Put aside some of the controversy surrounding this movie for a moment and let me make the case for why it is even more introspective than accusatory (regardless of whatever the director intended). It does not focus so much on visuals of genocide as it does the process of how a modern, educated, faithful society becomes complacent, complicit, and even enamored with radical ideas.
This is a partially fictionalized story of a true figure involved in "The Final Solution", chemist Kurt Gerstein. Many of the persons surrounding him are fictional and used as a vehicle to illustrate the varying levels of conscience or courage. I suggest that the viewer look at the church in this instance as one of the individuals or characters that embody a degree of reaction. I cannot attest to the complete accuracy of this movie. However, history is pretty clear on at least the generalities. We cannot choose to ignore history just because it's unflattering.
THE PLOT: Chemist Kurt Gerstein is involved in developing methods of fighting the Typhus disease and is commissioned into the infamous Waffen SS. He soon discovers his chemical methods are also being introduced into the process of genocide at concentration camps in the form of gas chambers. He is invited to Poland and actually shown the process as SS officers view the extermination of human beings through glass peep holes. Gerstein recoils in awful realization, but remains mute in an act of caution. The other SS officers react in combinations of fascination, achievement and horror as they absorb the image. Gerstein returns and attempts to organize action against the genocide behind the scenes, but also continues in the program in order to gain information and sometimes hinder the process. When pressured, he does give the SS help improving the process and gains more of their esteem.
Around Gerstein we find many types of reaction. There are those who are willing to openly fight the practice. Generally, they are constrained by those who are afraid of the Nazi regime. There are those who are blissfully ignorant, they are portrayed as few. There are those who are wildly devoted to anything the Third Reich does. One very interesting character that steals a lot of attention is the enigmatic and eerily, morally ambiguous "Doctor" who is Gerstien's friend (remember the plot itself is fictionalized). The Doctor is involved early on with the euthanization of mental patients and is elevated in the SS to where he appears to actually run the process at one of the concentration camps. He is an example of a highly educated person who does not buy into the ideology, but is more than willing to play the part and set aside conscience in order to survive and thrive. Ulrich Mühe does an amazing job in this role and the dialog he is given is chilling at times.
Also with Gerstein is a young priest who tries to help him gain the Pope's ear. The idea is that when the Pope publically denounces the genocide, world powers will have to react more specifically. This mostly powerless priest becomes disenchanted with the church's response and puts himself in harms way as a means of protest. In the movie, the Catholic Church is worried about the continued existence of the Vatican in the face of Nazi and Italian powers, not to mention it's vast art collection (when everything else was being stolen). In contrast, The church had been instrumental in stopping the euthanasia of mental patients at the start of the movie. Those worried about the Church's image will be heartened to know that the priest is the ultimate example of courage and conscience depicted here.
I said this movie is more introspective than accusatory. I believe this because it mainly points the finger at everyone, not just the church. It essentially says most everyone was either complacent or complicit or culpable, therefor we all have to look to our part and be introspective. Even the allies are aware of what is happening, yet their diplomats frankly tell would-be exposers that they are more interested in winning the war and cannot risk slowing that process by negotiating over Jews. The Doctor flatly tells the priest, while confronting him at a concentration camp, that he knows Germany will loose the war. He tells the priest that they tried to negotiate using Hungarian Jews on their way to death.... no one was interested.
Importantly, when the priest tells the Doctor "the world will know what you are doing" the doctor replies ominously "YOU SEE... THE WORLD ALREADY KNOWS... AND YET... DIVINE ANGER IS NOT RUMBLING FROM THE SKIES."
In the end I think this movie is much better at illustrating how people are reasonable inside their mind, yet go along with whatever is happening because of fear, ignorance or desire for personal gain. People just want to maintain their existence. We see it in any era. People fail to stand up in their lives out of fear for much lesser threats than the Third Reich. This movie dissects how the individual reacts to these events from one end of the spectrum to the other. It is more of a parable than exact history, though it points to history in general. It is a cautionary tale for any time.
A Tour de Force!
