The Damned

Set in the period just as the Nazi rise to power accelerates after the Reichstag fire. The film tracks how political upheaval infiltrates a wealthy family, forcing them to choose sides and adapt to a rapidly changing landscape. The backdrop of 1933 Germany frames a descent from aristocratic privilege to ruthless, regime-aligned ambition.

The action unfolds in Germany during the early 1930s, centering on the Essenbeck family and their industrial empire. The Essenbeck family castle and their steelworks serve as a hub of wealth and influence, reflecting the period’s aristocratic prestige and economic power. Key events move from the family estate to the Bad Wiessee hotel, where factions clash, and to Dachau, revealing the brutal consequences of the rising Nazi regime.

🔥 Power Struggle

Power is the central currency for the Essenbeck clan, with wealth and control of the steelworks shaping loyalties and decisions. Ambition drives schemes to place trusted allies in charge, while old restraints crumble under greed. The Nazi ascent intensifies these dynamics, framing ruthless moves as necessary to survive. The result is a cascade of betrayals that spirals toward ruin and demographic collapse of the family empire.

👪 Family Betrayal

A multi-generational dynasty is torn apart by manipulation, secrets, and shifting alliances. Sophie uses Martin and Friedrich to secure power, while Elisabeth’s position pulls in conflicting directions. Abuses and scandals are weaponized to influence outcomes, exposing how private sins fuel public catastrophe. The culmination is a dinner-table reckoning that exposes the familial cracks at the heart of power.

⚔️ Political Violence

The regime’s internal warfare—SA vs. SS—mirrors the family’s own power plays, showing how factional loyalty justifies murderous acts. The purge at dawn, where SA members are slaughtered by SS troops, epitomizes how political calculations override humanity. Konstantin’s execution and the subsequent cyanide-fueled rise of new leadership demonstrate how violence rewrites destinies. The ending leaves the Essenbeck empire hollowed out and subservient to the Nazi machine.