MUBI

Our Hitler: A Film from Germany , in which Hans-Jürgen Syberberg not only explains the phenomenon of Adolf Hitler, but owns it on behalf of his country provides fierce insight into the difficult idea of Adolf Hitler. The film raises as many questions as it answers, maybe more, but the one question that begs to be addressed is this: Does Hitler really deserve this superlative rationalization? Maybe not, but the world certainly does. We, as human beings who are [supposedly] striving towards coexistence and tolerance, deserve an explanation as to how and why such a horrible thing could have happened, and how it still affects us today, so that we may avoid it tomorrow. Syberberg’s motives are initially vague, and his seven hour long analysis of Hitler is difficult to comprehend – equally for the long winded philosophical and intensely personal speeches, the avant-garde, multimedia, theatrical staging and the sheer volume of ideas put forth – but proves to be a most rewarding and valuable film experience. Jarring, powerful, unabashedly intellectual and at times terrifying rationalization of Adolf Hitler and the apocalypse that was the Third Reich, Our Hitler will be shamefully dismissed as pretentious or unwatchable by many, and avoided entirely by even more. But it deserves to be seen, examined, appreciated and discussed for generations to come.

Syberberg’s ultimate conclusion is that the only choice we have is to look to the future, if not for our own sake then for the sake of our children, as long as we remember the past. This remembrance of things past is what allows – sometimes forces – us to progress. Our Hitler: A Film from Germany, despite its plentiful flaws, is simply the most courageous film I’ve ever seen, gives new depth and meaning to what cinema can accomplish and virtually defines the terms unflinching, intelligent and revolutionary.