The film based on Klaus Mann's 1936 novel, tells the very dramatic story of a man willing to sell his soul to the Nazis in order to continue his art. Juxtaposing the rise of fascism to the development of political theatre in Nazi Germany, Mephisto is a film all about performance. The central character of Hendrik Hoefgen, played impressively by German actor Klaus Maria Brandauer, is desperate for fame and artistic recognition.