Conspiracy
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Movie Reviews of Conspiracy
Movie Review: Manuel Vidal. Es una película que captura la decisión sobre la solución final
Summary: 5 Stars
En esta película se muestra la banalidad que acompañó a la discusión en la cual se decidió la solución final para la "Judenfrage" o "Cuestión judía". Es un complemento que aporta mucho a la comprensión del libro de Hannah Arendt: "El juicio de Eichmann en Jerusalén". La pregunta entre los asistentes a la reunión de Wannsee no radicaba en si era bueno o no acabar a un pueblo entero, no entre todos abirtamente, sino en cómo hacerlo más eficaz, eficiente y efectivamente al menor costo para el Reich. Sugiero complementar esta pelicula con el libro mencionado y con "The Nazis, a warning from history", dcumental excelente de la BBC, y con las películas "Rosa blanca" o "Sophie Scholl", y "Out of the ashes", además de "Los falsificadores", "Napola" y otras tantas. Es una película que sin salir de la reunión, hace pensar en la gravedad de la banalidad frente al mal, de cómo lo potencia. Para hacer el mal extremo no hay que ser un mostruo o un demonio, basta con ser banal.Movie Review: Banality of Evil on DVD
Summary: 5 Stars
In one of the bonus features on the DVD, Kenneth Branagh remarks that in 20-some odd years of stage and screen work, he found playing the role of Heydrich in "Conspiracy" his most disturbing experience. One can tell why from Branagh's performance. His Heydrich is chillingly ruthless, on one hand, yet charmingly idealistic on the other. He captures the Butcher of Prague's chameleon-like personality perfectly -- threatening when muscle is needed, yet able to inspire a distressed lawyer-turned-SS extermination squad leader with poetic homages to "a better time, with German culture triumphant".
Overall, this made-for-cable film, more than any other Holocaust-related feature manages to capture the meaning of Hanna Arendt's term "banality of evil". With few exceptions, none of the mid-level Nazi administrators and SS officers gathered at Wannsee seem sinister by themselves, yet as a group, under the maestro-like direction of Heydrich, they set aside their petty bureaucratic turf wars, and ultimately provide "unanimity" to a wholesale extermination of an entire race of people.
Movie Review: Branagh Shines as Heydrich
Summary: 5 Stars
I missed this film when it originally aired since I do not have HBO. However, a friend of mine brought it to my attention about 4 years ago and I am glad he did. For an entire film taking place (for the most part) in one room, it is amazingly riveting. Watching these Nazi's sitting around the table eating, drinking, and joking while they discuss the "final solution" is quite chilling. Those familiar with the Wansee Conference will respect the accuracy of the portrayal of events while those new to this will simply be shocked at the casual discussions about the most serious of subjects.
Kenneth Branagh stands out in a superior cast in the role of Reinhard Heydrich. He comes across as the coldest and most unfeeling of the lot with frightening effect. Stanley Tucci's portrayal of Adolph Eichmann is good, if somewhat out-of-sync with historical perseptions of his role at the meeting.
I highly recommend this film to anyone curious about this period in history.
Movie Review: Chillingly Intelligent
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie is fascinating and brilliant on one hand and incredibly evil on the other. It is the true story of the secret meeting of Nazi officials where the details of the Final Solution are laid out for them. They are amazed to hear of plans for group showers, xylon B gas, and cremation ovens. These men are not monsters exactly, but they must at least appear to support the plan. Their lives and their families' lives depend on it. Kenneth Branagh leads the meeting with an iron fist in a velvet glove. His sharp eye convinces each attendee that this plan is perfectly rational and in the best interest of the Third Reich. Each man was given a copy of the minutes of the meeting and instructed to destroy it after reading. We only know of it because one officer failed to destroy his copy and it fell into Allied hands after the war.
Watch this movie carefully and learn from it. I truly believe that those who do not study history are doomed to repeat it.
Movie Review: Outstanding
Summary: 5 Stars
Exceptional acting, direction, and writing. Wastes no time to get to the core of the story of what took place at the meeting. Recreates, through the interaction of the meeting members, the gravity and tension of what was being discussed: the Final Solution. Outstanding filmaking and story telling.
I went to the Wannsee Conference House outside Berlin in Spring, 2008, and the head librarian told me that the scenes outside the villa were shot on site, and that the filmakers measured the inside of the house so that the movie sets would be as close to the real villa as possible.
Note: The "story" picks up immediately. There is very little in the way of history, background, or context, so, if you don't already know a little of the history, I highly recommend doing a little reading in order to get the most out of this film. You can get some of that by reading the Wannsee Conference posting at Wikipedia.