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Nazi Housewife Hides Wartime Crimes in Queens
11 Sep
Summary
- A woman hiding wartime Nazi crimes lives in Queens, New York.
- A journalist uncovers her past, leading to a strained friendship.
- The film is criticized for being inert and shallow.
A new drama, "The Housewife," based on a chilling true story, has premiered at the Toronto film festival. The film centers on Hermine, an Austrian-born woman portrayed by Naomi Watts, living a picture of suburban perfection in 1960s Queens, New York, with her American husband. Her carefully constructed life is disrupted when a New York Times journalist, Joseph, receives a tip about a Nazi living in the city.
What begins as a potential domestic psycho-thriller, with Hermine developing a strained friendship with Joseph, quickly devolves into a plodding procedural and an overheated courtroom drama. Despite a compelling premise, the film is described as inert and psychologically shallow, with Watts struggling to convey the complexities of her character. Director Ben Shirinian's period immersion is noted, but the script by Alyssa Hill fails to elevate the story beyond typical Holocaust narratives.
The film explores themes of complicity and forgiveness but ultimately fails to offer a fresh perspective on the banality of evil. While the source material is spikier, "The Housewife" offers nothing new or noteworthy, leaving audiences with a drama that is surprisingly dull given its subject matter.
