
Germany 2017
Opening February 23, 2017
Directed by: Rüdiger Suchsland
Writing credits: Rüdiger Suchsland
Principal actors: Documentary

It is hard to imagine that over one thousand films were made in this time period. Suchsland highlights those who worked in this current political environment and explains how some participants subtly fought back while others said nothing. Films at the beginning of the war were dramatically full of illusion and gave pleasing dream-like atmosphere that was a sharp contrast to the reality of the situation at hand. It reminds of our current situation at present where we are all taking selfies, posting them in the internet, watching series or films like La La Land rather than march in the streets and take action. Then in the late 1930s some of the most famous propaganda films were produced. There is a total 22 films which are still on the censorship list and can only be seen on special request and have to be viewed with an assistant who will explain the symbolic propaganda to you. It includes films such as like the anti-Semitic films Der Ewige Jude (The Enternal Jew) and Jud Süß and the Nuremburg Rally films such as The Triumphs of Will, Der Seig des Glaubens and Tag der Freiheit: Unser Wehrmacht which is three of the most famous propaganda films ever-made by the innovative woman director Leni Riefenstahl. Despite her genius, she paid a heavy price for her political position which followed her throughout her entire life time.
Suchslands also keeps track of what kinds of films were made which were mostly drama, adventure and thrillers. The ideology always remain the same, showing the beauty of the Aryan race mixed with illusion and showing Hitler’s new successful Germany. Most of my German film critic colleagues were not interested in this film since they have had years of this information being crammed down their throats. Although I have heard of some of these films, I have never seen any of them. I think it would be a wise decision for Suchsland to have this film translated to English so that it would have a chance to reach a broader audience especially now due to our current world politics. History does have a way of repeating itself and a closer look at these films might remind us not to make the same mistakes. ( )