Blind Spot: Hitler's Secretary

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src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?o=1&l=as1&f=ifr&t=reelmoviecriticc&p=8&asins=B0000CABBT&IS2=1&lt1=_blank"><MAP NAME="boxmap-p8"><AREA SHAPE="RECT" COORDS="14, 200, 103, 207" HREF="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm/privacy-policy.html?o=1" ><AREA COORDS="0,0,10000,10000" HREF="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect-home/reelmoviecriticc" ></MAP><img src="http://rcm-images.amazon.com/images/G/01/rcm/120x240.gif" width="120" height="240" border="0" usemap="#boxmap-p8" alt="Shop at Amazon.com"></iframe>  </B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="123df3a40.png" border=0 width="243" height="164" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="579" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 23 WIDTH="575"><div> Blind Spot - Hitler's Secretary</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="575"><div> 3.5 Stars</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 23 WIDTH="575"><div> Rating</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="575"><div> PG </div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="575"><div> <B>for thematic material</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="575"><div> <B>Director</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 23 WIDTH="575"><div> Andre Heller & Othmar Schmiderer</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="575"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="575" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="575"><div> <B>I'm ready to speak my Peace</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="575"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="575" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="575"><div> <B>Starring</B></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="579" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="575"><div> Traudl Junge</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> As a young woman, 22 years of age, Frau Traudl Junge worked as one of Hitler's personal secretaries from 1942-1945.  In the waning days of his regime, among her many duties, she took his last will and testament before his suicide by shooting. Shortly before her death from cancer on February 11, 2002 she was able to say, "I have finally let go of my story. Now I feel the world is letting go of me."</div> <bR> <div> Unlike any other documentary George can recall, this one is riveting not only because of the personal account given of a haunting subject matter, the holocaust, but because there was no relief with cutting to different people and/or locations. The directors Andre Heller and Othmar Schmidere essentially had Junge look into the camera, and you had the feeling that she was talking to you because she was. Ten hours of footage was edited to 90 minutes and it goes by quickly.</div> <bR> <div> Although she seems to regret her idealism during her service to Hitler, Junge does not appear to be sorry for it. That said, it does seem that she wants to forgive herself but cannot. Apparently some experiences scar you for life. According to director Heller, Traudl Junge said the reason she was silent for so many years was that "I had the feeling I couldn't forgive this young fool." </div> <bR> <div> One might think that Hitler, the man behind the murder of over 6,000,000 people, in privacy with his personal staff, seemingly secure beneath 11 meters of concrete, would be ranting anti Semitic statements in his private quarters. Such was not the case, according to Junge. Not only did he seldom talk about Jews he usually did not discuss concentration camps. It appears that once the machinery was set in motion and the deeds to be done were made clear to those in the field, he felt he could be above it all. When he did talk about Jews it was to blame them for many of the ills of Germany. Junge says of Hitler, "It wasn't what he said, but the way he said…and how he did things." </div> <bR> <div> Interestingly, Hitler was a vegetarian. To relieve stress, he would often have lunch with his secretarial staff. In his darkest days, he was able to maintain a sense of humor even if it was of the gallows variety by saying things such as "…keep your chin up, while you still have one…."</div> <bR> <div> Although we regarded with interest the apparent truthfulness with which Junge told her story, and her use of hindsight, we are not able to feel compassion for her. George sees her actions as somewhat akin to the lookout for someone who murders a convenience store clerk in cold blood. She may have never touched a gun but she has pulled a trigger.  </div> <bR> <div> When one sees films in which masses of people suffer as the result of the extreme inhumanity of others, we know there is still much to be learned about men whose leadership skills could be used in such a destructive manner. Hitler has proven that gifted leaders don't have to use their skills for great or positive things. At this time world peace is not at hand and epithets are being hurled globally. However, if a youthful person with the abilities of Nelson Mandela, possessing a good soul can be found, it's possible.</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="621" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="617"><div> George O. Singleton  © 2003</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="617"><div> <A HREF="mailto:info@reelmoviecritic.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:info@reelmoviecritic.com"><U><U>george@reelmoviecritic.com</U></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>