In the early sixties the Israeli government searched out found and captured Adolph Eichmann (Ben Kingsley) in Argentina, Operation Finale is the story of the team that planned and executed the capture.
As John F. Kennedy was capturing the Democratic nomination for President of the United States a team from Israel lead by Peter Malkin (Oscar Isaac) received a time that the man responsible for killing many of the six million Jews who were destroyed during World War II was living in Argentina. Malkin is eager to set up a team and capture the hated Nazi. Malkin’s immediate previous trip to make a similar capture went bad when the wrong man was killed.
The government in Israel has become very cautious not to make a mistake again. But over Malkin and his supporters gather more evidence and create an intriguing plan to capture Eichmann and transport him back to Israel for trial. Eichmann played frighteningly by Ben Kingsley, is a worthy advisory, both before and after capture. Kingsley has the skill and look to play Eichmann and in the pass Gandhi.
Flashbacks fill the screen from time to time in the mind of Malkin who witnessed his mother murdered along with may others when he was a small child in Germany. His anxiety at times could have derailed the plot to bring Eichmann back to a public trial. But the two men draw from each other Malkin getting a confession and a signature from Eichmann and Malkin promising to allow Vera, Eichmann’s wife played by Greta Scacchi, to see him after capture.
The capture and confinement period is tense and filled with danger for both captive and those who guard him. Eichmann constantly taunts his captors preferring to die rather than being the center of a public trial in Israel.
The pressure and tension of the Nazi era in flashbacks and its seeds in South America after the war hold out attention but the added activity of capturing a leading figure in the German military from the dark era in Europe holds our interest and doesn’t let go.
Some will say this is an important film because we must not forget what happened during World War II, but beyond that the film it self in dramatic, powerful and gripping story performed and directed effectively.