THE MAN WITH THE IRON HEART

France/Belgium, 2017, 120 minutes, Colour.
Jason Clarke, Rosamund Pike, Jack O' Connell, Jack Reynor, Mia Wasikowska, Stephen Graham, Thomas M.Wright, Geoff Bell, Enzo Cilenti, Ian Redford.
Directed by Cedric Jimanez.

At one point in this drama, SS chief, Heinrich Himmler, tells his underling, Reinhard Heydrich, that this is Hitler’s description of him, man with the iron heart. And this is certainly the portrayal of him here.

Heydrich is not the first name that comes up when we consider Hitler’s main supporters. Perhaps this is because he was assassinated, the only high Nazi official assassinated during the war. He was killed in Prague, 1942, but was a significant contributor to formulating the Final Solution.

This is really two films in one. The first half of the film focuses on Heydrich himself, indications that there would be an assassination attempt, in presenting him as a rather ruthless person, seen arrogant in the Navy, brutal fencing with an opponent, aggressive in casual sexual relationships, court-martialed and dismissed. The film then introduces us to Lina, who was to become Heydrich’s wife, her Nazi ideology and his joining the party, his marriage, several children, his policing and gaining information about suspects.

He is interviewed by Himmler and indicates quickly and sufficiently that he could be ruthless in the work of the SS. And this is seen graphically, firing squads, massacres in Poland, soldiers shooting civilians, the eradication of the Jews, the setting up of the concentration camps – and scenes where these atrocities are photographed and Heydrich watches them on film. In fact, he is so successful, that Hitler appoints him Protector of Bohemia and Moravia. Again, there are graphic scenes of his ruthlessness. He has some (perhaps) redeeming moments with music, violin playing with his son, but he becomes consumed with his work, the plans for the Final Solution, that he begins to treat his wife like other suspects.

Then, halfway through the film, it changes pace. We are introduced to the Czech young men training in Scotland for going back to their fatherland. The focus is on to their parachuting into Czechoslovakia, joining the local resistance, the intention (Operation Anthropoid) to assassinate Heydrich. The film gives a great deal of attention to the characters, their interactions, the planning and the execution – as well as its consequences, audiences may remember the reprisals and the elimination of the village of Llidice, the searches for the perpetrators and the siege in the church which destroyed them.

For those interested in World War II stories, a great deal of interest. For those less familiar with the events, the two-part film may be sometimes confusing. However, Heydrich was remembered in Hollywood soon after his death in the films, Hitler’s children, Hangmen also Die. During the 1970s the story is told again in Operation Daybreak. Strangely, at the time of the making of this film, another version, Anthropoid, was filmed and released. The latter part of this film coincides with the whole story of Anthropoid, the resistance, planning, assassination, consequences.

Jason Clarke gives a sometimes chilling performance as Heydrich, filmed just before his portrayal of Edward Kennedy in Chappaquidick. Rosamund Pike can also be chilling as his Aryan- Supremacy wife. Stephen Graham is quite frightening as Himmler. And young actors, Jack O’ Connell and Jack Raynor portray the two designated to lead the assassination attempt.

The film offers no sympathetic perspective on Heydrich while being in admiration of the resistance.

1. The title? Hitler’s description of Heydrich?

2. Expectations, Heydrich and his career, protector in Bohemia and Moravia, assassination?

3. Two films in one: the first part and Heydrich and his career and personality; the second part with the resistance and the preparation for his assassination and the consequences?

4. The settings: 1929 and the naval base, Germany during the 1930s, Berlin, the Czech sequences, Prague and the countryside, contrasting with Heydrich and his residence and offices? The musical score?

5. The recreation of the period, Germany, costumes and decor, the background of the Nazis?

6. Audience knowledge of Heydrich? Knowledge of the 1920s and 30s, pre-war Germany, the rise of Nazism, anti-communism, anti-Semitism? The SS, the SA, the purges of the Jews, the preparation for the Final Solution?

7. The perspectives of the screenplay, adapted from a novel, the presentation of Heydrich, his wife and family, his career, a critique of Heydrich and his stances and behaviour? The second part and the sympathy for the resistance, the background, the planning, the assassination attempt, the aftermath?

8. The point made that Heydrich was the only high Nazi official ever to be assassinated? The effect on the Third Reich for morale?

9. Jason Clarke as Heydrich, the introduction to him at the fencing match, his opponent and his grudges against Heydrich, Heydrich and his arrogance? In the Navy? The critique of Heydrich as a person, harsh, the meeting with the young woman, the aggressive sexual behaviour? His being court-martialed, his reputation? His encounter with LIna? Her believing in him, liking him? The outings, shared experiences, the dancing, her wanting to marry him? Her Nazi ideology, sharing it with others, with family? With
Heydrich, his joining the party because of her? The marriage? The number of children, his role as a father, some tenderness with the children, the music, his playing the violin? The pride of being with Lena? The meals with her family? With Himmler and Rohm?

10. The interview with Himmler? Discussion about the chicken farm and making a profit? Himmler employing him? The details of his work, office, soldiers, referred to as thugs? Getting information, contacts? The brothel, the prostitute, the one-way mirror, his taking notes, later accosting the general, blackmailing him for reinforcements?

11. The visuals of the ethnic cleansing, the massacres in Poland, the firing squads, indiscriminate shooting in the streets? Filming these? Heydrich watching the films?

12. Issues of anti-Semitism, Aryan supremacy, the family?

13. Hitler, the 30s, his becoming Chancellor, Mein Kampf? Loyalties, violence, the buildup to the war?

14. Protector in Prague, his responsibilities, Lina and her reactions, sidelined, wanting details? His becoming more serious? Yet moments with his son and the music?

15. His going to Wannsee, the group, the table, his documents, details for The Final Solution?

16. The indications of the assassination and audience anticipation?

17. Going back six months, in Scotland, Jan and Josef, soccer, the young patriots, singing, preparing for returning?

18. Parachuting into Czechoslovakia, hiding, their being taken in by the local families, the resistance, the influence of the “three Kings� and Heydrich hunting them down, the final King killing himself publicly? The young men, in the families, the girls, the relationships? The various contacts, the planning, gaining information, Heydrich’s routine? The execution of the plan in detail? Concern whether he was dead or not? The young men pursued through the streets?

19. The searching, torturing, the victims, the suicide tablets, parents and children, the little boy playing cards, the attack on his mother, his being made to watch the torture, is one their going to the church?

20. The informer, standing in the street, watching, going to the authorities?

21. The choice of Lidice, the destruction, firing squads, the elimination of the town?

22. The group taking refuge in the church, the welcome by the priest, the attack, the siege, the number of deaths, the focus on the bullets? The young men going to the crypt, the water pumped in, trying to get out, the decision to commit suicide?

23. The final image of the two young men escaping from Poland – with the prospects of their life before them?