Heart in the right place, but falls flat

Rating: 5/10 (25 February 2020)

A timely film, given the rise of populist leaders whispering vile things into the thoughts of the masses. It's set in Nazi Germany, but those who promote hatred and insanity over love and rationality in all generations - particularly this one - are probably the target here. It's a film about perseverance, showing us that all of these types of leaders will pass eventually, and for that it should get credit.
The film is very ambitious in attempting both comedy and drama, and in such a highly sensitive context. For me, the comedy fell flat, and I didn't feel it was all that appropriate either. Its heart was in the right place and there were dark scenes to point out at least some of the atrocities which took place, but overall it felt just a little too glib. I was really squirming through the first half because I knew what it was going for, but didn't think it was adding anything insightful to the conversation. There are some nice moments in the back half, but by then it was too little, too late.
The dancing quote from Scarlett Johansson's character was nice ("we have to dance to show God we are grateful to be alive"), but the dancing at the end - even with the Rilke quote - seemed way off in tone to me. It seems to forget that after such nightmarish horror and personal loss, there are long stages of bereavement before such joy can be expressed. It's hard for me to fathom what an audience in 1945 would have thought of it.