Let's take one of the most controversial subjects in the world and then apply it to a propaganda bill. These are the actions taken in making a film like this.
A young woman (played by Heidemarie Hatheyer) suffers from multiple sclerosis and is almost left completely paralysed from the experience. Her breathing is weak, her actions are weak and her husband 'Professor Thomas Heyt (Played by Paul Hartmann)' despite his best efforts (as a researcher into this very disease) Can't stop her from suffering.
At some point her suffering becomes too extreme for her (and her husband to a degree) that he gives her a lethal dose of a ''medicine'' (ether) and she dies.
The last third Act of the films of courtroom case* in where the jury and judges debate the ethicacy of what Professor Thomas Heyt had just down.
It's an absolutely depressing and heart-wrenching film. Not only does it tackle an extremely controversial subject. But the film itself was made to push an agenda by the Nazi party as an excuse to kill certain people in their own country. They used the hot-button topic for actual murder. And it makes the whole thing more horrifying to talk about.
This movie has weight to it. A weight that I was not expecting. And I sit here now dumbfounded on what to say.
I don't know what my opinions on euthanasia is.
On the one hand I support the right for people to die a peaceful death and I don't like the idea of a slow lingering agonising life.
I've had minor experiences throughout my life where I've suffered with headaches so severe that I was unable to think move, sleep or even eat. I would just lie there and agony. wishing to God that the pain would go away one way or another. They were horrible experiences they would only last maybe 2 days and it would only happen once or twice a year.
But just that little bit of Torment that small chunk of torture has given me a different insight into the world of mercy killing. It sounds horrible to say but the idea of having to live in that condition for weeks or possibly years on end with no end in sight in goal really makes you rethink your position on life and existing.
But still I sit here now not in pain and I think to myself; ''I wouldn't want to die. We're
guaranteed this one life with nothing else''. How far are people willing to take euthanasia?
The film itself was using it as an excuse. Trying to promote the idea of ''mercy'' killing, so the Nazi party could go and eliminate those ''less desirable'' folks from their society. An act so sickly and so heinous that it'll makes you want to avoid the conversation all together.
How about the doctor's point of view? You're in a profession where you take a Medical Oath not to hurt or injury a patient. Then to be told that you should let them die or help them to die.
I don't know what I would do in such a position.
Especially when you're not sure of the outcome. If there's a turnaround for the disease or a way to avoid pain and possibly still keep the person alive.
What kind of stress are we putting on those people?
I've seen loads of people in the medical industry who have taken up smoking simply out of stress. They know better than anybody the dangers of such a habit but because of the extreme situation they're placed into just to take care of people that resort to some of the most hardcore methods of relief.
Then you want to throw on top of them life and death like the switch of a outlet.
The whole thing reeks of hypocrisy.
I sit here claiming that I wouldn't be able to decide the life and death of man. But I've euthanized my cat. I watched it slowly died from a lethal injection given by the vet because it was suffering and we didn't have the finances to cure it.
Now there are some that would say that the death of an animal is not the same as a human. And on a legal and social level that's completely true. But biologically it's not. The death of one animal was no different from the death of another. And when it's something you have a personal connection to; It makes it all the more difficult to go through with.
Perhaps what makes this even worse is that the film itself is okay. It's a well-acted well-thought-out with a lot of legitimate statements to be made. And it sickens me to say that given the context for what this movie was made for.
But I can't deny the product itself despite what it was used for.
It's almost impossible to divorce the art from the Practical purpose. And this whole movie is made me extremely uncomfortable. I sit here watching this poor woman suffering and I'm almost happy that she gets the relief she needs all while knowing her husband is doing something Unbecoming of his profession.
This might be the least comfortable film I have ever had the displeasure of watching.Yet part of me is proud that I got through it.
That I witnessed this extremely weird piece of cinematic history. Produced in the most confusing time of the 20th Century.
It's all personal drama and the internal problems with people trying to deal with each other. Watching a community break apart because of the suffering of one person. With a surprising amount of time dedicated to the processes of the medical research itself. From isolating the Gene and having the long hours of the doctors work through what they think is a pointless endeavor. With the occasional highlight where they think they've discovered the cure for the problem only to then realize that it was caused by something else.
There's even a horrible little bit of foreshadowing beforehand.
A bunch of lab mice are being tested on to find a result. They get one result which leaves a mouse paralysed from the waist down. And one of the doctors takes the poor little moues and puts it in a glass filled with cotton soaked in ether.
Saying that the poor little creature won't have to suffer in pain anymore.
When it comes down to it. When you try to divorce the film from everything that surrounds it you'll end up with a decent film. A film that tackles of subject that I don't see many people tackling now let alone in 1941. With really good acting in a surprisingly thought-out screenplay.
There's a real sense of emotion and support towards everyone involved in the film.
But the world doesn't exist in a vacuum and knowing the cause of this film makes it all the more uncomfortable to deal with.
It's a movie where you almost wish it was made worse. Then you would be able to sit there and say ''Well it tackles a hard subject matter, but doesn't very poorly.'' Plus I don't have to give it my time or my thought.
I can throw it to the Wayside and let it be forgotten by time. But it's not a bad film. It's sadly a very good film.
And if all of this seems incredibly repetitive to you than I apologise. Not only is my literary skill low but this film is left me feeling emotionally drained. I can't really keep my thoughts above water and I don't want to explore this anytime soon.
So you get this.
Blathering.
Blathering from a very sad and very tired person.
*I went on for a bit about the propaganda of the German Socialist Party but it should be expressed that any reference to the Nazis is only made twice.
There's a small line somewhere at the beginning of the film where one of the characters talks about the other one being a socialist and how he used to bad-mouth that man for being so.
And finally there's the courtroom scene where you can see just the tiniest inclinations that this entire system is ruled by a group of fascist. Otherwise that it's played down or possibly isn't played at all. depicting just basic German life going through the tendons of this incredibly awkward system.
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