"Der Hauptmann" is situated in the last months of the Second World War. A German soldier (Willi Herold played by Max Hubacher) on the run finds the uniform of a high officer in an abandoned car. He uses it as camouflage and starts behaving more and more violent.
In the first decade of the new century a surprising number of films illuminate the Second World War from the German point of view (whether or not made by a German director). With respect to the post war period there are for example "Im labyrinth des Schweigens" (2014, Giulio Ricciarelli) and "Der Staat gegen Fritz Bauer" (2015, Lars Kraume). With respect to the last months of te war we have "Lore" (2012, Cate Shortland).
When we compare "Lore" to "Der Hauptmann" there are some similarities. Both films are situated in the last months of the Second World War and in both films the main character is on the run. The differences however are even greater. Lore is a young girl, Herold an adult man. Indoctrinated by her parents Lore is a convinced national socialist, Herold a pragmatic survivor. Lore has the responsibility of her even younger siblings, Herold is on his own.
Above I called Herold a pragmatic survivor. He was lucky to find the uniform of the high ranked officer, but when he decides to wear this uniform he has to behave himself accordingly. When the film unfolds you get the feeling this is not the whole story. Herold begins to overact above what is expected from his rank, and this relates both to the (ab)use of power as to violence. He seems to enjoy it in a way that reminded me of the novel "Lord of the flies" (1954, William Golding).
Where there are leaders there are also followers, and in "Der Hauptmann" there are a lot of them. Long ago Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau made a picture about the German fascination with uniforms ("The last laugh", 1924). "Der Hauptmann"seems to reconfirm this fascination.
In the first decade of the new century a surprising number of films illuminate the Second World War from the German point of view (whether or not made by a German director). With respect to the post war period there are for example "Im labyrinth des Schweigens" (2014, Giulio Ricciarelli) and "Der Staat gegen Fritz Bauer" (2015, Lars Kraume). With respect to the last months of te war we have "Lore" (2012, Cate Shortland).
When we compare "Lore" to "Der Hauptmann" there are some similarities. Both films are situated in the last months of the Second World War and in both films the main character is on the run. The differences however are even greater. Lore is a young girl, Herold an adult man. Indoctrinated by her parents Lore is a convinced national socialist, Herold a pragmatic survivor. Lore has the responsibility of her even younger siblings, Herold is on his own.
Above I called Herold a pragmatic survivor. He was lucky to find the uniform of the high ranked officer, but when he decides to wear this uniform he has to behave himself accordingly. When the film unfolds you get the feeling this is not the whole story. Herold begins to overact above what is expected from his rank, and this relates both to the (ab)use of power as to violence. He seems to enjoy it in a way that reminded me of the novel "Lord of the flies" (1954, William Golding).
Where there are leaders there are also followers, and in "Der Hauptmann" there are a lot of them. Long ago Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau made a picture about the German fascination with uniforms ("The last laugh", 1924). "Der Hauptmann"seems to reconfirm this fascination.