It Still May Be Hard to Hear The Truth...

Rating: 10/10 (14 August 2011)

"...The compassion for the present torture of his soul must not beget forgetfulness of the torture and death of millions."
There are moments in history when humanity should stop for a while and reflect upon its destination: what aim have we taken up? Hatred and destruction or respect and development? There was no better moment for such reflections than the period when the hell on earth's swastika was at its downfall but everyone still suffered WWII's wretchedness of pride, monstrosity of ideologies and perishing respect for fundamental human dignity. What is there left if not the judgment for the sake of 'some justice?' The events at Nuremberg after the WWII have become a symbolic scale for justice, a symbolic inspiration for the theme of this movie written by Abby Mann and directed by Stanley Kramer... indeed as the tag-lines proclaimed it: "an experience in human emotion."
The movie can boast of unbelievable tension, unforgettable images (even shocking actual footage after the U.S. liberation of concentration camps), great camera work within the courtroom....you see the shots from different angles and the highlighted details of the drama. Finally, the movie is an example and the model for the flawless performances by all the cast, those very famous ones and those who were still inexperienced. Moreover, the cast with their performances bring out the unique psychology of the film's theme and characters, which makes the movie 'an experience in human emotion.'
Burt Lancaster is breathtaking as Ernst Janning, one of the defendants whose change of heart may touch the very core of judges, may address the depth of human soul, yet justice must remain and the final verdict has its own, justification and its own logic. What Janning did with the innocent man affects everything that is being done upon him...Burt beautifully portrays the awakening conscience which seems to reveal much truth. He is the only one among four accused who is tormented by the torture of his soul. But, his character does not fully capture catharsis. Why? Is there any catharsis in the face of crimes against humanity? Is there such a thing like being 'justified' before humans, before victims? Wouldn't we mock the very nature of justice and, consequently, the civilization? Janning's catharsis is to come, perhaps; but it does not realize itself fully. Hard theme, indeed, where heart has to be replaced by the feeling of justice, the concept of justice and... that is what Spencer Tracy's character depicts. Mr Tracy does a terrific, breathtaking job as chief judge Dan Haywood who leads the tribunal. He walks the streets of Nuremberg to feel the glimpse of the past he is bound to judge; he travels to the families to get to know them and their motives; he gets to know a German woman who is 'no monster' but speaks of forgiveness; he is kind in his heart yet strict in his job. He understands...
The flawless performance is also given by young Maximilian Schell whose character aims at leaving the German people a shred of dignity...His character is very sympathetic at certain moments and yet....we sometimes get angry with the way he questions certain witnesses but he is no fraud, he speaks with the power of the man who loves his nation, on behalf of those 'better' in the nation. I think that the best job done by Mr Schell is the moment of questioning Irene Wallner (Judy Garland) about the Feldenstein case based actually on the true 1942 Katzenberger Trial. Schell's character is memorably opposed by Richard Widmark's Col. Lawson who does not get into tricks of justification...who bravely sneers the 'myth': 'we did not know! We were forced!'
But the actress everyone waits for, dreams to see is Marlene Dietrich, who, as a life long anti-Nazi heroine, was proud to take part in this historic movie. The 60 year old Marlene still filled with charm and charisma, a great portrayal of a German Madame Bertholt, who is a good German. Her scenes with Spencer Tracy are masterful. The moment she walks the streets of Nuremberg with the Judge who represents a good American for her is unforgettable. She understands that it is impossible to live on hate...and in order to go on living, we must forget. That is her message and her songs are not those glorifying the Third Reich nor the march but "Lili Marleen." Ms Dietrich's first and last moment is marked by no words...just silence...just indication.
But there is one character who needs a special note because he holds a certain depiction of undying evil. It is Emil Hahn played by Werner Klemperer. He still represents the Nazi man who can be characterized by two features: open sarcasm and vain pride. His pride does not allow him to look at the truth because he blindly follows the haunting voices of "Mein Kampf" and the ideology therein incorporated... His sarcasm makes him a very unsympathetic person but also allows him to think that he was in the hands of mighty group who were close to smashing all sheer toys, all the rest to gas chambers. He mocks everything that is not his: justice, love, goodness because those abstracts stand for weakness and sheer failure. "Gott Mit Uns" (God with us) appears to be his motto - a dangerously created god...
Great film to see for the new generations that perceive the events in a different light, perhaps by a different lantern...Yet, such films are treasures and remind us of what may become of the world if people manipulate reason and allow themselves to be ruled by hateful ideologies.
The lantern is still there though those people are gone... yet it waits for the meeting of people, mature people who stand there in forgiveness letting the Light not expire "Wie Einst Lili Marleen." (like once Lilli Marleen)