On january 20 1942 at the height of the second world war 15 government officials and ss commanders attended a conference on the outskirts of berlin. It was a simple meeting which by the end would decide the fate of six million lives. Conspiracy is based on the only surviving record of that meeting. Studio: Hbo Home Video Release Date: 03/29/2005 Starring: Kenneth Branagh Colin Firth Run time: 96 minutes Rating: R Director: Frank Pierso
On January 20, 1942, with the tide of war turning in favor of the Allies, a small group of SS officers, government ministers, and Nazi officials met near Berlin to decide the fate of Europe's Jews. Based on the only surviving record of that meeting, Conspiracy is a powerful combination of historical reconstruction and speculation that attempts to offer new insights into a pivotal moment in history.
The cast does a marvelous job of fleshing out the documentary evidence to create convincing characters. Kenneth Branagh is especially chilling as SS Chief of Security Reinhard Heydrich, who uses a combination of charm and ruthless power-mongering to gain support for his plans. Colin Firth is fascinating as Wilhelm Stuckart, a lawyer who sees the brutal tactics of the SS as a threat to his own intellectualized anti-Semitism, and Stanley Tucci gives a wonderfully understated performance as Adolf Eichmann.
Conspiracy is a carefully crafted, completely unsensational film that offers ample proof of the banality of evil. There are no histrionics and no comic-book Nazi villains, just a small group of politicians and war-weary soldiers arguing about the meaning of words and the logistics of extermination, calmly preparing to unleash an unimaginable horror on the world. --Simon Leake
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
The mundane beginning of the holocaust:
This film takes place in one place only and with a limited set of characters. It revolves around the Wannsee Conference, a meeting held at the highest levels of the German government and the Nazi Party. The conference brings together lawyers, technocrats, military (SS), and bureaucrats who, after being skillfully guided by Reichsprotector Reinhard Heydrich, set the stage for the mass extermination of the Jewish population in Europe. The issue is settled much as a trade treaty or a new public relations... more info
The blind leading...the vicious:
I'm not certain what I can add that hasn't already been said -- so elequently -- about this film. After seeing a film with someone, you might be tempted to ask that person, "Did you enjoy the movie?" This isn't a movie to be enjoyed; rather, it is an experience to be remembered and talked about. Needless to say, the acting is superb, as is the script. For me, I take note of what is said non-verbally... When Heydrich tells Kritzinger that the Fuhrer will "continue to deny" any planning or intent to... more info
Super Movie:
This movie is really good to have. It really brings home again how terrible a thing it was about the Nazis killing the Jews. A good movie to make a older teenage sit down and watch to understand history's violence and agression.
Branagh Shines as Heydrich:
I missed this film when it originally aired since I do not have HBO. However, a friend of mine brought it to my attention about 4 years ago and I am glad he did. For an entire film taking place (for the most part) in one room, it is amazingly riveting. Watching these Nazi's sitting around the table eating, drinking, and joking while they discuss the "final solution" is quite chilling. Those familiar with the Wansee Conference will respect the accuracy of the portrayal of events while those new to this will... more info
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