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VARYING DEGREES OF CONSCIENCE AND COURAGE-- Partially fictionalized, but important Holocaust movie
Put aside some of the controversy surrounding this movie for a moment and let me make the case for why it is even more introspective than accusatory (regardless of whatever the director intended). It does not focus so much on visuals of genocide as it does the process of how a modern, educated, faithful society becomes complacent, complicit, and even enamored with radical ideas.This is a partially fictionalized story of a true figure involved in "The Final Solution", chemist Kurt Gerstein. Many of the persons surrounding him are fictional and used as a vehicle to illustrate the varying levels of conscience or courage. I suggest that the viewer look at the church in this instance as one of the individuals or characters that embody a degree of reaction. I cannot attest to the complete accuracy of this movie. However, history is pretty clear on at least the generalities. We cannot choose to ignore history just because it's unflattering.THE PLOT: Chemist Kurt Gerstein is involved in developing methods of fighting the Typhus disease and is commissioned into the infamous Waffen SS. He soon discovers his chemical methods are also being introduced into the process of genocide at concentration camps in the form of gas chambers. He is invited to Poland and actually shown the process as SS officers view the extermination of human beings through glass peep holes. Gerstein recoils in awful realization, but remains mute in an act of caution. The other SS officers react in combinations of fascination, achievement and horror as they absorb the image. Gerstein returns and attempts to organize action against the genocide behind the scenes, but also continues in the program in order to gain information and sometimes hinder the process. When pressured, he does give the SS help improving the process and gains more of their esteem.Around Gerstein we find many types of reaction. There are those who are willing to openly fight the practice. Generally, they are constrained by those who are afraid of the Nazi regime. There are those who are blissfully ignorant, they are portrayed as few. There are those who are wildly devoted to anything the Third Reich does. One very interesting character that steals a lot of attention is the enigmatic and eerily, morally ambiguous "Doctor" who is Gerstien's friend (remember the plot itself is fictionalized). The Doctor is involved early on with the euthanization of mental patients and is elevated in the SS to where he appears to actually run the process at one of the concentration camps. He is an example of a highly educated person who does not buy into the ideology, but is more than willing to play the part and set aside conscience in order to survive and thrive. Ulrich Mühe does an amazing job in this role and the dialog he is given is chilling at times.Also with Gerstein is a young priest who tries to help him gain the Pope's ear. The idea is that when the Pope publically denounces the genocide, world powers will have to react more specifically. This mostly powerless priest becomes disenchanted with the church's response and puts himself in harms way as a means of protest. In the movie, the Catholic Church is worried about the continued existence of the Vatican in the face of Nazi and Italian powers, not to mention it's vast art collection (when everything else was being stolen). In contrast, The church had been instrumental in stopping the euthanasia of mental patients at the start of the movie. Those worried about the Church's image will be heartened to know that the priest is the ultimate example of courage and conscience depicted here.I said this movie is more introspective than accusatory. I believe this because it mainly points the finger at everyone, not just the church. It essentially says most everyone was either complacent or complicit or culpable, therefor we all have to look to our part and be introspective. Even the allies are aware of what is happening, yet their diplomats frankly tell would-be exposers that they are more interested in winning the war and cannot risk slowing that process by negotiating over Jews. The Doctor flatly tells the priest, while confronting him at a concentration camp, that he knows Germany will loose the war. He tells the priest that they tried to negotiate using Hungarian Jews on their way to death.... no one was interested.Importantly, when the priest tells the Doctor "the world will know what you are doing" the doctor replies ominously "YOU SEE... THE WORLD ALREADY KNOWS... AND YET... DIVINE ANGER IS NOT RUMBLING FROM THE SKIES."In the end I think this movie is much better at illustrating how people are reasonable inside their mind, yet go along with whatever is happening because of fear, ignorance or desire for personal gain. People just want to maintain their existence. We see it in any era. People fail to stand up in their lives out of fear for much lesser threats than the Third Reich. This movie dissects how the individual reacts to these events from one end of the spectrum to the other. It is more of a parable than exact history, though it points to history in general. It is a cautionary tale for any time.A Tour de Force!
