‘The Tasters’ (2025)

Set against the backdrop of World War II, Rosa Sauer (Elisa Schlott) flees Berlin during autumn 1942. Seeking refuge with her in-laws in the small village of Gross-Partsch, Rosa makes do as she hopes for the best and awaits the return of her husband, currently serving at the front.

Scraping by, Rosa and her family live starved and in constant fear. Unable to anticipate news from the front, the villagers are also tormented by the presence of Nazi forces. Approached by officers one day, Rosa and a group of six other women are loaded onto a truck and driven to an undisclosed area. Arriving at the Wolf's Lair, the women undergo medical examinations. Deemed fit and healthy, they are then served lunch. Wary, the women are then told that they will have to taste meals before they are served to the Führer, to make sure the food is not poisoned.

Presented as insights over the years leading up to the end of WWII, the women’s relationships evolve from distant and untrusting to forming secret pacts and loyalties. Experiencing her own ups and downs, Rosa suffers news of her husband’s disappearance at the front, after which she chooses to start a secret relationship with one of the Nazi officers Albert Ziegler (Max Riemelt). New discoveries, betrayals and heartbreak culminate in a desperate attempt by Rosa to flee westward to an unknown destiny.

One of the most dramatised times of history, WWII may not at first scream new sensation when brought back around again for a cinematic experience. ‘The Tasters’ finds its own niche and focuses largely on a distinct group of people and how their time together under duress alters their perception, tests their personal views and allows for friendships to form.

By viewing the situation through the lens of Rosa, the film explores the hardship a young German woman had to experience during wartime in Germany. Suffering loneliness and living in fear of never seeing her husband again, the young woman is further tested when she is forced to eat meals cooked for Adolf Hitler. Brave but cautious, she meets Elfriede (Alma Hasun) amongst the group, who is most distant and wary of Rosa, as Rosa has just arrived from Berlin. Over time the two women find common ground and confide in each other, sharing their fears and finding a safe space with each other.

News arrives, informing Rosa that her husband is missing at the front. Destroyed and in disbelief, Rosa stoops into darkness and risks her life when forced to test the food, which she initially refuses. Showcasing the Nazi brutality, the woman is compelled to eat by threat of death as the women sit around the lunch table, with guns pointed at Rosa’s head.

As more time passes, Rosa notices a light being shone through her window at night. Seeing the newly assigned Ziegler scouting the premises at night, Rosa eventually goes out to meet him. Beginning a romantic relationship, Rosa’s conscience is tested when she eventually finds out that Ziegler was reassigned to the Wolf's Lair as he could no longer stand the pressure of executing Jewish civilians. Deciding to end things, Rosa soldiers on, unable to share her secret with anyone.

With the later part of the film focusing on the end of the war, Rosa seeks a way out from the village. Having recently also learned that Elfriede is actually a Jewish woman hiding in plain sight, the two plan to escape the village together. Having asked Ziegler for help, he gets Rosa a pass as a volunteer on one of the last trains to Berlin. Trying to both sneak on, Rosa and Elfriede are caught by Ziegler, with him shooting Elfriede and forcing Rosa onto the leaving train.

A cascading downward journey, ‘The Tasters’ regales us with an insightful view of life for those trying to get by during the war, with their lives caught in the ever-changing turmoil that was World War II. Constantly treading water, Schlott’s portrayal of Rosa demands empathy as the young woman does her best in an awful situation. With distinctive features and able to make her own choices however, Rosa is presented as a multi-faceted individual. Even though some of her decisions are made out of desperation, they can be understood and empathised with.

Introducing a fairly large ensemble cast could have worked to the detriment of the film, however each ‘taster’ is given enough time to form into a distinct and fully her own character. It is fairly clear where each individual falls in terms of their views on the current political climate, their loyalties and their tolerance for the current regime.

A unique look at the war and wholly its own experience, ‘The Tasters’ offers something new and explores what may already feel overly familiar in a singular way, leaning towards the personal relationships the women share with a unique insight into the lives and troubles each one of them faces.

Score: 3/4