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May 21, 2017Janice21383 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Hannah Arendt in the glass booth. This film covers the writing of her most famed book, Eichmann In Jerusalem, and its furious aftermath. It seems to me she was often attacked on irrelevant personal grounds (she lacked feeling? would a man be attacked in that way?) by people who did not read or understand what she actually wrote (hello, internet), or had rage they saw fit to displace upon her (hello, internet, again). But what was the rage about? I'll leave the film to introduce those complex ideas, but after Arendt's book, we could not think about the Holocaust and human complicity with evil in the same way again. Unlike similar films about intellectuals, like Capote or A Beautiful Mind, the screenplay is minimalist, and there is little sentimentality. However, there are many subtly dramatic moments, and at least two show-stopping scenes: the inter-cutting of film with video from the actual trial, and the speech Arendt gives at the end, which had my heart in my mouth. The film's weak point is the presentation of opposing views; as shown here, there is no question that she was in the right. ETA: come to think of it, although you don't have to read the book to enjoy the movie, I strongly suggest reading it, either before or after. Ms. Arendt would appreciate your dedication to facts, not emotion.