In this exclusive interview, director Matt Whitaker and actor Rupert Evans explore the emotional and political resonance of Truth and Treason, the new historical drama based on the extraordinary true story of Helmut Hübener, one of the youngest resistance fighters to oppose Nazi Germany. The conversation delves into why Hübener’s legacy continues to matter today and how his courage under an authoritarian regime shaped the film’s direction.
Director Matt Whitaker reflects on the moment his career changed course: meeting Karl-Heinz Schnabel, the last surviving member of Hübener’s resistance group. That encounter led to a PBS documentary and, more than two decades later, this feature film. Whitaker explains why the film ends with words from Alexei Navalny, drawing a line between past and present struggles for truth, and highlighting what modern resistance movements share with Helmut’s fight.
Actor Rupert Evans discusses immersing himself in the moral complexity of portraying a Gestapo officer who views his actions as merely “doing his job.” He describes what drew him to the story, how the script challenged his understanding of complicity, and the emotional weight of embodying a character deeply entangled in an authoritarian system.
