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Anatomie d'une chute (2023)
Fascinating French courtroom
No offense but I usually get so bored watching dragging French (spoken) movies. Except for this one. If not for Hülers "The Zone of Interest'' I couldn't be more excited. For me a movie can't be long enough so that wasn't even an issue here. The French spoken language I enjoyed, especially in the courtroom. Very entertaining, though. Sandra and her legal team's arguments justified every bit and really satisfied me if I had any doubts. Amazingly well done! This time I very much could appreciate the partially French spoken language as well. By the way, is this what a French trial looks like? Ok. So, I was taught during the trial that no one is allowed to randomly interrupt others. It's a bit weird but somehow refreshing to watch.
As for the prosecutor and witnesses, it is really shocking and tormenting to see how easily a case like this gets poisoned by presumptions, actually without a shred of evidence. Really terrible. The open ending is somehow not very satisfying, I just have to agree with most of the reviewers. Nevermind, I could sleep well afterwards. As for the ultimate 'whodunit' or better 'whodidnt', to be honest, even if they found the conclusive truth, maybe I wouldn't slept well for months after all.
The Devil's Confession: The Lost Eichmann Tapes (2022)
More interesting the man behind The 'Devil'
At least a better portrayal of events unlike many other shows about Eichmann. Apart from the Nuremberg trials I never watched it so plainly. It only bothers me when these Nazi hunt -type of shows commonly use horror themed main titles as long as it looks sensational enough but might only distract from the real content. Anyway, the documentary itself from an objective and rational point of view truly fascinated me. Many relevant details like the archived content in the newspapers from both Allies and Nazi perspectives are really interesting. Not to mention the photographs. Overall it looked very well documented.
However, I still can't imagine how, at the time, survivors and Jewish people in general could've been fulfilled and satisfied over the verdict at all. Although taking a significant part in the mass killings, after all the so-called 'devil' is still just one of many remaining top level Nazi members. I also believe when this kind of trial took place in Europe it definitely wouldn't even stand a chance, on legal grounds alone. The lack of presenting the essential recordings, Eichmann's kidnap and the whole prosecuting thing including witness statements whether it was disturbing or not, it seemed completely biased if not partially set up from the start. Even doubting their own government's involvement is a joke.
You also wouldn't believe me when I say, there isn't really much more achieved here other than accusing and convicting yet another Nazi top member. Saddest part Eichmann probably didn't even care they brought him there in the first place, bored like hell throughout being aware of his fate. Similar to nowadays known ex-Nazi and ex-Yugoslavia tribunals in The Hague, seeking truth and 'justice' while actually it's quite impossible to get appropriate justice afterwards for whatever kind of atrocities took place.
How the Holocaust Began (2023)
The beginning of the end
As the title suggests what the documentary is about I was curious what more is there still to tell than just the 'beginning' of something, afraid this might be like any other archived show about very much the same. It's not quite that... Revealing, shocking raw details I actually heard for the first time. Yet thoroughly researched.
The slightly developing ease of killing Jews in the most barbaric ways and Nazi's only priority for efficiency and sustainability like an industry. Sloppy but methodical, visibly without any human sense whatsoever. Which paradoxically enough, nowadays would be beyond the unimaginable. However, the authentic footage and photographs from the actual scenes still don't leave much to the imagination.
The Zone of Interest (2023)
It is what it is
I'm speechless. Apart from the subject we know, it's like watching a rare kind of docu-soap, only interrupted by a terrifying roar. Just the absence of common movie sound, rather shows severe human suffering as if standing just outside an abattoir (forgive me the harsh expression). Amazing how the makers thought out the tiniest detail of relevance in and around the villa. Höss' wife's lipstick... Officers and their strict formalities, surreal their coldness of executing orders which suggest the whole operation to be considered a business model. The Zone of Interest isn't about just common evil vs victim but rather shown from the perpetrators' role. The need to compensate for their everyday discomfort whether caused by Jews but could've been just as well any other inferiority to Nazism. Protecting what they believe is theirs, safely backed by a certain regime who covers all tracks or wrongdoing. Humans are the means.
