An inquiry into decades of cultural fascination with the Nazi leader, and the ramifications of such a fascination on present day politics.An inquiry into decades of cultural fascination with the Nazi leader, and the ramifications of such a fascination on present day politics.An inquiry into decades of cultural fascination with the Nazi leader, and the ramifications of such a fascination on present day politics.
- Awards
- 1 nomination
Adolf Hitler
- Self
- (archive footage)
Mike Taibbi
- Self
- (archive footage)
Sebastian Haffner
- Self
- (archive footage)
Yehuda Bauer
- Self - Historian: Rethinking the Holocaust
- (as Prof. Yehuda Bauer)
Peter Theiss-Abendroth
- Self - Psychiatrist
- (as Dr. Peter Theiss-Abendroth)
Winfried Nerdinger
- Self - Historian: Munich Documentation Center for the History of National Socialism
- (as Prof. Winfried Nerdinger)
Alexander Gauland
- Self - Far-Right German Leader
- (archive footage)
- Directors
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- ConnectionsFeatures Triumph of the Will (1935)
Featured review
The long shadow of Hitler
"The Meaning of Hitler" (2020 release; 93 min.) is a documentary about the long shadow of Hitler, now 75+ years after his death and the demise of the Nazis. As the documentary opens, we see a New York train commuter reading reading the 1978 book "The Meaning Of Hitler" by Sebastian Haffner (the original book was in fact titled "Anmerkungen zu Hilter", meaning "Notes on Hitler"), and the documentary makers take that book as a starting (and at times resting) point to muse about Hitler. We join the film makers as they travel to Austria to look at Hitler's birth place and upbringing, and his eventual failure as a painter. How could such a man become what he became? There is no single black and white answer... At this point we are 10 min. Into the movie.
Couple of comments: this is the latest documentary from co-directors Petra Epperlein and Michael Tucker. Let me state upfront that this isn't just another documentary on Hitler. It's a complex film that borders on a college class in character studies, with lots of talking heads making psychiatric and philosophic points about the rise and fall of Hitler. And yes, the parallels between Hitler and Trump are made in a chilling way. But it's not just Trump of course. Watch how the film makers trace the rising nationalism in various parts in Europe, notably Poland and Hungary. But plenty of other interesting points are made about the concept of was and peace. A tour guide in Berlin is asked "how did the Nazis invade Germany?". No, really. But here is the most chilling point: when asked if "it" can happen again, the 80-something professor and authority on the Holocaust responds simply "yes" (and then explains why--just watch!).
"The Meaning of Hitler" premiered on the film festival circuit in the Fall of 2020, and it opened out of the blue this weekend at my local arthouse theater here in Cincinnati. The Friday early evening screening where I saw this at was attended so-so, exactly 9 people including myself. If you have any interest in understanding how Hitler rose to power in Germany, and why something like that could happen again in the West, I'd readily suggest you check this out, be it in the theater, on VOD, or eventually on DVD/Blu-ray, and draw your own conclusion.
Couple of comments: this is the latest documentary from co-directors Petra Epperlein and Michael Tucker. Let me state upfront that this isn't just another documentary on Hitler. It's a complex film that borders on a college class in character studies, with lots of talking heads making psychiatric and philosophic points about the rise and fall of Hitler. And yes, the parallels between Hitler and Trump are made in a chilling way. But it's not just Trump of course. Watch how the film makers trace the rising nationalism in various parts in Europe, notably Poland and Hungary. But plenty of other interesting points are made about the concept of was and peace. A tour guide in Berlin is asked "how did the Nazis invade Germany?". No, really. But here is the most chilling point: when asked if "it" can happen again, the 80-something professor and authority on the Holocaust responds simply "yes" (and then explains why--just watch!).
"The Meaning of Hitler" premiered on the film festival circuit in the Fall of 2020, and it opened out of the blue this weekend at my local arthouse theater here in Cincinnati. The Friday early evening screening where I saw this at was attended so-so, exactly 9 people including myself. If you have any interest in understanding how Hitler rose to power in Germany, and why something like that could happen again in the West, I'd readily suggest you check this out, be it in the theater, on VOD, or eventually on DVD/Blu-ray, and draw your own conclusion.
helpful•165
- paul-allaer
- Aug 14, 2021
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
- Languages
- Also known as
- Mit Hitlera
- Filming locations
- Berlin, Germany(Bunker Site)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $12,804
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $4,976
- Aug 15, 2021
- Gross worldwide
- $12,804
- Runtime1 hour 32 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.78 : 1
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Top Gap
By what name was The Meaning of Hitler (2020) officially released in Canada in English?
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