Skip to content
What's After the Movie?
Fantasy thriller

The Devil’s Arithmetic (1999): Cast & Plot

The Devil’s Arithmetic (1999) movie poster

The Devil’s Arithmetic is a 1999 fantasy thriller directed by Donna Deitch, starring Kirsten Dunst as Hannah Stern, Mimi Rogers and Stewart Bick. It runs 1 hour 35 minutes.

Loading streaming availability…
The Devil’s Arithmetic (1999) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 35m (95 min)
Director
Donna Deitch
Genres
Fantasy , Thriller , Drama
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Devil’s Arithmetic About?

The premise of The Devil’s Arithmetic without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Hannah Stern, an American‑born Jewish teen uninterested in her culture, is whisked back to a 1941 Nazi death camp by a supernatural vision. There she befriends Rivkah, a fellow prisoner. Together they endure the camp’s daily brutality, forming an unbreakable bond that forces Hannah to confront her heritage.

The Devil’s Arithmetic Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • passover
  • jewish
  • nazi
  • 1940s
  • teenage girl
  • wizard of oz
  • jewish family
  • holocaust
  • f rated
  • reference to the wizard of oz
  • storytelling
  • female friendship
+38 more
  • pregnancy
  • newlywed
  • tattooing
  • tattoo on arm
  • cutting hair
  • mother daughter relationship
  • father daughter relationship
  • dinner table
  • roundup
  • troop truck
  • wedding dress
  • husband wife relationship
  • title directed by female
  • nazi officer
  • nazi soldier
  • tattoo parlor
  • nazi occupied poland
  • german occupation
  • rabbi
  • nazi occupation
  • posing for a photograph
  • teenager
  • three word title
  • child protagonist
  • female protagonist
  • wedding
  • portal
  • starvation
  • family gathering
  • slow motion scene
  • crime against humanity
  • poland
  • anti semitism
  • coming of age
  • teen angst
  • time travel
  • gas chamber
  • death camp
Loading streaming availability…
Cast & crew

The Devil’s Arithmetic Cast & Characters

Kirsten Dunst leads the cast as Hannah Stern, with Mimi Rogers as Leonore Stern and Stewart Bick as Burton Stern. Directed by Donna Deitch; 50 actors are credited in all.

Plot

The Devil’s Arithmetic Plot Summary

What happens in The Devil’s Arithmetic from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

A teenage girl confronts history by stepping through time, only to find her sense of belonging at stake. Hannah Stern, Kirsten Dunst, sits in a tattoo parlor with friends, wrestling with what ink might mirror her inner world. The clock ticks toward a Passover dinner, and she dreads the same stories that feel rehearsed year after year. Her aunt keeps teasing that Hannah bears a striking resemblance to their family namesake, Chana, yet she never reveals who Chana really was or what she did. In a moment that blurs fantasy and waking life, Hannah reaches for the door to invite in Elijah, but instead the door reveals a Polish village—and the year 1941.

Full summary

The whole story of The Devil’s Arithmetic, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Videos

The Devil’s Arithmetic Trailers & Videos

The trailer of The Devil’s Arithmetic.

The Devil's Arithmetic Trailer
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Devil’s Arithmetic?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Which actress portrays Hannah Stern in the film?

Details

The Devil’s Arithmetic Also Known As

16 alternative titles, including “La aritmética del diablo” and “Matemática do Diabo”.

Also known as
  • La aritmética del diablo
  • Matemática do Diabo
  • Vivencias de la guerra
  • Deutschland 1941 - Des Teufels Rechnung
  • L'aritmetica del diavolo
  • Arytmetyka diabła
  • Des Teufels Rechnung
  • חשבון השטן
  • Az ördög számtana
  • Ďáblova čísla
  • Арифметика диявола
  • 악마의 계산
+4 more
  • 穿梭集中营
  • Дьявольская арифметика
  • Pahuuden todistaja
  • Diablove čísla

Seen The Devil’s Arithmetic?

FAQ

The Devil’s Arithmetic FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of The Devil’s Arithmetic, each answered in a sentence.

How long is The Devil’s Arithmetic?

The Devil’s Arithmetic runs 1 hour 35 minutes (95 minutes).

When was The Devil’s Arithmetic released?

The Devil’s Arithmetic was released on March 28, 1999.

Who directed The Devil’s Arithmetic?

The Devil’s Arithmetic was directed by Donna Deitch.

More films by Donna Deitch

Who is in the cast of The Devil’s Arithmetic?

The Devil’s Arithmetic stars Kirsten Dunst as Hannah Stern, Mimi Rogers as Leonore Stern and Stewart Bick as Burton Stern, among 50 credited actors.

Does The Devil’s Arithmetic have a post-credit scene?

No. The Devil’s Arithmetic has no extra scene during or after the credits.

Coming soon to your phone

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app