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By
DEBORAH NICOL
How does one rationalize the
paternal feelings that grow towards the man many
consider one of humankind's most evil and vile?
Such is the mindset viewed through the eyes of one
of Adolph Hitler's secretaries, Traudl Junge.
This barebones documentary is simply a raw
interview with Junge -– no historical clips,
photos, or voiceovers. Artist and director André
Heller, an Austrian Jew, took special interest in
her story, as his family was directly affected by
Hitler's reign of terror. Junge had spoken little
of her experience for 60 years, and after finally
agreeing to discuss her past, she passed away on
the day of the premiere of this confessional.
Most of Junge's rationalizations spring from the
fact that she began her duties at a young age,
surrounded by the political atmosphere of millions
of Third Reich supporters. She excuses her lack of
knowledge due to her home environs, in a family
who cared little for the ways of the government or
their part in it. She was simply a good secretary
chosen from school for the honor to assist the
well-known leader in typing his speeches. She
claims the position revealed little of the truths
about Hitler's regime, but how she could be
completely naive when she read the texts is
certainly questionable. The title of this film
refers to the blind spot in which she felt
sheltered –- one that she claims never showed the
true terror right around the corner.
So loyal did Junge feel towards the Hitler, that
she chose to stay behind in the bunker with him
during his final days, typing his will, and
hearing his final suicidal gunshot. Through this
last discussion it is evident that she truly cared
for him personally, not politically, and yet she
is truly pained when she admits to the a horrific
world of which she was a member. The most poignant
moment is revealed when she confesses the shame
she felt in passing the statue of a girl who was
her age, but this girl fought against the regime
at the same time Junge was becoming a part of it.
The power of this film is in its words, and the
DVD is as sparse as the cinematography. There are
no extras aside from subtitles and trailers, but
the psychological dissection is worth viewing. |
