I think it also has something to do with the story and the characters. It's always difficult dealing with the rise of Nazism in movies because...well, we know now just how awful things were and what monsters they became, and it colours how we look at things set before all these atrocities became public knowledge. And especially in this movie, set in 1939 literally just as the Nazis were starting to flex their muscles so to speak. So to sit through a movie where pretty much everyone hugely underestimates these guys and what they're capable of, and the most likely candidate for a hero at the start of the movie (Thomas) ends up actively embracing what we know to be a horrific ideology, can be hugely jarring. Really, the only one who doesn't underestimate the Nazis is Arvid and his storyline is about as depressing as you can get. It makes it difficult to actually root for anyone in the movie (because let's face it, Peter is a bit of a bland character).
We all know what we want to see: we want to see these kids stick to their "HJ by day; Swing Kid by night" mantra that they start with, and start some underground rebellion and kick some Nazi ass by the end, but in the end that just can't happen. I actually think this movie is a lot better than most people give it credit for (even with that admittedly "Hollywood" ending) just for that reason. It mostly sticks to its guns all the way through and actually gives a pretty chilling look at how people reacted to the circumstances they found themselves in, even before they could possibly know where it was all heading.
Someday I'm gonna make a movie then laugh watching people over-analyse it
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chrissso
8 years ago
I am a sucker for any film that takes a look at the rise of the Nazis (Hitlerism). We need to understand the forces and the process that manipulated people so as the challenge will come again and again. Real good film!!!
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