek as SS Woman

            Anna Chitro as Naomi

            Halina Chrobak as Clog Thief

            Marek Frackowiak
            
            Yossi Graber
            
            Michal Juszczakiewicz as Sonderkammando

            Ewa Lesniak as Kapo Hilda

            Andrzej Leszczynski as Referee

            Wiktor Mlynarczyk as Beppo

            Hanna Pater as Prisoner Nurse

            Maria Probosz as Rauscher's Girl Friend

            Sebastian Spandel as Lud

            Ireneusz Tomczak as Fratelli

            Andrzej Wojaczek as Kapo Otto

            Stefania Zubrowna as Dying Woman
See full cast