Escape into Confusion It the midst of midterms and paper writing, one would think that I would enjoy a light comedy full of sparkles. One would hope that I would find Baron’s magic powers an escape from my midterms like German citizens did of dire times at war. I instead was very stressed out and would have rather watched a more straightforward film. So perhaps my serious problems with the narrative framework of the film are due to my state of mind and so I was not able to properly escape into the scenery the way it was intended. The chaotic and dream like structure made me feel like I was in the wrong movie. Perhaps I will watch again over break and write another blog post about how creative and aesthetically pleasing and will find that I enjoyed the wild ride. For now, I found the film’s narrative framework very difficult to follow, the flashbacks and the circular structure of the plot was ineffective. While the narrative framework was difficult to follow, the plot was much less important in this film, which is something I have found as a common trait in some of the Nazi films that we have watched. What is more important is how this film created a new direction of Nazi propaganda films that set to rival developing Hollywood. The narrative framework was a distraction to what the audience was supposed to take from the movie. However, I thought the thematic implications of exploring sexuality, immortality and exploring your fantasizes was interesting and important ideas to analyze in Nazi propaganda films. I assume that Goebbels had no particular opinion of the narrative framework, but found the hidden anti Semitic messages and the ability that people had to escape from the hidden realities of war a mechanism to a successful film. I find that this film take a new direction of what is supposed to be considered Nazi film. It is absurd highly visual effects distracted me from the story and what I was supposed to feel at the end. When the narrator in a film is unreliable or is a liar or is untrustworthy I find myself not trusting anything in the movie and not being able to believe anything I see or here and my whole set of values and morals about truth and what is right are out of whack. I find the most effective Nazi propaganda films that we have watched in class thus far represent the mastery and subtle tactics that Hitler and his regime use to manipulate the masses. It is interesting that is considered a cult classic and a historical film. Its trippy visual effects and imagery reminded me of what the Wizard of Oz would have looked like if Goebbels had remade it. I am slightly confused about what the goals of this film were and what point is were trying to make about Nazi’s. Rentschler points out that the film’s original audience “found therapeutic relief”. I found just the opposite. I found the storyline confusing and was distracted by the special effects and the flashbacks. Rentschler also points out this is one of the few films with a “self reflexive framework” in order to camouflage the film’s” wartime mission”. Filmmakers shunned this kind of eccentricity for good reason. It is distracting to the underlying goal to make people that German nationalism and utmost respect for the Nazi parties is the best way to go about life. While it was confusing I agree with several of my fellow bloggers that the storyline was creative and thought its message that a hero can come in many shapes and forms. The Baron’s immortality displayed in the narrative framework I thought was properly executed. When comparing immortality to a “Nazi hero” it makes sense because the goal was for German nationalism to spread and be the strongest and most powerful nation for all of eternity.
Escape into Confusion
ReplyDeleteIt the midst of midterms and paper writing, one would think that I would enjoy a light comedy full of sparkles. One would hope that I would find Baron’s magic powers an escape from my midterms like German citizens did of dire times at war. I instead was very stressed out and would have rather watched a more straightforward film. So perhaps my serious problems with the narrative framework of the film are due to my state of mind and so I was not able to properly escape into the scenery the way it was intended. The chaotic and dream like structure made me feel like I was in the wrong movie. Perhaps I will watch again over break and write another blog post about how creative and aesthetically pleasing and will find that I enjoyed the wild ride. For now, I found the film’s narrative framework very difficult to follow, the flashbacks and the circular structure of the plot was ineffective. While the narrative framework was difficult to follow, the plot was much less important in this film, which is something I have found as a common trait in some of the Nazi films that we have watched. What is more important is how this film created a new direction of Nazi propaganda films that set to rival developing Hollywood. The narrative framework was a distraction to what the audience was supposed to take from the movie. However, I thought the thematic implications of exploring sexuality, immortality and exploring your fantasizes was interesting and important ideas to analyze in Nazi propaganda films. I assume that Goebbels had no particular opinion of the narrative framework, but found the hidden anti Semitic messages and the ability that people had to escape from the hidden realities of war a mechanism to a successful film. I find that this film take a new direction of what is supposed to be considered Nazi film. It is absurd highly visual effects distracted me from the story and what I was supposed to feel at the end. When the narrator in a film is unreliable or is a liar or is untrustworthy I find myself not trusting anything in the movie and not being able to believe anything I see or here and my whole set of values and morals about truth and what is right are out of whack. I find the most effective Nazi propaganda films that we have watched in class thus far represent the mastery and subtle tactics that Hitler and his regime use to manipulate the masses. It is interesting that is considered a cult classic and a historical film. Its trippy visual effects and imagery reminded me of what the Wizard of Oz would have looked like if Goebbels had remade it. I am slightly confused about what the goals of this film were and what point is were trying to make about Nazi’s. Rentschler points out that the film’s original audience “found therapeutic relief”. I found just the opposite. I found the storyline confusing and was distracted by the special effects and the flashbacks. Rentschler also points out this is one of the few films with a “self reflexive framework” in order to camouflage the film’s” wartime mission”. Filmmakers shunned this kind of eccentricity for good reason. It is distracting to the underlying goal to make people that German nationalism and utmost respect for the Nazi parties is the best way to go about life. While it was confusing I agree with several of my fellow bloggers that the storyline was creative and thought its message that a hero can come in many shapes and forms. The Baron’s immortality displayed in the narrative framework I thought was properly executed. When comparing immortality to a “Nazi hero” it makes sense because the goal was for German nationalism to spread and be the strongest and most powerful nation for all of eternity.