Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by jamesgarvin (A) on May 19, 2006 at 10:15:38

2004 film from Israel about an Israeli intelligence officer named Eyal who receives assignments to "take care of" former Nazi officers. Alfred Himmelman is a Nazi officer who escaped to South America, and there are questions in Israel whether he is still alive. His grandaughter Pia lives in Israel, and his grandson Axel is coming for a visit. The intelligence office sends Eyal to pose as a travel guide to spend time with the grandchildren to learn whether Himmelman is alive, and if so, where.

As their tour guide, he bugs the grandaughter's residence, and learns that the two of them do not know whether the grandfather is alive, and that detest him and what he stood for. Over the course of the film, issues such as the Palestinians, Araba, and Homosexuals are dealt with in complicated and human levels. We see hostility toward those groups, yet the subjects of the hostility are depicted as real people, not violent caricatures.

Axel departs, and Eyad elects to go to Berlin, more or less freelancing at that point. While in Berlin, Axel invites him to Axel's father's birthday party. Introduced to the family, we see the polite expressions of welcome, but also the apprehension of a Jew in the house. During the party, Axel teaches the guests an Israeli folk dance, that goes well because we realize that the guests have no idea this is an Israeli folk dance. This scene very intellgently demonstrates that those who hate, or at least prejudiced, have little knowledge of those they hate.

Well, grandfather shows up at the party as a surprise. Eyal runs to his handler, and Eyad wants to take him to Israel to stand trial. His handler, fearing the old man will be dead before that happens, wants "to get him before God does." This sets up the final act of the film which is very poignant, heartfelt, well acted, and unexpected. I cannot provide the details here because it is an ending earned by watching the film, and to give it away would be cheating anyone who sees this film.

As I wrote the film is from Israel. I think we often think that those from Israel as pretty much in lock step with some of the violence committed by both sides of the political situation. Arabs and Palentinians are not depicted as murderous. They are shown as regular people who go to work, run businesses, have families. Eyal undergoes a subtle transition through the film, but culminates in the final scene, and is not what we expect from an Israeli.

I read that the actress who plays the grandaughter had a grandfather who was a Nazi. I learn that Ernet Lenart, who played Himmelman, was actually a German stage actor in the 30's who was forced to flee Germany when Hitler rose to power. Hanns Zichler plays Axel's father, and he was allegedly Godard's favorite actor.

A rich film, intelligent, fun to watch, very good acting, and a great ending. Very recommended.