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Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2014
This is a partially fictionalized story of a true figure involved in "The Final Solution", chemist Kurt Gerstein. Many of the persons surrounding him are fictional and used as a vehicle to illustrate the varying levels of conscience or courage. I suggest that the viewer look at the church in this instance as one of the individuals or characters that embody a degree of reaction. I cannot attest to the complete accuracy of this movie. However, history is pretty clear on at least the generalities. We cannot choose to ignore history just because it's unflattering.
THE PLOT: Chemist Kurt Gerstein is involved in developing methods of fighting the Typhus disease and is commissioned into the infamous Waffen SS. He soon discovers his chemical methods are also being introduced into the process of genocide at concentration camps in the form of gas chambers. He is invited to Poland and actually shown the process as SS officers view the extermination of human beings through glass peep holes. Gerstein recoils in awful realization, but remains mute in an act of caution. The other SS officers react in combinations of fascination, achievement and horror as they absorb the image. Gerstein returns and attempts to organize action against the genocide behind the scenes, but also continues in the program in order to gain information and sometimes hinder the process. When pressured, he does give the SS help improving the process and gains more of their esteem.
Around Gerstein we find many types of reaction. There are those who are willing to openly fight the practice. Generally, they are constrained by those who are afraid of the Nazi regime. There are those who are blissfully ignorant, they are portrayed as few. There are those who are wildly devoted to anything the Third Reich does. One very interesting character that steals a lot of attention is the enigmatic and eerily, morally ambiguous "Doctor" who is Gerstien's friend (remember the plot itself is fictionalized). The Doctor is involved early on with the euthanization of mental patients and is elevated in the SS to where he appears to actually run the process at one of the concentration camps. He is an example of a highly educated person who does not buy into the ideology, but is more than willing to play the part and set aside conscience in order to survive and thrive. Ulrich Mühe does an amazing job in this role and the dialog he is given is chilling at times.
Also with Gerstein is a young priest who tries to help him gain the Pope's ear. The idea is that when the Pope publically denounces the genocide, world powers will have to react more specifically. This mostly powerless priest becomes disenchanted with the church's response and puts himself in harms way as a means of protest. In the movie, the Catholic Church is worried about the continued existence of the Vatican in the face of Nazi and Italian powers, not to mention it's vast art collection (when everything else was being stolen). In contrast, The church had been instrumental in stopping the euthanasia of mental patients at the start of the movie. Those worried about the Church's image will be heartened to know that the priest is the ultimate example of courage and conscience depicted here.
I said this movie is more introspective than accusatory. I believe this because it mainly points the finger at everyone, not just the church. It essentially says most everyone was either complacent or complicit or culpable, therefor we all have to look to our part and be introspective. Even the allies are aware of what is happening, yet their diplomats frankly tell would-be exposers that they are more interested in winning the war and cannot risk slowing that process by negotiating over Jews. The Doctor flatly tells the priest, while confronting him at a concentration camp, that he knows Germany will loose the war. He tells the priest that they tried to negotiate using Hungarian Jews on their way to death.... no one was interested.
Importantly, when the priest tells the Doctor "the world will know what you are doing" the doctor replies ominously "YOU SEE... THE WORLD ALREADY KNOWS... AND YET... DIVINE ANGER IS NOT RUMBLING FROM THE SKIES."
In the end I think this movie is much better at illustrating how people are reasonable inside their mind, yet go along with whatever is happening because of fear, ignorance or desire for personal gain. People just want to maintain their existence. We see it in any era. People fail to stand up in their lives out of fear for much lesser threats than the Third Reich. This movie dissects how the individual reacts to these events from one end of the spectrum to the other. It is more of a parable than exact history, though it points to history in general. It is a cautionary tale for any time.
A Tour de Force!
