MURDERERS AMONGST US: THE SIMON WIESENTHAL STORY

US/UK, Hungary, 1989, 175 minutes, Colour.
Ben Kingsley, Renee Soutendijk, Craig T. Nelson.
Directed by Alan Gibson.

Murderers Amongst Us is a portrait of Nazi-hunter Simon Wiesenthal. He had been fictionalised in the film version of Ira Levin's The Boys From Brazil - and played by Laurence Olivier. This film is a biography and a portrait. And Wiesenthal is excellently played by Ben Kingsley (Gandhi). His wife is played by Dutch actress Renee Soutendijk.

There have been many films of the Holocaust including the mini-series of that name. There was also the 9-hour Jewish documentary about Auschwitz, Shoah. There have also been such telemovies as the Vanessa Redgrave-Jane? Alexander film, Playing for Time.

The film was directed by Alan Gibson, was photographed in Hungarian locations (and noted Hungarian director Karolly Makk acted as adviser).

Produced for home box office television in the US, the film is in two parts. It focuses on the war and the early career of Wiesenthal. The second part shows his pursuit of Adolf Eichmann.

The film is a moving experience and a tribute to a man of integrity.

1.Simon Wiesenthal and his reputation, the film as a biography, portrait? An achievement for the Jews, for the conscience of the world?

2.Hungarian locations, re-creating Europe in the 'forties: the cities, the concentration camps, the war? The post-war period and the '50s and '60s? Authentic reconstruction? Musical score?

3.The title: the Holocaust, Nazis, the war trials, the hunt for the Nazis, their being concealed by friendly powers, their freedom?

4.The film and its length, time to absorb the issues and the characters? Harrowing? Portrait of injustice and justice?

5.Simon Wiesenthal and his life? The scene in the concentration camp, the experience of liberation, going to Major Harcourt, falling, his drawings? His collapse and recuperation? His giving the information, steps towards justice? His first search, the ride, the arrest, the man shaving? His nightmares, the wounded man, the sunflowers? The motif of the two men and their bond, bound together, one shot to kill them?

6.Wiesenthal as an architect, relationship with his wife, love, his mother? The coming of the war? Nazis and Jews? His wife and communication, going, reported to be dead? His mother, going on the train, his following after and crying? Urging her to get out, the repetition? His desire for vengeance? His work on the trains, hiding, yet found and arrested? The attempted suicide?

7.Life in the camp, the horror, food, work, stripped for the death line, saved to paint the sign for Hitler, working in the quarry, his friend and the discussions about God and luck, the two men bound together and shot with one bullet? His being given the mail, remembering the address, making the sketches of the crimes? His own personal faith - `God is on leave'?

8.The passing of the years, his work, friends, the variety of attitudes in the concentration camp? His survival and the repercussions of that on his conscience, working for others?

9.His working with Major Harcourt: Major Harcourt's character, his horror at the camp, help, the office, the arrests? Harcourt bringing his wife back to him, the initial joke, the reunion, the happiness of being together?

10.Murer and the village, the search for the others, the greedy agent and his proposal, information, money, the wife's disgust? Austrians and their anti-Semitism? Wiesenthal going to the British, the disdain of the officer, his being arrested, their verbal sparring, the crowds arriving, the officer having to release him? The arrest of Murer, the trial, his being taken to Russia? His being released?

11.The end of the office, Harcourt returning to the United States, Simon taking the files, his experience, his proposal to his wife to go to Vienna, the quarrel and the hurt, his sense of mission, their going?

12.Vienna and its atmosphere, 1959? Anna as his secretary, followed by Alex, his accosting him, Alex's story, Catholic and Jew, identity, working for the Nazis, wanting to make reparation? Their being his staff, their help?

13.Simon's wife and her desperation, life in Vienna? Their daughter, not an ordinary life, no family, the quiet household? His decision to bring home Anna as the cousin and to provide family? Getting his daughter to read The Diary of Anne Frank? The class and the teacher and her concern, the Austrian children denying that she ever existed? Wiesenthal and his reaction, getting the arresting policeman, bringing him to the school?

14.The Eichmann trial: the clues, the stamps and the address, Eichmann's mistress, Alex and his going to her, photograph? The funeral, making the composite photo from his brother? The house on Garibaldi Street, Argentina, the raid and the arrest? The details of the trial - and its achievement?

15.Murer and his release, going into politics, the appeal against him, Wiesenthal contacting the people who suffered under him, their refusals to testify? The final agreement? Testimony in the court, the clever and hard lawyer, criminal evidence? Jakob and his plea, his previous refusal, the passionate story of his son? Wiesenthal talking him into it? the testimony and the pledge?

16.The trial, the lawyers' behaviour, Murer's attitude? The jury, the verdict of not guilty? The effect, angers, the effect on Wiesenthal's daughter? Her disillusionment? His long plea for the way of justice?

17.Dangers at home, reactions against Wiesenthal and his family, the explosion in the house?

18.The Holocaust and its effect on the Jews? The Nazi horror? The importance of Wiesenthal's visit to the dying boy, the boy's asking his forgiveness? The flashbacks and the horror of the war atrocities? Simon refusing to forgive him? The others agreeing? His nightmares, the boy in the dream, bound to him? His visit to his mother, the boy as a good boy, the visualising of the killing? His not telling the truth to the mother? The continuing dreams and his inability to sleep? In his psyche?

19.The point being made about remembering and the danger of not remembering and repeating atrocities? The message through the persons, law and justice, mistakes? The importance of atonement?