| On the topic of Philosophical movies, which we had been discussing a few months back: I just watched "Der Untergang" (The Downfall) yesterday, having missed it when it was out in the theatres since none of my friends wanted to come along with me, and I hate watching movies alone in the cinema... Anyway, before moving on to the philosophically relevant stuff. for those of you who haven't seen it, it's about the last few days of Hitler and some of his closest men and women as they lay inside his Berlin bunker, waiting for the russian army. It was (and still is) considered very controversial due to the fact it depicts Hitler as a suffering man, and shows the nazi leadership in a state of depression. Critics have argued that it is a somewhat apologetic film, trying to justify Hitler's actions. Others have linked their dislike of the movie to the moments where one almost feels sorry for men who committed heinous crimes against humanity. I personally think the former haven't even seen the movie to say something so erroneous, but I must admit that the latter's reaction, or more-so the general reaction to this movie is one of the main reasons I acquired a copy and viewed it. Having done so, I must say it's an absolute masterpiece of a movie, if you ask me. But let's get back to the reactions here. I think what displeased people is that this film depicted, as I stated in the above paragraph, Hitler as a human. I can understand that people want to separate what I'd qualify as rather horrible people from the rest of humanity, and that movies like this clash with their bestialization of the character. But I believe this attitude is a dangerously blind as raising your arm at 45 degrees at the tip a hat. "The Downfall" is a necessary catharsis. It depicts a cruel dictator as something feeling, suffering and passionate both in love of his dream and hatred of people unlike him, and eventually of people like himself and his closest friends. Ironically the words of Shylock, the jew from The Merchant of Venice, come to mind on this account: "If you prick us, do we not bleed?". In depicting this humanity devoid of humanism, The Downfall warns viewers that nazis were not demons, nor were those who followed them magically hypnotized by some sort of satanic power. These were all people like us, and therefore we are very capable of committing the same mistakes, or the same atrocities. And thus, the blindness of people such as some of my friends of the time, who refused to go see this movie on account that they would have to face the human that was once the beast, worries me for reasons quite similar to those that worried much of Europe in the 30s. Has anyone else seen this movie? What do you think about this aspect of the film? Have you encountered similar reactions? If not, do take the time to view this interesting piece of history. Edward Grefenstette. |