Whether you don't like to see or maybe just want to look away from but in reality it's just what common people move and are able to do against one another, particularly in times where it's convenient. In the beginning where decadence and wealth only could be achieved by exploiting, suppressing and killing whole civilizations. It's simply the fact that human species (as we speak) are indeed capable of committing atrocities. Just like in tribes. As for The Zone of Interest, the makers did a great job just showing the schizophrenic truth behind the unlimited desire for comfort and wealth in the most subtle way rather than the actual, visual bloodshed we already know.
Surprisingly I noticed Höss' role played by Cristian Fried, 'Elser' in another strong historical drama from 2015 "13 Minutes" Scrolling down some trivia is also interesting to read, like what the movie's title exactly is about...
Windfall (2022)
Amusing, ending not that
Halfway through finding out who is actually Lilly Collins in real perhaps is the most exciting part! Anyway, I felt pity for all three main characters which our perpetrators most, ending up so bad for the effort he did. Personally he deserved much better. Definitely more hilarious conversations burglar vs victim watching 2007 "Funny Games", the more disturbing kind of home invasion without the financial gain. How to create a bond with the kidnapper to overpower him in the end? The final was a bit predictable though very horrific. Already afraid this might end like a random Stockholm Syndrome, very cliché the victim and perpetrator becoming friends ending up on a yacht heading a tropical destination... Luckily it didn't. Acting overall very good especially CEO Plemons. Decent watchable movie, plot.
Lore (2012)
Devastating yet authentic
Not boring nor funny about anything. Apart from all the emotional and dramatized events, much details during their trip like running into military checks is done so very realistically which definitely also made it worth watching as well some beautiful shot landscape from the area.
Hannelore, a typical German girl, disciplined ex-member BDM (Hitlerjugend) becoming fugitive in her own country. Their long trip under terrible circumstances more like a survival in fact didn't change any of Lore's deeply nestled anti-semitism against her co-refugee. Although expecting nothing of the kind I was still curious if maybe at some point, she ever came to the slightest remorse or repentance about anything... Nothing even near that. It's still hard to imagine how every single Nazi regardless of their defeat still believed in their ideology until the very bitter end. The persistence of Nazism like programmed in their head is just scary. And just because it's basically a psychological matter I'm afraid it will never change, especially not for ending wars in a romantic way.
Just as a viewer, without making too much a statement, I believe this drama actually shows the disturbing course of discrimination, racism and indoctrination in general. Regardless of any politics or regime, in real life it might come to just the ordinary survival and human basics. This movie perfectly shows that even in the toughest circumstances, apparently it's still a challenge to gain the smallest bit of human affection after all. The maker did a great job showing human honesty (whether it's right or wrong) rather than a random happy ending love story.
Candy (2022)
The Candy Show!
Apart from the horrific story itself, it took me back into the 80s like a time travel. Noticed house decorations, furniture... even kids' toys and garden stuff are so detailed. The slow pace filming I have no problem with, the more engaging and intense viewing especially when set in some darker ages. The first shots of the church, Christian commune and atmosphere directly reminded me of another true-crime series 2016 "The Secret'' set in another even more Orthodox rural community but as cult and creepy with similar kinds of love affairs. This is where Sunday schools always let me feel uncomfortable in a way. Typical housewives boredom and small talk throughout was agonizing to watch yet functional for the show. Just like Betty's smug 'friends' constantly ignoring her in most evil ways. Scene with Allan's distress at the hotel diner is almost surreal, not to mention the waitress. Policemen were a bit fun, yet their investigation thorough. Not too bad the way they did forensics back then, gathering crime evidence without just the DNA blood testing nowadays is well thought out in the script.
Although I'm not familiar with the real story, for such killing -with or without motive- I already imagined her ending up on death row at the very least. So I was a bit shocked it didn't after all. In fact it all turned her way (even with a defense like a joke). By the way I've never seen such lacking justice and a messed up court like here, I hoped for at least a fair and longer trial. Feeling the ending was a bit rushed...? Anyway it didn't spoil the enjoyment of the show, acting was still great 10/10
Biel reminded me of her calm, introvert character in "The Illusionist", "The Sinner" which was quite Candy's opposite.