Customer Reviews

Wannsee Conference [VHS]

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

A mix of historical footage, interviews, and narration. I say it is not quite as described because almost 30 minutes of the 51 minutes running time describes the situation of the Jews in Nazi Germany prior to the conference, leaving only 20 minutes for the conference itself. I think anyone who would buy this video knows most of this information, and wants information about the conference and what happened there. There was very little in the way of details in that regard. The production values were also slightly below average, with the audio of the narrator's voice being drowned out by the music. It was also made before the Wannsee villa became a museum and learning center, so it is a little dated in that regard. Production date: 1992.

Sorry to say, this was a grossly misleading offer. "The Wannsee Conference" is the name of a 1984 German-made film, recreating the actual conference from notes taken by a secretary at the meeting. This VHS tape, though identically titled, was (from what I could gather) a discussion about the conference rather than a re-enactment of the conference itself. I think it should have been more accurately titled so as to avoid confusion with the film of the same name.

Another reviewer (Tracy) summed up the issues with this DVD quite well and thus I would have to agree with her remarks. Little of the film is about the Wannsee Conference, most of it is 101-level history, and - very annoyingly - the audio is all messed up: the narrator can hardly be heard over the "background" music. Just a sloppily done effort that is a waste of money.

Like most others commenting here, I thought this was the 1984 German film of the actual conference. It isn't. It's a very general documentary about the Jewish situation in Europe during the time leading up to the conference and while I enjoy a good documentary, this one is too general for my tastes. I have virtually all of the information here in other formats, making this redundant. Pity.

For those who have not read 'Rise and Fall of the Third Reich', this film offers some insights into the establishment of 'The Final Solution'. It should be a precursor to The Holocaust series of dvd's offered by Amazon.

Though some of the statements made seem self-servient, they expose the roots of the most hellish treatment ever to visit a race of peoples.

It is so very difficult to give dedicated, considered thought to such an undertaking such as the WANNSEE CONFERENCE without one's mind mobilizing restraints and creating diversions. But it must be done as well as HUMANLY possible; IT happened and IT happened in one of EUROPE'S most cultured and educated Countries; the Land of Great Composers, Philosophers, Mathematicians, Physicists, Doctors, Successful Merchants, Distinguished Professors of every imaginable subject at Distinguished Universities, Clergy of all Christian denominations and on, and on, and on....., IT happened! THE HORROR OF HORRORS; the very essence of the phrase: "MAN'S INHUMANITY TO MAN"...., .. IT COULD NOT CONCEIVABLY HAVE BEEN WORSE, we tell ourselves, NEVER AGAIN,-- BUT we have seen 'shades' of it in other places since.... albeit on a much lesser scale but no less horrific.

This ALMOST so innocent sounding name, the WANNSEE CONFERENCE, so evil was the euphemistic title given to a conspirancey antithetical to the very essence of what constitutes a civilized human soul and being with but the least of conscience say nothing of those with well-defined conscience as those listed above, who should have served, with their lives if need demanded, as the bulwark of opposition against these undisguised evil monsters.

A transcript of the precisely 85 minute Conference resides with the NUREMBURG TRIAL PROCEEDINGS but detailed summaries are available along with the list of attendees, led by the Head of Hitler's SS (Secret Service) Reinhard HEYDRICH WHO CHAIRED THE COMMITTEE AND CHARGED EACH ATTENDEE WITH SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS AND DUTIES..... for THE FINAL SOLUTION OF THE JEWISH PROBLEM IN ALL OF EUROPE. This "ptoblem" involved the planned literal, ruthless murder in the most grotesque manner of over 11,000,000 Jewish women children, babies and men. This material MUST be read by every human being on the face of G-D'S EARTH. This is a blemish on the soul of humanity. How such can ever be purged is beyond my intellectual capacity to discern. Reading of this CONFERENCE is but a feeble start and delving deeper will test one's moral strength and Eternal Soul.

The banality of evil is a good way to describe this movie. It is a reconstructed dialogue based on events and every attempt seems to have been made to give the characters some life. It was impossible for Heydrich to have a lazy eye, as he did in real life, so those little things couldn't be brought into the production. However the broad power plays and a recognition of 'illegality' could be portrayed.

The movie presents the facts (and nothing but the facts) of that fateful conference. You have to speak German fluently to catch the nuances of the language used.

This was made in Germany, subtitled, and remade with Kenneth Branaugh with title of Conspiracy. That this was made in Germany, is amazing reflection of a willingness to look into the dark side of Nazi Germany High Command, the cold decision made by group dedicated to The Final Solution, over lunch. Chilling and expertly done.

To avoid atrocities, the mankind should never forget what has happened once, to prevail what might happen again.