782. Hotel Terminus: The Life and Times of Klaus Barbie

Hotel Terminus: The Life and Times of Klaus Barbie
1988
Directed by Marcel Ophuls

In my previous post, I was just going on and on about how Cinema Paradiso will make you appreciate art and humanity.  Now we have a documentary about one of the most sadistic men in history.  Maybe I should have watched Cinema Paradiso after this...

Through a series of interviews, the life of Nazi war criminal Klaus Barbie is pieced together as Ophuls attempts to answer the question: how could someone be so evil?  We hear from people like Barbie's defense attorney, journalists, and victim's families.  It is chilling to listen to his supporters.  I don't know how Ophuls got through filming without lunging at his interviewees.

This is obviously a very disturbing movie.  It makes me wonder how many other people would commit these horrific acts if given access to enough victims.  It is not an enjoyable film, but perhaps one everyone should see.  I do feel like I say that a lot, and really, how many Holocaust documentaries should one person have to sit through before you can say you are done?  Maybe this will be the last one, but it certainly made a memorable impact.

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

Ophuls did not use footage from the Holocaust, as he believed the audience was too desensitized for it to make an impact.

526. Le Chagrin et la pitie

Le Chagrin et la pitie
The Sorrow and the Pity
1970
Directed by Marcel Ophuls

I apologize that it has been so long since I posted on this.  Once again, I had a hard time finding this anywhere and finally had to ask my sister to get it out of one of her "fancier" libraries and wait for her to visit.  As is often the case, this movie was not worth the trouble that it took to get it.

I was pretty sure that I had seen this film already and was surprised when I didn't see a checkmark.  I guess there are so many World War II documentaries in this Book that they all start to blend together.   Or maybe I just thought I saw since it is mentioned in Annie Hall, which is one of my favorite movies.  Or maybe I am just stupid.  It really could be a combination of all those things.

This movie consists of talking head interviews.  The first half doesn't mention the Holocaust too much, it is mostly about the actual fighting of World War II.  Damn, that was boring.  Because all 99% of the interviews were in French, I pretty much read for four hours.  It was like reading a primary source textbook, but slightly less interesting, since no major players were interviewed.  The second half was a bit more intriguing, since it dealt with more personal stories.  Still, by the time the three hour mark passed, I was ready to call it a day.

I might have been harder on this film since we have seen so many great WWII films in The Book.  Maybe I am spoiled.  I am not very sure of myself in this review, am I?  Here is something I am sure about: Night and Fog is a much better option.

RATING: *----

Interesting Facts:

Was set to be a French television series but they refused to air it.