The Odessa File Ending Explained: What Happened and Why?

What Happens at the End of The Odessa File?

Following the suicide of an elderly Jewish man, investigative journalist Peter Miller sets out to hunt down an SS Captain and former concentration camp commander. In doing so he discovers that, despite allegations of war crimes, the former commander has become a man of importance in industry in post-war Germany, protected from prosecution by a powerful organisation of former SS members called Odessa.

Ronald Neame's narrative builds toward a resolution centered on Jon Voight (Peter Miller)'s journey. In doing so he discovers that, despite allegations of war crimes, the former commander has become a man of importance in industry in post-war Germany, protected from prosecution by a powerful organisation of former SS members called Odessa.

How Does Jon Voight (Peter Miller)'s Story End?

• Jon Voight: Jon Voight's storyline wraps up in the final act, though some viewers have found the resolution more ambiguous than expected.
• Maximilian Schell (Eduard Roschmann): Maximilian Schell's role in the climax proves pivotal to how the central conflict resolves.
• Maria Schell (Frau Miller): Maria Schell's character undergoes a significant shift in the final act.

What Does the Ending of The Odessa File Mean?

The Odessa File's ending attempts to resolve the major plot threads, though some narrative elements involving Jon Voight may feel rushed. Ronald Neame's final act has been both praised for its ambition and criticized for its execution.