University professor of Holocaust studies Deborah E. Lipstadt (Rachel Weisz)includes World War II historian David Irving (Timothy Spall) in a book about Holocaust deniers. At a speaking engagement Lipstadt is disrupted by David Irving, a Nazi Germany scholar. Back in England a very irate Irving accuses her of libel and starts a legal battle for historical truth.
With the burden of proof placed on the accused, Lipstadt and her legal team led by solicitor Anthony Julius (Andrew Scott) and barrister Richard Rampton (Tom Wilkinson)must prove that Irving had lied about the Holocaust.to prove the essential truth that the Holocaust occurred.
Lipstadt and Rampton tour the Auschwitz death camp in Poland with a local scholar, while the research team subpoenas Irving's extensive personal diaries.
Irving conducts his own legal representation, facing Lipstadt's legal team. Irving endeavours to twist the presented evidence for the defence. Lipstadt is approached by a Holocaust survivor who pleads for the chance to testify, but Lipstadt's legal team insists on focusing the trial on Irving.
In court, he subjects Irving to skilful cross-examination and exposes his claims as absurd, while expert testimony exposes the distortions in Irving's writings.
As the trial concludes, the judge, Sir Charles Gray, (Alex Jennings)worries the defence by suggesting that if Irving honestly believes his own claims, then he cannot be lying as Lipstadt asserted. Gray rules for the defence, convinced of the truth of Lipstadt's portrayal of Irving as deceitful. Lipstadt is hailed for her dignified demeanour, while her legal team reminds her that despite her silence during the trial, it was her writing that countered Irving's lies and provided the basis for the victory. At a press conference, Lipstadt praises her lawyers for their strategy.
Based on the book "History on Trial: My Day in Court with a Holocaust Denier."
starring:-
- Rachel Weisz as Deborah Lipstadt
- Tom Wilkinson as Richard Rampton
- Timothy Spall as David Irving
- Andrew Scott as Anthony Julius
- Jack Lowden as James Libson
- Caren Pistorius as Laura Tyler
- Alex Jennings as Sir Charles Gray
- Mark Gatiss as Robert Jan van Pelt
- Andrea Deck as Leonie
- Sally Messham as Meg
- Sean Power as Mitch
- John Sessions as Professor Richard Evans
- Nikki Amuka-Bird as Lilly Holbrook
- Harriet Walter as Vera Reich