Weekend recap.
Friday: Went to the movies with boyfriend and friend. Saw "Der Untergang". If you only see one movie this year, this should be it! It's nominated for best foreign film at the Oscars (although I doubt it'll get it, it's too controversial), and I understand why. It's a german film about the last days of Hitler's life, in Berlin being taken over by the russians, hence the title. The movie has been much debated in Germany, because it depicts Hitler as a human being, not as a black/white monster, and some people worried about the effect this would have on those who see the movie. Personally, I think it made him appear even more horrible. A b/w character is too easily put in the same booth as other action movie evil characters, and not taken for being real. But seeing the man as a human being was damn unsettling. To have that realisation that it was a HUMAN that did these things, not a robot-like, cut out of a scary-movie person... It made him much much worse in my eyes. Not that I had any high thoughts of this person before, but it was so easy to dismiss because I had no feeling of Hitler being a real person, only a stereotype monster. Now, seeing how he cared for his dog, showing compassion for his secretaries and at the same time denying any evacuation of civilians out of Berlin, saying how the german people had proven to be weak, and thus deserving to be wiped out. And coolly remarking how it would be easier to rebuild his "Germania" when all of Berlin was in ruins, as the ruins would be easier to remove than if there were standing houses. I mean, it brings another dimension to it. He was only a human. But a human gone terribly wrong. And it scares the shit outta me that some people are actually capable of doing such things. But of course, the man was insane. And no, even though he's depicted as a real human in the movie, if you are a normal, sane person, you still wouldn't sympathise with him. In fact, there aren't many people in the movie you get to feel much sympathy for. There are no heroes. There's only grim reality, horrible scenes and awful destinies.
Another thing with this movie... the insanely great job done by the actors. Bruno Ganz as Hitler is perhaps the best role I've seen anyone do. First the uncanny resemblance to Hitler, but body language and voice... Damn! There wasn't one single second during the movie that I didn't buy that this was Hitler. In fact, I'm unsure if I would be able to tell them apart.
OK. I've ranted enough about this movie now. But if it IS shown at a theatre close to you, do go and see it. It's an unpleasant experience, but a necessary one.
Saturday: my love's parents came to visit, as it's my love's 25th birthday on wednesday and coming all the way down here on wednesday after work wasn't really an option for them. I tried to make Baked Alaska, but it was only semi-successful. And dripped all over the place, stupid ice... We also took a small trip down to the World's End. It's the furthest south you can get from here. I live on an island that's linked by a bridge to another island south of us, and the south point of that island is called "the World's End". From there there's only ocean between Norway and Denmark. You CAN go further south than that on the main land, but it's us who have the World's End. It's a beautiful place, especially in summer, but it still holds its charms in Winter also. Although I noticed now that some of the fields have a little green on them :D Yay!
