FUEHRER EX

Germany, 2002, 105 minutes, Colour.
Christian Blumel, Erin Hildebrand, Jule Flieri, Harry Baer.
Directed by Winfried Bonengel.

The title resembles American History Ex with Edward Norton, a film about neo-Nazis. There are many parallels with this German film.

The setting is the old German Democratic Republic of East Germany. It traces life there during the oppressive communist times. However, it also shows the rise of neo-Nazi groups. There is the older neo-Nazi guru who tries to persuade younger people to his philosophy and politics. There is also the family background, the strong mother figure, a protective brother. There are also vivid jail scenes.

The film is interesting in its angle on the phenomenon of neo-Nazis in Europe, especially in the 90s and at the beginning of the 21st century. To that extent, it is always frightening to see neo-Nazism, especially in the country which brought Nazism to the world.

1. A picture of Germany in the '80s and '90s? The heritage of East Germany? Communism, separation, the wall? Antagonism towards the west? The effect of young people growing up in the 1980s?

2. The visuals of East Germany, of East Berlin? The wall, the borders? The repressive atmosphere? The musical score?

3. The focus on Heiko and Tommy, their friendship, in the bars, hanging out together? Tommy and his dominance of Heiko? Bashing people, drinking, breaking the wrist or the finger to get out of work? The burning of the flag in the stadium? The co-dependence?

4. Heiko, his age, experience, his journalist mother, the men in the house? His having to deal without Tommy? Going to the bar, meeting Beate and her cockiness? On the roof, the sexual relationship, its effect on him, sending the underwear to Tommy?

5. Tommy getting out, the plans to go to Australia, the pressure on Heiko to leave East Germany, the map? The escape attempt, the second wall, the arrest?

6. Life in prison (and the echoes of American prison films)? The bus, the line-up, the stripping, the shower, the cells? The separation of the two? Heiko in his cell with Edward, Edward's story about killing his wife? Hagen and his offer of friendship and protection? The routine of the jail, workshop and the boxes? The yard? Tommy and his friendship with the neo-Nazis? His meeting them his first time in jail? Tommy and his mixing with the neo-Nazis? Heiko and his not wanting to have anything to do with them?

7. Heiko and the shower, the rape by Hagen? Tommy hearing him shout, the bashing? The effect on Heiko? The credibility of his wanting to go to the neo-Nazis, the transformation off-screen, could the audience believe that he was so changed? In the cell, the fat boy who was used by the prisoner, his hanging himself, Heiko and his refusal, stabbing the prisoner, his going into solitary, the effect on him, going mad?

8. The Stasi and their wanting Tommy to spy on the neo-Nazis, for the release of Heiko?

9. Tommy's escape, the boxes, the tension, the examination, his being free, going to West Berlin?

10. The collapse of East Germany, the coming down of the wall? Tommy's return in 1990? Visiting Heiko's mother, her anger at him? Going to the meeting, Heiko as the model neo-Nazi, his rousing speech? His being glad to see Tommy, their going to the club, seeing Beate and her friendship with the Turks, the dancing? Heiko and the food, the Turkish diner, his attack on the owner, burning the stand?

11. Tommy and his not wanting to go along with Heiko, the leader and his command to kill Tommy because of his Stasi work in jail? The confrontation between Heiko and Tommy, Heiko's inability to kill him? Tommy's return, being bashed, dying?

12. Heiko and his change of heart, his leaving the Nazis, his being seen in the ordinary street - the possibility of going to Australia with the tickets Tommy gave him?

13. The film wanting to say something about disaffected young people in Germany, the lack of opportunity, the role of government, the mixing of east and west? German pride, the collapse of the wall, the expectations of a new Germany, pandering to old Nazi philosophies? The influence of neo-Nazis in Germany?