Instead of going to bed early tonight as what I've initially planned, I decided to watch a HBO original movie which I knew nothing about, "conspiracy." Ironically, I've actually seen clips of this movie on the channel several times, though was never able to watch it for more than 5 minutes, since the movie seemed pretty dull to me. Little did I know, this movie gives me a greater understanding of the Holocaust and the process that leads to this shameful event of human history.
They came to Wannsee as high-ranking leaders of Germany's World War II effort. Two hours later, they left as co-conspirators in the murder of millions of Jews. "Conspiracy" is the story of the top-secret Nazi meeting in which fifteen men debated--and ultimately agreed upon--the merits of Hitler's "Final Solution," the extermination of the entire Jewish population of Europe. Based on the lone surviving transcript of the meeting's minutes and shot in real time, this stunning drama recreates one of the most infamous gatherings in world history, and depicts the intense emotions and chilling dialogue that permeated the room that day. (I'll be honest here, I did NOT write this summary...I could only wish my writing is that skillful. The description is taken from hbo.com)
One of the most interesting elements of "Conspiracy" is that the entire 95 minutes of the film is shot at one place, which accurately reflects how this meeting went down. Again, I am not ashamed to admit I am not a very patient person and get bored easily. This technique, however, does not bug me at all. In fact, I applaud the director for "keeping it real," with no intension to "modernize" this event. I love it when history is portrayed the way it happened, with the exception of "Titanic." Also, I absolutely adore Kenneth Branagh, who plays the leading figure - Reinhard Heydrich. I saw him in "Hamlet" and he did a brilliant job!
While watching this movie, I could not and still can't believe how a decision made by a group of 15 men (well, actually 1, who has the most power in the group) could change the fate of an entire race forever? The Holocaust took place not centuries ago, but a little over 50 years ago! Doesn't this fact appal you? Only a few decades ago, we, the supposedly rational, humane creatures, who are being taught about love, tolerance, peace, actually allowed the termination of our own kind? How could anyone define "racial purity?" Best written in a song by Garth Brooks, "We Shall Be Free," "there's only one race and that's mankind." I cannot even begin to tell you how much I despite racists - the lowest of the low, who think they themselves are superior and have the right to look-down at others. If you look around us, the continuing struggles and wars of race and religion are actually happening as we speak, such as the crisis in the Middle East. As corny as it sounds, if there is only one thing I wish for, that would be world peace. Really, we can never live freely until we accept our differences and embrace them. History does NOT need to repeat itself; those millions of Jews should NOT have died for nothing. The killing of your own kind has to be the most brutal thing in the world.
So Lord, please help us so your children can truly live happily and see the beauty of this world.
