Educational Media Reviews Online

Although this video is well presented it is difficult for non German speakers due to timing and graphics associated with the subtitles. Accordingly, there are several shortcomings to the objective viewing of this documentary. The documentary fails to have a menu for selecting topic chapters which makes it tedious to move back to review portions of the video. Second and more important to this reviewer is that subtitles are small font and are timed closely to the rapid speech pattern of the narrator. This viewer spent most of his time trying to read the subtitle before it faded out. The font was white which when presented on black and white frames presented a greater difficulty in reading portions thereof. In addition, while it was admirable to present long strings of the translated language in subtitles, this complicated the reading process. As a result much of the excellently shot footage was missed in an effort to read the subtitles. This experience could be enhanced by leaving the subtitles up longer and perhaps a slight font increase as well as a slower speaking narrator. Hence, much of the narrator’s point was missed in simply trying to keep up with the timing of the scenes. This timing issue creates a difficulty that is central to not recommending this film for junior high and high school students.

Aside from the above shortcomings this is a very interesting and informative historical analysis of how groups such as the Nazi’s may use language, symbols, and religious connotation in order to come to power. It raises questions that deserve in depth analysis and consideration. Questions include: Where do legends expand our thinking and where do they bury it? When does spiritual pursuit suddenly turn into fanaticism and violence? Last, have we as a society learned from our past, and if so have forgotten the lessons of the 20th Century? Are we now embarking on a new level only to learn the same old lessons about humanity again?

In addressing these questions the director and producer take us into the back drop of the history of Germany beginning in the late 1800’s through the late 20th Century at the eve of the 21st. It offers very good subject matter for balance of ideas and thought while remaining steadfast in its goal to trace racism in context of sacred doctrine and nationalism. As quoted from the film about the Nazi Party, “A society that does not take archetypes, myths, and symbols seriously will possibly be jumped by them from behind.”