This Intense Neo-Noir Thriller Starring Diane Kruger More Than Likely Slipped Past Your Radar — Let’s Fix That

Diane Kruger is one of those actors you just can’t help but admire for their skill and range. From roles as high-profile as Helen of Troy to more underrated parts in everything from historical dramas to psychological thrillers, Kruger’s accomplished film repertoire reflects a performer deeply dedicated to her craft, but that doesn’t mean the odd project doesn’t slip through the cracks. Despite being well-known for fighting Nazis in Quentin Tarantino‘s Inglourious Basterds, Kruger combats a much more contemporary strain of evil in a project most moviegoers have probably overlooked. Directed by international filmmaker Faith Akin, In the Fade is a 2017 crime thriller that combines elements of neo-noir with a devastating portrait of loss to produce one of the most bitterly relevant revenge stories in recent memory.

What Is ‘In the Fade’ About?

The winner of the Golden Globe for best foreign film and well-received by both critics and audience members alike on Rotten Tomatoes, In the Fade‘s narrative power was unfortunately overshadowed by the countless other notable films released in 2018, a year which included The Shape of Water, Get Out, Lady Bird, and the musical craze that was The Greatest Showman. Nevertheless, the film, which is now available to watch on Max, remains a gripping portrayal of grief and is a must-see for fans clamoring to see Kruger sink her teeth into a leading role. The National Treasure actor plays Katja Şekerci in Akin’s film, a devoted wife and mother whose world is turned upside down when her husband and six-year-old son are killed in a bombing targeting a Turkish neighborhood in Hamburg, Germany.

At first frustrated with official efforts to trace the cause of the bombing back to her husband’s brief stint in prison, Katja is soon vindicated and horrified to learn that a pair of Neo-Nazis have instead been linked to the crime. What follows is a classic tale of systemic failure and personal frustration, with Katja ultimately forced to take matters into her own hands when a lawyer for the accused takes full advantage of a judicial technicality. In this regard, In the Fade is unique among neo-noirs in that the film dwells less on suspense or mystery than most recent entries in the genre, instead spending roughly a third of its runtime transforming into a short-lived court drama that highlights the chilling nature of what is soon proven to clearly be a senseless crime of radical hate.

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Diane Kruger Haunts ‘In the Fade’s Bitter Tale of Revenge and Right-Wing Radicalization

Similarly, In the Fade also distinguishes itself from some of the most iconic thrillers by exchanging the genre’s usual mix of intrigue and action for a psychological portrait of Katja’s personal unraveling, tracking the woman left behind by the loss of her family as she slowly succumbs to the bitter depths of mourning. The power of Kruger’s performance in bringing this unraveling to life can’t be overstated, effortlessly embodying both the gut-wrenching sadness and mounting fury of a woman scorned in devastating contrast to Kruger’s less prominent parts in other thrillers throughout her career, such as Unknown and The Infiltrator. Her character’s descent subsequently lends In the Fade the dark, unflinching visuals that further connect Akin’s film to the modern legacy of neo-noir, but Kruger’s restrained delivery in the film’s violent climax is what really sets it apart, leaving you with the kind of existential dread that only a masterfully told story can accomplish.

The intense feelings that In the Fade inspires in its audience complement the film’s stellar lead performance, dynamic structure, and unique approach to balancing the most versatile elements of its genres to create the perfect film for Kruger’s fans or more ardent cinema buffs. Like all great art, however, In the Fade is also an important viewing experience because of its timely subject matter. In keeping with its director’s well-documented artistic interest in a clash of cultures, much of In the Fade concerns itself with how systemic prejudice can ultimately fail victims of right-wing injustice, drawing further attention to how public complacency aids in the resurgence of radicals as disturbed as Neo-Nazis. The film’s closing credits make no secret of its inspirations, cementing its subject matter as a real-world problem that makes In the Fade essential viewing for anyone attempting to understand the pain at stake in modern politics.