yesterday evening, after an impromptu decision, i watched the German movie, Sophie Scholl-die letzen Tage (Sophie Scholl-the Last Days) at Cineleisure Damansara.
it chronicles the last few days of Sophie Scholl, an opponent of the 3rd Reich in Nazi Germany before her execution. along with her brother, Hans Scholl, they were arrested and interrogated and subsequently, after a horrifying sham show trial (this brings to mind the words 'kangaroo court') Hans, Sophie and Christoph Probst were declared guilty. almost immediately after, they were executed by guillotine.
as members of the passive resistance group the White Rose, they had been writing, printing and distributing leaflets denouncing Hitler, and that is when Hans and Sophie were arrested at the university.
the movie is slow-moving, yet one can sense just how much took place in the really short space of 5 days. from the opening scene to the dramatic arrest and the interrogation, i cannot help but feel Sophie's strength and courage. there were only 2 times when she cried - first, after her initial interrogation and second, when it was time to say goodbye to her parents just before her execution. her calm eyes and demeanour are most unforgettable.
needless to say, the courtroom scene was horrific. the judge, if he may be called that, was cruel and callous, and the court-appointed defence counsel a spineless jellyfish.
i liked the spare use of music, which served to heighten the realistic feel of the movie rather than making it overblown and overdramatic. it accentuated the emotions, and the final scene with the clergyman was very moving. 'Father, i ask for your blessing'...
sophie's strength did not lie solely in her being well-read, or her courage or her determination or her intelligence or courage under fire. in the end, as her prayers show, it was God alone who gave her all the strength she needed. i could not help but wonder just how many good men and women of God became martyrs in this war. Dietrich Bonhoeffer comes to mind.
i would recommend this movie to people who like to think/ponder after watching a movie. if you like films with flash, speed and bang, there are the summer blockbuster movies. this is not for you.
1 comment:
on second thought i'll email you.
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