“Conspiracy” – Kenneth Branagh, Stanley Tucci 2001

In my earlier review post “Three Neglected Films On Third Reich Germany”, I briefly examined a German-language made-for-TV film called The Wannsee Conference from 1984. Although I consider this film adequate to cover the historical event, I mentioned knowing of another film that had done so, namely Conspiracy from HBO. I’ve only now seen it and it requires attention due to some aspects of the production that provide help in attempts to apprehend the influences at work in the Reich government of that day and hour.

The depicted working lunch meeting of 20 January 1942 was held some time after issuance of at least one genocidal order from Hitler and at least three or four major slaughters of Jewish noncombatants in German-held areas. Contrary to common understanding, the Wannsee meeting did not initiate the Final Solution, but it organized things more efficiently at the state level. This was needed since relocation of minority undesirables further outside Germany was no longer possible. By ‘42, opposing armies were in the way. Euphemisms such as “evacuation” (meaning extermination) were introduced at this meeting, confusing some of the participants while others clearly had been informed of planned and current activities.

This HBO production adds some shades of meaning to the contemporary picture of the event. Like the WTBS production of Albert Speer’s Inside The Third Reich (1982) which I often cite, this film is one of the few to “humanize” the Nazi hierarchy by making many interpersonal relations clear, rather than simply having people in uniforms holler speeches. This requires clever writing and delivery; Kenneth Branagh as Reinhard Heydrich received a Primetime Emmy for best actor and Stanley Tucci as Adolf Eichmann got a Golden Globe for best supporting actor. Their interplay effectively shows that Heydrich and Eichmann were the architects of the plan being presented to (or foisted upon) the others.

Other pluses include optics of the Fiesler Storch monoplane in which Heydrich arrives (historically accurate, I think; only the elite could commandeer such a vehicle at that stage of the war). Although one angle is a CGI shot, the close-in scene appears done with a rare flying example or a good replica of the actual vehicle. Script pluses include dealing with the situation of some department heads not having been informed as to what others were doing behind their backs (diplomats were lied to while soldiers did the dirty work). One of the Reich’s Secretary of State/Foreign Minister equivalents protests that rule of law is being ignored, which point Heydrich counters – but with clear concern that proper legal appearances be maintained. That exchange is shrewdly followed by a proposition by Chancellery Secretary Klopfer that there be a show of hands as to how many lawyers are in the room. About half of those at the conference table raised their hands (again, historically accurate as far as I know).

A few things don’t work, such as bits of foul language that are not necessary, and Branagh’s blond hair treatment which won’t quite convince. But a liberal use of European actors and believable details such as the lunch of pork loin (a Jew joke that I’m not sure was historically accurate but wouldn’t be surprised to learn had been) maintain the production’s relevance to a detailed understanding of what some leaders or “leaders” can be capable of, under cover of propriety and procedure.

An examination of atrocious behavior at high levels of society is always prudent.

/sb