Favourite Films

[NWoBHM]

(03-16-2011 10:08 AM)Rey Wrote:  

(03-04-2011 04:58 PM)NWoBHM Wrote:  Just finished watching "Conspiracy" with Kenneth Branagh and Colin Firth and a host of other Brit actors about the meeting in 1942 at lake Wannsee in Berlin, to determine the "Final Solution" for European Jews. An amazingly acted film, (as you might imagine with Branagh and especially and topically Firth), but also appalling in the clinical and financial determination of how best to eradicate all of Europe, (including the UK) of Jews, and yet somehow either derive some efficiency or productivity from this process.
Assembled at the meeting where all the Department heads, Military Officials, Ministers etc, who could influence, and accelerate the "production line", the argument from those assembled not being about the abhorence of what they are doing, but whether it translated to the bottom line.
A moving film.
Apparently the film is based on the actual transcript and minutes of the meeting!

I finally got around to watching “Conspiracy”. It is a really good movie. Those craving action and adventure might not like its slow pace, because it is a movie just about a meeting. But, what a meeting it was. How can a group of people gather together and discuss the best way to terminate millions of people? And do it while exchanging pleasantries, enjoying fine wine and food, and joking amongst themselves. At least there were some there who were thinking, “Well…maybe this is not such a good idea”, but even they, in the end, were persuaded to go with the majority. Frightening, but an important part of the history of the war that changed the world.

-Rey

Hi Rey,

I am sure you knew - but I took a look to see how Heydrich`s fortunes went, (Branagh saying "after the war this house will be mine" etc) - I vaguely remembered a General being "assissinated" - I am not sure assassinated is the right word in total war, but that is Wiki for you - in Prague - and it was him - late in 1942, so he did`nt live much beyond the film timeline.

Apparently, one assassin ran up to Heydrich`s car and at point blank range opened fire, but the gun jammed - as Heydrich`s driver accelerated away, he was ordered to stop, by Heydrich, so he could draw his pistol and shoot his would be assailant - in doing so allowed the other assassin to throw a grenade or some sort of IED, which blow up on the side of the car wounding Heydrich.

The fabric on the door inside from all accounts was blown into Heydrich`s wounds and caused blood poisoning and ultimately death.

His right hand man at Wansee, (Eichmann) escaped to Argentina after the war - but the Mossad "lifted him" back to Israel where he was hanged for war crimes in 1962 (year I was born I note!)