VALKYRIE

If you turn round and tell me that you are actually fed to the back teeth with WW2 films and that you do not want set eyes on another again, I would sympathize. I mean, I would find your reaction a tad excessive but I could see where you were coming from. Truth be told, tragic though the events of WW2 were, I feel that too many mediocre to bad films have been made on the topic. Thus people get the impression that if they’ve seen one they’ve pretty much seen them all. The good Allies vs. the evil Germans. Now this was no doubt true up to a point, but not completely. I mean, you can’t realistically claim that ALL Germans were evil / frightened / following the Nazi party without thinking. In fact, Valkyrie is the true story of a group of German officers who took on the Third Reich; if only to “show the world that not all of them were like him”.

The group is actually comprised of Nazi army officers. They, however, think that Hitler is destroying Germany. And they feel he must be stopped at all costs. Under the leadership of Colonel Von Stauffenberg (Tom Cruise) a daring plan is hatched. They will utilize the “Valkyrie” plans, plans to be used to maintain order in Germany if Hitler is killed or is cut off from the rest of the country. Stauffenberg himself will murder Hitler. The Valkyrie plans will in the meanwhile be re-written to exclude the SS and thus the “friendly forces” will act quickly, taking over all points of authority and taking over the country without shedding a single drop of blood (except Hitler’s). However as we all know, and as John Lennon very rightly put it, “Life is what happens while we are busy making plans”…

Now, you may have had prior knowledge of this coup. And for anyone who has basic knowledge of the WW2 history, the end of the film is pretty evident. The plot failed, the group was caught and as for the consequences… Well let’s just say they weren’t rapped on the knuckles and set free… But I still think you should watch it. Why? Well, first of all, my very short rendition above doesn’t even come close to doing justice to how complicated Operation Valkyrie actually was. It’s a very, VERY exciting story of strategy, resistance and a delight to watch for anyone who relishes that feeling of watching the “dominos fall” if you see what I mean. I have heard Tom Cruise’s performance being called a failure – honestly, I wouldn’t go that far. He’s not my favorite actor either but his performance isn’t really bad. Besides, I was personally very touched by the quote I stated in the first paragraph. The band knew only too well that their plan might well fail, spelling death to them all but desperately and above and beyond anything wanted to show the world that they were not all “like him.” Seeing that they died in the attempt, I feel we owe it to them to at least listen to their story…
(For those who want to learn more about this, check here for the Wikipedia page. Always a good place to start =)

EICHMANN – THE SOLDIER. THE FATHER. THE MONSTER.

Ok, heads up, this is a Second World War film. Another one. Now I’m sure you have your own view on that statement; I am personally one of those who are not sick and tired of them. Not of the good ones at any rate. And Eichmann is definitely “a good one”.
My only criticism of the film would be that it pre-supposes a bit of general knowledge; in brief, the answers to the questions “Who was Adolf Eichmann, and what did he do?” (To be fair though, they are pretty easy to pick up as you go along)To those of us who do not know, he was a high ranking Nazi officer who was in charge of the “coordination” of concentration camps. He was responsible for every aspect, from the work to the transport. His coldness and cruelty were a thing of legend. In 1960, he was captured and brought to Israel. He was tried for war crimes and executed. Before his trial, he was interrogated by the military prosecutor Avner Less. The film is based on the transcripts of these interviews.
Thomas Kreschnann and Troy Garity (who play Eichmann and Less respectively) have pulled of quite a feat. Although flashbacks of Eichmann’s past and Less’s life outside the interrogation chamber play an important part, the two men’s dialogues constitute the backbone of the film and never once lose their sense of purpose…
As to the subject matter, what makes this film fresh to my eyes is that apart from showing the horrors of the Nazi regime, the film also tries to understand what went on in the minds of its administrators. And that, in my view, is a very good question indeed.
Take the case of Eichman. Before us we have a seemingly average army officer. Loving father of four. Womaniser with several mistresses. The single handed organizer of the death camps that took the lives of millions of human beings. And of course the defense is as easy to predict as the events are easy to research : “I was following orders.” “I was not responsible.” What we find out here, along with Avner Less, is how this defense was born. And how it is actually possible for the defendant to believe it in a way… I do not want to give away more of the film than I can help but let me put it this way. If you ever read something, no matter how brief, about the Nazi regime – or dictatorships anywhere – and wondered “what the hell they were thinking”, this a very good stab and an answer. Let me also add that the conclusion reached is hair-raisingly human…