Nuremburg: The Nazis Facing Their Crimes / 2007 Lionsgate / 210 Minutes /
For many individuals, World War II is an interesting subject. I personally prefer later US history, but still appreciate what got the United States to the later history. “Nuremburg: The Nazis Facing Their Crimes†provides a lot of that information, and provides it in a way that is much more in depth and focused than any History Channel footage could ever hope to be. Director Christian Delange makes what is black and white and grainy into something that is vibrant and alive. This is due to the fact that Delange includes interviews with holocaust survivors, using first-hand footage from the National Archives, and provides individuals with information that for whatever reason has stayed hidden for the last sixty years.
Where individuals may get a trifle bored at the actual court footage from Nuremburg, historians and individuals that find the period interesting will be riveted into place by this footage. The only thing that I would personally have liked to see more of would be the reactions from the former Nazi soldiers and officers that were on the stand. What results more often are reaction shots of other individuals, or just a very “hands off†type of feel to the proceedings. What was most interesting to me was the lack of holocaust survivors that were allowed to take the stand during this trial. This is due to some sort of sensitivity held by members of the tribunal, and why exactly beyond that these survivors were unable to tell their story is unclear.
Regardless of the nuances of the trial itself, Delange provides an excellent documentary that will be shown in classrooms and on educational television stations for years to come. For any individual that wishes to know more about the Nuremburg case, whether they are writing a paper or are interested for any other reason, this documentary is a must purchase. I know that historical events are sometimes dry, but Delange’s careful hands make this much more interesting than other documentarians would be able to do. I hope to see Delange’s name attached more often to documentaries and other period works; I believe that eir work would be a great benefit for getting younger generations interested and involved in history. Check the DVD out now, pick it up for the WWII history buff in your family, and be amazed at the sheer amount of footage that is present at the DVD’s current price point.
Rating: 7.5/10