Karl May (1974)

Review: Karl May (1974)

Director: Hans-Jürgen Syberberg

Cast: Helmut Käutner, Kristina Söderbaum, Käthe Gold, Attila Hörbiger, Rudolf Fernau,

Helmut Käutner
Helmut Käutner
Kristina Söderbaum
Kristina Söderbaum
Käthe Gold
Käthe Gold
Attila Hörbiger
Attila Hörbiger
Rudolf Fernau
Rudolf Fernau

Plot: This ethereal, three-hour biopic is the middle film in Hans-Jürgen Syberberg’s “German Trilogy” on the mythological foundations of the Third Reich. By fusing theater, music, and cinema, Syberberg conjures up Karl May (1842-1912), the immensely popular German author, who set many of his adventure novels in an idealized version of the American Wild West. His tales of the cowboy and the Ubermensch alike were beloved by many, including (Our) Hitler, who supposedly ordered his generals to read May works after defeats in the Russian campaign.

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Listmania redux: The Greatest Documentaries of All Time, part two

Listmania redux: The Greatest Documentaries of All Time, part two

Although the idea of creating lists of the “best” is always problematic, the attempt often provides the impetus to think about and reevaluate our own likes, dislikes and judgements. The recent Sight & Sound list of “the […]

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