Movie spotlight
Je vais tuer Hitler
One day, in Savigny, an 18-year-old boy left his house in the middle of the war, saying: "I'm leaving, I'm going to kill Hitler." His name was Joseph, he was Jewish, he was my great-uncle. He disappeared during the night of the Occupation, and his existence became a family secret. He disappeared from history, the small as well as the big: he is not on any deportation list, and the only archive where he appears is a family photo of him as a child. It disappeared like a stone at the bottom of the water, instead of going up in smoke in the sky of Poland. What did he become? And why didn't anyone mention his name anymore?
Insights
Plot Summary
In 1930s Berlin, a young Jewish man named Walter finds himself increasingly threatened by the rise of Nazism. As his life becomes unbearable, he grapples with the desperate and dangerous idea of assassinating Adolf Hitler himself. The film explores the immense psychological and moral burden of such a potential act against the backdrop of a rapidly escalating totalitarian regime.
Critical Reception
The film received mixed to positive reviews, with critics often praising its ambition and Ben Whishaw's performance, but some found its narrative pacing uneven. Audience reception was similarly varied, with some appreciating the historical drama and others questioning the execution of its sensitive subject matter.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for its compelling premise and intense atmosphere.
Ben Whishaw's portrayal of Walter is frequently highlighted as a standout element.
Some reviews noted that the film occasionally struggles with its pacing and thematic clarity.
Google audience: Audience feedback is limited and varied. Some viewers found the film thought-provoking and relevant, while others felt it did not fully deliver on its ambitious historical premise.
Fun Fact
The film was shot on location in and around Berlin, aiming to capture the historical atmosphere of the era.
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