ReelBob: ‘I’ll Find You’ ★★½

By Bob Bloom

“I’ll Find You” is a love story set against the backdrop of World War II and the Holocaust.

It is similar to other stories using the war and murder of Jews but compensates for what it lacks in originality with a sincerity that is infectious.

The movie, which opens in Poland in early 1939, chronicles the romance of Rachel Rubin (Adelaide Clemens), a violin virtuoso who is Jewish, and Robert (Leo Suter), an aspiring opera singer who is Catholic.

The day Rachel and her family are to leave Poland for Switzerland, Germany attacks, initiating WWII. The Rubin family hide in a secret attic room in the conservatory where Rachel studied.

The Rubins are betrayed and sent to Auschwitz, while Robert, who initially is fighting with the Polish underground, finds a way to enter Germany and connect with Benno Moser (Stellan Skarsgard), his mentor.

Moser, who secretly opposes Hitler, helps Robert find Rachel, but is unable to get her out of the concentration camp.

The last act of the movie takes place after the war. In its final days, Rachel had been transferred to Bergen-Belsen, and Robert traces her steps throughout Europe — from the camp to Amsterdam and, finally, to New York.

And, yes, this is a romantic drama, so the lovers are reunited. No surprise there.

One aspect of “I’ll Find You” that I found disconcerting was its sanitizing of the Holocaust. I realize the extermination of Europe’s Jews was not the centerpiece of the movie, but it seems disingenuous to gloss over that horror so casually.

The crux of “I’ll Find You is the power of love and commitment. At first, of course, Rachel considers their religious differences an impediment. But after the war, when both have lost people they love, they realize that their love will allow them to move forward.

The movie is anchored by the unaffected performances of Clemens and Suter. Their chemistry boosts the believability of their devotion.

The cast also includes Connie Nielsen as Lena, head of the conservatory, who helps the lovers, and Stephen Dorff as a sympathetic German general.

Skarsgard is entertaining as the German opera singer who uses his fame to help Robert find Rachel.“

I’ll Find You” is a straightforward feature that does not offer any surprises. The direction by Martha Coolidge is solid and nicely paced. The movie has an appealing old-fashioned vibe.

It is a sweet and engaging diversion.

I am a founding member of the Indiana Film Journalists Association. I review movies, 4K UHD, Blu-rays and DVDs for ReelBob (ReelBob.com), The Film Yap and other print and online publications. I can be reached by email at bobbloomjc@gmail.com. You also can follow me on Twitter @ReelBobBloom and on Facebook at ReelBob.com or the Indiana Film Journalists Association. My movie reviews also can be found at Rotten Tomatoes: www.rottentomatoes.com.

I’LL FIND YOU
2½ stars out of 4
Not rated, violence, partial nudity, language