REMEMBER

Canada, 2015, 94 minutes, Colour.
Christopher Plummer, Martin Landau, Bruno Ganz, Jurgen Prochnow, Dean Norris, Henry Czerny.
Directed by Atom Egoyan.

One of the best films of the year with a most powerful impact. It is a film that can be thoroughly recommended and, after the final 10 minutes of the film, even more thoroughly recommended.

Remember has been directed by celebrated Canadian director, Atom Eagle yarn, who has been making powerful and striking films since the 1980s (and has one several ecumenical awards over the decades for Family Viewing, The Sweet Hereafter, Adoration).

The film was chosen for Australian screening in a series of films about the Holocaust. This is certainly the subject of the film even though the setting is 2015, over 70 years later. As the title indicates, we have to remember – but, the film explores the theme of memories, sadness, lies and deception, dementia and confusion, retribution.

Christopher Plummer, at the age of 85, portrays a man nearly 90, Zev Guttman, a survivor of Auschwitz, but all his family were killed. He is in a nursing home, suffering from confusion and moments of dementia, especially concerning his wife and he always calls out to her seeks her when he wakes, but she has died two weeks previously. In the nursing home, he has found a friend, Max (Martin Landau – 86 when he made this film and gives a powerful performance) who has been tracking down Nazis, associated with Simon Wiesenthal and his Nazi-hunting, who helps serve with the ritual celebrations in memory of his wife, and gives Zev a letter and a task to track down a commandant from Auschwitz who is responsible for the murder of families.

Christopher Plummer is in every scene, eliciting sympathy, eliciting concern, eliciting apprehension as he leaves the nursing home, takes a train with a prepaid ticket and an envelope of cash from Max, and pursues each of the names on the list to try to track down the officer from Auschwitz who has used the name Rudi Kurlander. In his quest, he finds several Rud I Kurlanders, two of whom are played strikingly by the German veteran actors Bruno Ganz and Jurgen Prochnow.

He travels across the United States with its extraordinary scenic beauty, going over the border into Canada, finally travelling by bus to Idaho, to Reno and to his final destination outside Tahoe. Meanwhile, his son and his wife, the son played by Henry Czerny, are anxious about their father and his disappearance, eventually tracking him down at a dramatic moment.

This is a film to be seen rather than described. It is particularly well written, tightly-written by Benjamin August, an atmospheric score by Mychael Danna, the excellent performances - and audiences being absorbed as well as disturbed, even up till the final moment.

As has been said twice, thoroughly recommended.

1. The powerful impact of the film? 70 plus years after the events?

2. The title, the word coming up only at the end, in light of the dramatic final scene? And the whole journey from Auschwitz to revenge? Dementia, confusion of memories, denial of memories?

3. The Canadian film, the director, his career, perspectives?

4. The American locations, Cleveland, the American border with Canada, Boise, Reno, Lake Tahoe, Canada and Ontario? The journey into beautiful North American scenery?

5. The musical score, for particular dramatic moments?

6. The introduction to Zev, his waking, confusion, asking for Ruth, in the nursing home, the kindly nurse, breakfast, the discussion with Max? The letter? The funeral, the ceremonies, Max present and praying (and the irony in the hindsight of the ending)? Zev reading the letter, discussions with Max, the cash in the envelope, the detailed plan, Zev agreeing? His relationship with his son and the son’s wife, their concern? Zev and the shrewdness in making his escape?

7. On the train, the ticket prepaid, discussions with Tyler, friendly, waking and looking for Ruth, taking the boy’s game? Apology, the boy and his brothers? The station, Tyler’s father and his kindness? The chauffeur, going to the hotel?

8. The nature of the mission, the name of Rudi Kurlander? The information, the background story, coming to America, changing names and identities, living lies, the Auschwitz background, the murder of families, the commandants?

9. The visit to the first Rudi? The house, downstairs, watching the television, Zev producing the gun, talking, the wrong identity, this man as a soldier with Rommel, the photos and proofs, his shame about what had happened to the Jews?

10. The buying of the gun, the man in the shop, being helpful, the licence, the small gun, the 9 mm Glock? Zev keeping it in his bag, at the border and putting his coat carelessly over it to conceal it?

11. The bus, the border, his licence, the passport out of date, checking, allowed to continue?

12. Going to the nursing home, the help with the room, accompaniment, the sick Rudi, Zev talking, the gun, seeing the number on the arm, the man being homosexual and interned in Auschwitz? Zev weeping (and the irony with the hindsight of the ending)?

13. The beauty of the Rockies, Idaho, the hotel, having the bath, waking, confusion, taking the taxi to the house? Having the money?

14. No one home, the vicious dog, the explosions in the distance, waiting the hours, John arriving home, policeman, welcoming, talking enthusiastically about his father, his father just dead? Selling the memorabilia, storing the others? Zev seeing the swastika, the SS uniform, the photos, the talk about Kristallnacht? The water, the whiskey? John seeing the number, his fierce anti-Semitism, denunciation of the Jews, setting the dog on Zev, Zev shooting it, John taunting him, Zev shooting him, twice? His wetting his trousers, the shower, phoning Max and explaining the wrong death? The taxi taking him away?

15. Going to Reno, crossing the street, knocked down, the hospital, watching the cartoons with the little girl, saying his wife would bring her candy, getting the girl to read the letter – and the audience being filled in with the background, the quest, Max’s influence, Nazi hunter? The phone call to his son?

16. The son, concern, the search, information from the taxi company, arriving at the house?

17. Max, Nazi hunter, in the home, the letter and the explanation, his recognising Zev, waiting until his wife’s death, helping with the funeral, sending him on a mission, financing it? Urging him to go to the police after the killing – so that he would be the subject of justice? The television commentary at the end, the residence and their comments, Max and his blunt statement about Zev/ Otto and his guilt?

18. Arriving at the home, the fourth Rudi, his daughter and granddaughter, pleasant talk, Rudi recognising him, coming down the steps, Zev’s threats? Rudi expecting him, the reality of Auschwitz, Zev accusing him of living lies so that he could not tell the truth, the gun, the threat to the girl, his son arriving, urging him to put down the gun, the telling the truth, about Auschwitz, many killings, the horror of the family, the truth about Zev and his real name, Zev remembering, shooting Rudi, killing himself?

19. The impact of the film up to this visit, the emotional and intellectual effect of the twist, the previous sympathies and their being
shattered?

20. What was the audience left with in terms of the Holocaust, Auschwitz, cruelty and murders, responsibilities?