Taking Sides
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DVD Cover Information Actor: Harvey Keitel, Moritz Bleibtreu, Stellan Skarsgard Director: Istvan Szabo DVD: Region Code 1 Audio: English (Original Language), Unknown Format: Anamorphic, Color, DVD, NTSC, Widescreen Picture Format: 1.78:1 Running Time: 105 minutes DVD Release Date: 2004-04-27 Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated) Studio: New Yorker |
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Movie Reviews of Taking Sides
Movie Review: Appalling Revisionism
Summary: 2 Stars
Taking Sides is based on the story of the de-Nazification trial German conductor Wilhelm Furtwangler.
For those who don't know, Furtwangler refused to leave Germany after the Nazi regime took power, turning down an offer to succeed Arturo Toscanini as conductor of the New York Philharmonic. He also declined membership in the Nazi party. Walking a tightrope, he conducted for Adolf Hitler's 53rd birthday, while refusing to give the Nazi salute. Furtwangler's position was that politics and art must be kept separate. Beethoven would have disagreed and there are very few artists today, musical or otherwise, who would support Furtwangler's contention.
Stellan Skarsgard neither looks like Furtwangler, acts like Furtwangler, nor makes any attempt to replicate the conductor's idiosyncratic baton technique. Harvey Keitel gives a one-dimensional performance as Major Arnold, who was in charge of prosecuting, or in the filmmakers' view, persecuting the conductor.
From the start, the Americans, with the exception of a German born American, are portrayed as culturally retarded, tone deaf, and driven by vengeance. It is shameful that such a distinguished cast would consent to perform in such a ham handed display of anti-American fatuousness.
Furtwangler's role -- or lack thereof -- in Nazi Germany has been examined from many sides and merits serious discussion, not only for Furtwangler's culpability -- or lack thereof -- but as commentary of the role of the artist in society in general. This film, which provides neither balance nor depth, does not advance that discussion.