I was really quite surprised by how new and informative this documentary is. The thesis is one that I haven't seen: Hitler (and many other key Nazis) was deeply influenced by Wagner and other artists. He drew inspiration and sustenance from the arts and was involved in the intricate aesthetic details of Nazism. Indeed, even the genocidal murder of Jews and others, had profound connections to Hitler's aesthetic sensibilities.
Despite knowing quite a lot about the war, the Nazis, and the mass murder therein, I was stunned by the revelations of this film. So intimate was Hitler's involvement in the stage design of Nazism, that one is almost tempted to see the horror as Hitler's attempt to bring an Aryan opera to life.
It's true that the film oversimplifies and truncates it's own thesis. But they should be given some allowance for their achievements in the space of two hours. The archival footage is staggering, the narration is clear and concise, and the overall impact is profound indeed. A must see film.
No comments:
Post a Comment