‘Nuremberg’ – The Trial That Shaped History
Image: Nuremberg: Russell Crowe
Nuremberg is a post WWII historical drama directed by James Vanderbilt and stars Rami Malek and Russell Crowe.
The story surrounds the Nuremberg trials which were military tribunals to prosecute prominent Nazi leaders for war crimes against humanity. These trials were commonly regarded by civilians at the time as ‘the biggest circus in town’.
The date is May 7, 1945, and Adolf Hitler is dead. The atrocities committed by the Nazis to Jews in the Final Solution are slowly surfacing and the world needs to know the evil exploits of the Third Reich. The top ranking nazis responsible have been captured and should be put on trial for war crimes.
But the prominent barristers argue there’s no international law to base these crimes on. Who do you put on trial? The soldiers responsible who were merely following orders or the higher hierarchy? Or should responsibility just fall on Adolf Hitler who is deceased?
Should those responsible just be executed for their crimes? “An eye for an eye is not the answer”, the Pope states, strongly opposed to their execution.
Rami Malek plays the role of Douglas Kelley, a US Army psychiatrist assigned as the psychiatrist for the Nazi leaders who must judge the mental capacity of the prisoners. He’s fascinated as to what makes the Nazis different – why are they so evil?
Russel Crowe portrays the character of Reichsmarshall Herman Göring, one of the most powerful figures in the Nazi Party and an alleged war criminal who Kelly finds intelligent, charismatic, imaginative and extremely narcissistic. Did Göring know about the Final Solution of the Jewish Question? Regardless, he believes he’ll escape the hangman’s noose.
This film can be divided in two sections. The first explores the Judicial matters and Kelley’s developing obsession with the mind of Göring which he finds mysterious and puzzling. Kelley’s plan is to write a book which could have a lasting impression on the world.
The trial follows, and a deafening silence can be felt in the cinema as several minutes of real-life footage are screened, highlighting the devastating aftermath of the heinous crimes committed in these concentration camps.
The cinematography is breathtakingly seamless, and the addition of black and white footage adds depth and creates a sense of unease, compounding to the authenticity of the narrative.
Nuremberg is a brilliant piece of filmmaking, inescapably depressing and may inadvertently arouse negative emotions amongst the more impressionable of viewers.
With the Oscar buzz building, both Russell Crowe and Rami Malek should be emerging frontrunners in the Best Actor category for their commanding and memorable performances.
One of the finest films of the year!
****
In Cinemas December 4
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