How refreshing to blog about victims of the Nazis rather than the success that Hitler had at transforming the people with his screams and passion and fervor. While it is an interesting learning experience to separate emotion from critical analysis, it has certainly been a challenge. It can at times be a painful experience to reflect on the success or rather brilliance of some of Hitler’s strategies and causes me to question, is there evil in our own lives that we are blinded by due to successful manipulation and propaganda? Clearly, Nazi films played an integral role in manipulating the masses and reinstating pro Hitler ideology. Nevertheless, Hangmen must die is an anti Nazi propaganda film that provides many victims to analyze. What qualifies being called a victim? Does a victim have to die? Does one have to be 100 percent innocent to qualify as a victim? I argue that a victim in this film is one who has good intentions and tries his best to what is right and in the end greatly suffers for his morality. With these guidelines I find that the victim is professor Stephen Novotny. He is the father of Masha Novotny, the female lead, and while he has only a small role he makes a strong impact. He exemplifies the ideal father. He is a good husband and father and has strong anti Nazi sentiments and has a career in education. He is the logical intellectual and deeply loving family man who represents the victims of the Gestapo. When the Nazi’s arrest him the audience’s heart breaks, because this arrest is just one of the many examples of the cruelty and unfairness of the Nazi Regime. The professor represents all victims who are innocent bystanders of the war who were simply at the wrong place at the wrong time. All he wants to do is protect him family and be a good father, husband and professor. He doesn’t question when his daughter brings home a strange man into his home who is not his future son in law and treats him with the utmost respect. His innocence and his unfortunate classification of victim is not intended to emasculate him or suggest that he is oblivious to the atrocities of the war. He is sympathetic to the underground movement. When the Gestapo makes the order to arrest 400 Czech civilians, the professor goes without resistance despite the cries and concern from his wife and daughter. He does not make a scene because he understands the importance of not sabotaging the underground movement and is willing to sacrifice himself. The professor is not aware what will his fate will be, but allows his arrest to occur because he knows his protests will do nothing. I was not clear whether or not he even survives his arrest.
How refreshing to blog about victims of the Nazis rather than the success that Hitler had at transforming the people with his screams and passion and fervor. While it is an interesting learning experience to separate emotion from critical analysis, it has certainly been a challenge. It can at times be a painful experience to reflect on the success or rather brilliance of some of Hitler’s strategies and causes me to question, is there evil in our own lives that we are blinded by due to successful manipulation and propaganda? Clearly, Nazi films played an integral role in manipulating the masses and reinstating pro Hitler ideology.
ReplyDeleteNevertheless, Hangmen must die is an anti Nazi propaganda film that provides many victims to analyze. What qualifies being called a victim? Does a victim have to die? Does one have to be 100 percent innocent to qualify as a victim? I argue that a victim in this film is one who has good intentions and tries his best to what is right and in the end greatly suffers for his morality. With these guidelines I find that the victim is professor Stephen Novotny. He is the father of Masha Novotny, the female lead, and while he has only a small role he makes a strong impact. He exemplifies the ideal father. He is a good husband and father and has strong anti Nazi sentiments and has a career in education. He is the logical intellectual and deeply loving family man who represents the victims of the Gestapo. When the Nazi’s arrest him the audience’s heart breaks, because this arrest is just one of the many examples of the cruelty and unfairness of the Nazi Regime. The professor represents all victims who are innocent bystanders of the war who were simply at the wrong place at the wrong time. All he wants to do is protect him family and be a good father, husband and professor. He doesn’t question when his daughter brings home a strange man into his home who is not his future son in law and treats him with the utmost respect. His innocence and his unfortunate classification of victim is not intended to emasculate him or suggest that he is oblivious to the atrocities of the war. He is sympathetic to the underground movement. When the Gestapo makes the order to arrest 400 Czech civilians, the professor goes without resistance despite the cries and concern from his wife and daughter. He does not make a scene because he understands the importance of not sabotaging the underground movement and is willing to sacrifice himself. The professor is not aware what will his fate will be, but allows his arrest to occur because he knows his protests will do nothing. I was not clear whether or not he even survives his arrest.