9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
What's In Your Future?, August 8, 2006
This review is from: Hanussen [VHS] (VHS Tape)
"Hanussen" is the final part in Istvan Szabo's and Klaus Maria Brandauer's trilogy of doomed figures in historic times. The trilogy started with "Mephisto" and was followed by "Colonel Redl".
"Hanussen" like "Colonel Redl" is based on a real person and inspired by true events. But, it is unlike other Szabo films in one regard. It has little to do with Hungary's history. Szabo's films usually are about his native country. Here he is dealing with a story about Germany's history and the beginning rise of Adolf Hitler.
It is like other Szabo films in this sense. Here we have a man who must face inner demons. Szabo's films are about personal struggles. Whether it is "Father", "Colonel Redl", or "Mephisto" his works concentrate on Hungary's history and individuals encountering personal problems against the historical backgrounds.
Klaus Schneider (Klause Maria Brandauer) is a soldier during WW1. He is injuried and sent to a hospital where Dr. Bettelheim (Erland Josephson) takes care of him. Soon the doctor finds out about a gift the young soldier has. His ability to mind manipulate people. Schneider is also something of a clairvoyant. Bettelheim wants Schneider to assist him after the war to help suicidal soldiers, since he can talk them out of it.
With this gift big times are ahead of Scheinder as soon he finds a manager who suggest he go to Berlin. There he changes his name to Erik Jan Hanussen and starts to make predictions on Germany's future. Such as the eventual rise to power of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party. At first the party welcomes his predictions. Hanussen states the only reason the Nazi will rise to power is because Germany is in need of change and order must preside. But Hanussen starts to predict the hate and evil that lurks within the party and the decline of the party, which Hitler and the Nazi are not so supportive of.
"Hanussen" presents some interesting ideas. One of the things that kept occuring to me as I watched the film was, what would I do if I were around then? Hanussen feels an obligation to tell people of what will happen if the party does succeed, but what does he actually do to prevent it? Does he have any responsibilty to actually do anything? Throughout the film he says he is not political.
Brandauer does a great job playing the character. If you've seen him in other movies, he has a way of always transforming himself into the various people he plays. Each character is present in a different attitude. He doesn't physically change his appearance, but, once he see him in one role we tend to forget about the others. They don't seem to exist. That's about the highest compliment I can pay Brandauer.
Through out the film, Szabo present Hanussen has a genuine clairvoyant. There have been other films made about him, the most recent, German filmmaker Werner Herzog's "Invincible", which didn't present Hanussen in a kind light. It presented him as a fraud. I wonder which version of Hanuseen is true.
"Hanussen" when made in 1988 and released in America the following year open to much critical acclaim. It was nominated for the golden palm at the Cannes Film Festival. And was also nominated for a Best Foreign Film Oscar.
Despite a change of country for Szabo, "Hanussen" retains most of the director's themes and proves to be one of his best films. If you enjoyed this film, please do seek the Herzog film as well.
Bottom-line: One of Istvan Szabo's best films. The final chapter in Szabo's and Brandauer's trilogy of doomed figures.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
"Hanussen" Hypnotic, November 23, 2003
This review is from: Hanussen [VHS] (VHS Tape)
Klaus-Maria Brandauer gives a riveting and mezmerising performance as "Hanussen", a clairvoyant in pre-war and Nazi Germany. Seeing the future though is not pleasant and Hanussen pays a price for it. He doesn't warn of terrible things to come; he just reveals it as truth. Based on a true story, the film presents a rare glimpse of post WWI Mittel-Europe too. No hard-core Nazi atrocities here, but the hints, revelations and decadent sideshows plus Branauer's hypnotic performance reveal all that's needed for a very good film.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Who cares if you die?, April 14, 2006
This review is from: Hanussen [VHS] (VHS Tape)
The creative vein of Istvan Szabo was beating with refulgent intensity. After the world success of his sumptuous and delirious film Mephisto, he returned with Hanussen , an engaging story which turns around a wounded soldier during the WW1 who seems to have prophetic gifts; because of that, will lead him to be used by the Nazis for obvious reasons.
Powerful, intriguing and memorable film. One of the supreme achievements of this Top Director.
The reason why this superb film has not been released on DVD at this time is a true riddle.
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