OPERATION FINALE
US, 2018, 122 minutes, Colour.
Oscar Isaac, Ben Kingsley, Melanie Laurent, Lior Raz, Nick Kroll, Michael Aronov, Ohad Knoller, Greg Hill, Michael Benjamin Hernandez, Joe Alwyn, Greta Scacchi, Peter Strauss, Haley Lu Richardson, Simon Russell Beale.
Directed by Chris Weitz.
The story of the kidnapping of Adolf Eichmann has been told several times on film, including The House on Garibaldi Street. There have also been quite a number of films about the Eichmann trial, The Man in the Glass Booth, the portrait of Hannah Arrendt, some dramas about the interviewers and the filming of the trial.
This is all presented once again, written and directed by Chris Weitz, who has had quite a range of genre films in his repertoire, ranging from American Pie to About a Boy.
The story is presented here from the Israeli point of view. It has a cautionary opening with an agent, played by Oscar Isaac as the real-life Peter Malkin, raiding the home of an alleged Nazi, his assistance brutalising the man, and then to discover it was mistaken identity. This gives some edge to the portrayal of Malkin and his participation in the finding and taking Eichmann.
The film focuses on the team in Israel, the collaborators in Argentina, their plans, their work, some angry with Eichmann and wanting to kill him, others wanting him to come to trial so that the world will know about the Final Solution.
In the meantime, there are scenes in Argentina with Ben Kingsley portraying Eichmann and Greta Scacchi as his wife, Joe Alwyn as his son. Information comes to the Israelis that Eichmann has been located, so the agents go to his house to verify, to take photographs. A range of agents come from Israel, including a doctor played by Melanie Laurent.
The abduction is well-planned, executed, except for Eichmann's glasses being lost and neglected. The local anti-Semitic population (including a vicious statement mouthed by a priest) become involved, trying to thwart the plan. The abductors rely on collaboration from El Al but this is delayed. Which means a lot of interrogation scenes with Eichmann, his holding firm at first, the expert continuing to try to get him to sign a document, Peter Malkin taking a more personalised approach and, ultimately, getting the signature.
There is some split-second timing and problems in the plane taking off. However, Eichmann goes to trial, sits on the Glass Booth, the various agents watching this combination of all their efforts.
The theme will be perennially interesting in terms of memories of the Holocaust and the cries for justice.
1. A 21st-century view of the Holocaust, the Final Solution, Nazi intentions, the role of Adolf Eichmann, the Nazis in South America, the search for Eichmann, the discovery, the plan to bring him back to Israel for trial? In the light of previous books, television programs, films, both documentary and fiction?
2. Audience familiarity with the Holocaust, the Final Solution, the concentration camps, the gas chambers? The Nazi responsibilities? Eichmann? His trial?
3. The screenplay taking the war years for granted, glimpses of flashbacks, especially Eichmann, his decisions, presence and executions? The appeal of the mother and child from the trench, their deaths?
4. The prologue, Peter Malkin (an actual character), the raid on the family in Austria, the apprehension of the father, the appeal of the mother, the brutal treatment, a mistaken identity and injustice? The effect on Peter in subsequent years? His reputation? Authorities?
5. Israel, 1960, the authorities? The news about Eichmann being in Argentina? The need for positive proof? The decisions about where he should be tried? The plans for getting him out of Argentina, within legal permits, beyond the law, the agents, the locals, the use of El Al?
6. Argentina 1960, the meetings of surviving Nazis, the appeal to local fascists, the presence of the priest and his fanaticism and anti-Semitic statements? The Jews continuing as enemies? Carlos and the local authorities, his making a speech? Eichmann son and his being present, taking Sylvia, her walking out, giving the information about Eichmann to the authorities?
7. Peter, the meetings of the team, their expertise, some of them with anger and wanting to kill Eichmann, others wanting calm and bring him to trial, witness to the world about what it happened? The map with their different routes and covers, passports, to arrive in Argentina, accommodation, meetings, headquarters? The local personalities and their contributions?
8. Sylvia, the cinema, Imitation of Life and the racist themes, the young men laughing, the attraction to, going out with him, bring him home to meet her father, her father and his past, blind? Sylvia and are discussed with the behaviour at the rally? Her being asked to identify Eichmann, going to the house, meeting classes mother, class and his nasty reaction, Eichmann and is coming outside, Peter watching, his being photographed? Eichmann making the sketch of the photographer and its later use?
9. The plan, Israel's permission, the meeting with David Ben Gurion and his endorsement?
10. The planning, the detail, Eichmann and his work in the factory, his regular timetable? His home life, love for his wife, her concern? The group relying on his routine?
11. The cars, in waiting, the dark, the bus arriving, his not being on the bus, ready to give up, the second bus, his getting out, walking, Peter walking past, Eichmann later identifying his voice, the capture, the struggle, his glasses being left behind?
12. Hannah and her role, the injections? His being subdued? His being interned? Blindfolded? His denials, claiming his Argentinian identity? His persevering for many days?
13. The individuals taking it in turn to bring meals, to be on guard? The main interrogator, his techniques, not wanting violence? Eichmann and his shrewdness in response?
14. Peter, wanting a different approach, the blindfold off, talking with him, the meal, gaining his confidence? Eichmann any shrewdness, the discussions about Peter's grief, the story of his sister, her arrest and extermination? Eichmann and his concern about his family? The latter revelation that Peter saw him with his son in the past?
15. The delay, the flight company, having to keep Eichmann, the continued regime? The moods of the various members of the group? Angry threats? Trying to keep calm? Hannah and her control over Peter?
16. The young girl, doing the shopping, her concern about money, seeing the money concealed, wanting to change it, the locals working out who she was, taking her, torturing her, the interrogation? Information? The split-second timing and the group escaping?
17. Eichmann, the experience of internment, isolation, interrogation, some kindness, promises that he would see his wife, his admittance of the situations, wanting to be tried outside Israel? Peter eventually get him to sign the document?
18. The hurry to the airport, the plane, the passports, the documentation, the authorities and the police holding up the plane, Peter hurrying to the office with the documents, his deciding to stay so that the plan could get away?
19. The Eichmann trial, the man in the glass moves, the visuals and footage of the concentration camps, impact in Israel, throughout the world? Eichmann and his seeing Peter, Hannah pregnant?
20. The final information about the verdict, Eichmann being hanged? And the information about Peter Malkin's death in 2005?
21. The value of the story being told and retold?
