13 Minutes (2015 film)

13 Minutes (German: Elser – Er hätte die Welt verändert) is a 2015 German biographical thriller film directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel. The film tells the story of Georg Elser, a German carpenter who attempted to assassinate Adolf Hitler in 1939.

The film portrays Elser as an ordinary man driven to take extraordinary action by his growing disillusionment with the Nazi regime. It details his meticulous planning and execution of the assassination attempt at the Bürgerbräukeller in Munich, where Hitler was scheduled to address a gathering of Nazi party members. The bomb detonated, but Hitler had left the building 13 minutes earlier than expected, thus foiling Elser's plan.

Following the explosion, Elser was arrested near the Swiss border and interrogated extensively by the Gestapo. The film depicts his captivity and the torture he endured as the Nazis sought to understand his motives and uncover any potential accomplices. The film interweaves flashbacks to Elser's life before the assassination attempt, showing his love for a married woman, his political awakening, and his growing conviction that Hitler was leading Germany down a disastrous path.

The film stars Christian Friedel as Georg Elser and features Katharina Schüttler, Burghart Klaußner, and Johann von Bülow in supporting roles. It received generally positive reviews for its historical accuracy, compelling narrative, and Friedel's performance. 13 Minutes explores themes of resistance, individual responsibility, and the consequences of inaction in the face of tyranny. The film provides a nuanced portrait of Elser as a complex and flawed individual who was ultimately motivated by a desire to prevent war and suffering.