Based on the autobiographical account of Salomon Perel, Europa, Europa tells the story of a young Polish Jew who is captured by the Germans. He is taken into Hitler’s army, where he must pretend to be a loyal Nazi in order to stay alive. Directed with sensitivity and humor, the film is by turns emotional, dramatic, and very funny. Though widely praised, Europa, Europa became the subject of controversy when the German committee failed to nominate it for the Oscar for best foreign film.