VARYING DEGREES OF CONSCIENCE AND COURAGE-- Partially fictionalized, but important Holocaust movie
Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2014
Put aside some of the controversy surrounding this movie for a moment and let me make the case for why it is even more introspective than accusatory (regardless of whatever the director intended). It does not focus so much on visuals of genocide as it does the process of how a modern, educated, faithful society becomes complacent, complicit, and even enamored with radical ideas.Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2014
This is a partially fictionalized story of a true figure involved in "The Final Solution", chemist Kurt Gerstein. Many of the persons surrounding him are fictional and used as a vehicle to illustrate the varying levels of conscience or courage. I suggest that the viewer look at the church in this instance as one of the individuals or characters that embody a degree of reaction. I cannot attest to the complete accuracy of this movie. However, history is pretty clear on at least the generalities. We cannot choose to ignore history just because it's unflattering.
THE PLOT: Chemist Kurt Gerstein is involved in developing methods of fighting the Typhus disease and is commissioned into the infamous Waffen SS. He soon discovers his chemical methods are also being introduced into the process of genocide at concentration camps in the form of gas chambers. He is invited to Poland and actually shown the process as SS officers view the extermination of human beings through glass peep holes. Gerstein recoils in awful realization, but remains mute in an act of caution. The other SS officers react in combinations of fascination, achievement and horror as they absorb the image. Gerstein returns and attempts to organize action against the genocide behind the scenes, but also continues in the program in order to gain information and sometimes hinder the process. When pressured, he does give the SS help improving the process and gains more of their esteem.
Around Gerstein we find many types of reaction. There are those who are willing to openly fight the practice. Generally, they are constrained by those who are afraid of the Nazi regime. There are those who are blissfully ignorant, they are portrayed as few. There are those who are wildly devoted to anything the Third Reich does. One very interesting character that steals a lot of attention is the enigmatic and eerily, morally ambiguous "Doctor" who is Gerstien's friend (remember the plot itself is fictionalized). The Doctor is involved early on with the euthanization of mental patients and is elevated in the SS to where he appears to actually run the process at one of the concentration camps. He is an example of a highly educated person who does not buy into the ideology, but is more than willing to play the part and set aside conscience in order to survive and thrive. Ulrich Mühe does an amazing job in this role and the dialog he is given is chilling at times.
Also with Gerstein is a young priest who tries to help him gain the Pope's ear. The idea is that when the Pope publically denounces the genocide, world powers will have to react more specifically. This mostly powerless priest becomes disenchanted with the church's response and puts himself in harms way as a means of protest. In the movie, the Catholic Church is worried about the continued existence of the Vatican in the face of Nazi and Italian powers, not to mention it's vast art collection (when everything else was being stolen). In contrast, The church had been instrumental in stopping the euthanasia of mental patients at the start of the movie. Those worried about the Church's image will be heartened to know that the priest is the ultimate example of courage and conscience depicted here.
I said this movie is more introspective than accusatory. I believe this because it mainly points the finger at everyone, not just the church. It essentially says most everyone was either complacent or complicit or culpable, therefor we all have to look to our part and be introspective. Even the allies are aware of what is happening, yet their diplomats frankly tell would-be exposers that they are more interested in winning the war and cannot risk slowing that process by negotiating over Jews. The Doctor flatly tells the priest, while confronting him at a concentration camp, that he knows Germany will loose the war. He tells the priest that they tried to negotiate using Hungarian Jews on their way to death.... no one was interested.
Importantly, when the priest tells the Doctor "the world will know what you are doing" the doctor replies ominously "YOU SEE... THE WORLD ALREADY KNOWS... AND YET... DIVINE ANGER IS NOT RUMBLING FROM THE SKIES."
In the end I think this movie is much better at illustrating how people are reasonable inside their mind, yet go along with whatever is happening because of fear, ignorance or desire for personal gain. People just want to maintain their existence. We see it in any era. People fail to stand up in their lives out of fear for much lesser threats than the Third Reich. This movie dissects how the individual reacts to these events from one end of the spectrum to the other. It is more of a parable than exact history, though it points to history in general. It is a cautionary tale for any time.
A Tour de Force!
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