Posted on 09/20/2022 3:46:48 PM PDT by Bogle
Years ago, I tried to watch “Stalin” on Netflix. They did not carry it. I was also interested in “East/West” with Catherine Deneuve, likewise unavailable. Between one thing and another, I had about 30 items on my saved list that Netflix did not or would not carry. Meanwhile, they kept putting out Netflix biopics on how wonderful Democrats were. After more than a decade of viewership, I cancelled Netflix.
I’m pursuing alternatives to HULU. Besides other streaming services, I just might pay extra to turn off advertisements during Pride month.
“a dark comedy about Hitler a few years ago”
Before I get to my story, I must provide two disclaimers. In America, just about no one accused of being a Nazi has anything to do with Nazism. Secondly, Hitler and the German National Socialist Worker’s (Nazi) Party did a large number of horrible things.
Taking the preceding as a given, I actually met a real live supporter of Hitler. I find our few discussions to be revealing.
For the sake of conversation, we’ll say his name is John. Everybody loves John. He’s kindly, takes good care of his ailing wife, contributes his time freely to the condominium garden and flower beds. Great guy.
Men often share war, or war related, stories. As John is older, I decided to tell him a story of my father in WWII. This normally very expressive man listened impassively. When I was done, the old man stood erect, puffed out his chest and said, “when I was 17, I volunteered for Hitler’s Army.” You could have knocked be over with a feather.
Subsequently we had a few conversations. I avoided the obvious topics, Holocaust and so on. I talked about the partial deregulation of airlines under President Reagan. To make a long story short, John rejects all deregulation. There is no such thing as excess regulation. If anyone in the private sector is accused of being a crook, he is. Government can do no wrong. In short, John is a committed socialist and always has been. And yes, John is a Nazi.
An associate of mine told me about her first trip to Bavaria to visit relatives. One was an old rotund uncle who, as she pulled up at their farm in her rental car, was jumping up and down clapping his hands like a child. Turns out he was an SS officer during the war.
It would be a mistake to assume there is anything particularly unique about Germans. Every society on earth is capable of great evil.
I recommend two films both Russian:
1. “The Chekist”
Fiction but these people existed, a out a true Bolshevik believer member of the Cheka who realizes after arresting and executing 100s of people. They weren’t enemies of the revolution, they were just ordinary people. Maybe the enemies never existed, certainly didn’t exist in the numbers his superiors said. He goes mad. Its very a “Crime and Punishment “ style film. Grim, grim film!
2. “The Admiral”
Story of the Artic explorer & WWI naval hero later a major leader of White Russian forces - Admiral Wrangel. The story has a Greek tragedy feel to it. Remember at one time (not that long ago!)saying anything positive about Wrangell would get a reservation in the Gulag.
What i find very interesting about these films is the timing. They came out only a few years after the collapse of the USSR.
Seen The Chekist, the most depressing film ever made.
I would also recommend “The Inner Circle”.
Agree about The Chekist!
I need to watch “The Inner Circle” again, its been too long!
I joked that The Chekist makes “Come and See” look like a comedy.
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