The thing that sticks with me the most is Hess' daughter in New York who was the Balenciaga model. Her disgusting denial, even at the end of her life when she's dying of cancer of her father's culpability and responsibility for the murder and torture of millions, MILLIONS of innocent men, women and little children!. Her own brother came to terms with the horrors that his father committed and I just can't stop thinking about how repulsed I am at her attitude. I hope she is dead and has met her maker and reaping the promised second generation of punishment for her father's unforgivable sins. I also think old Hedwig Hess, the wife and mother, absolutely knew what was going on. Did you see the picture of her and see her dark black eyes that you see when people are mass murderers or psychopaths? She fit that bill 100%. All the Hitler generations have changed their names and Amon Goethe's family have self sterilized themselves so that they don't reproduce and create another monster. I think that's what I would've done if I had a father or grandfather like that. I don't think I could live with the shame.
The sad thing is this is a very contemporary adaptation of an 80-year-old history lesson that is repeating itself. And seeing the victims recognize this is heartbreaking.
The Commandant's Shadow
2024
Documentary / History
The Commandant's Shadow
2024
Documentary / History
Plot summary
While Hans Jurgen Höss enjoyed a happy childhood in the family villa at Auschwitz, Jewish prisoner Anita Lasker-Wallfisch was trying to survive the notorious concentration camp. At the heart of this film is the historic and inspiring moment – eight decades later – when the two come face-to-face. This is the first time the descendant of a major war criminal meets a survivor in such a private and intimate setting, Anita’s London living room. Together with their children, Kai Höss and Maya Lasker-Wallfisch, the four protagonists explore their very different hereditary burdens.
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
October 24, 2024 at 10:54 AM
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Watching history repeat it itself..again in 2024
Heavy
Highly recommended reflection through the eyes of people who lived it, and their decendants who feel the weight of it. If you're not familiar with events of Birkenau, I recommend you watch a few documentaries first about them. Also maybe take a look at the 2024 movie Zone of Interest which is based on the Commendant Höss family living right on the other side of the fence from where masses of people were murdered. You will better understand the profound meaning of this documentary.
The elderly man in this doc was clearly too young at the time to understand the world outside of his immediate surroundings, the beautiful garden and his fathers uniform. I can't imagine the impossible task of trying to reconcile two opposites: a loving father and a criminal against humanity.
That is what I think this documentary is about. Looking the unphantomable in the eyes.
I'm in awe of the elderly survivor lady. She invites the son of her tormentor into her home. They have coffee and cake. It's a mindblowing scene. I don't dare to impose my requests on them to speak more about what happened and what they went through. I felt like I was imposing as it was. It's a miracle they're there.
It seems they are agreeing that it is time now to make sure sins of the fathers are left to those they belong to. It belongs to us however to tell the story. And to make sure it never happens again. Anywhere. Because it will. And is.