MY NEIGHBOR ADOLF

Poland/Israel/Columbia, 2022, 96 minutes, Colour.

David Hayman, Udo Keir, Olivia Silhavy, Kineret Peled.

Directed by Leon Prudovsky.

This is a small entertaining film, with some expected developments and some unexpected twists.

Interestingly, this is a Polish-Israeli production, filmed in Latin America, in Colombia. The film will have great appeal to Jewish audiences around the world, especially those with sad memories. The film will appeal to the older generation – one hopes that the memory of the Holocaust is still vivid but it is almost 80 years since the demise of Hitler and the Nazis, generations ago for younger audiences.

The film opens in Eastern Europe in 1934, a vignette of a Jewish family, gathered together, the father with his new camera, the family posing for a group photo, and a focus on the black roses especially grown in their garden. The photo will have a significant place in the memory of the father.

The film then moves almost 30 years on, and 15 years after the end of World War II, 1960. We see some newspaper headlines that Adolf Eichmann has been tracked down in Argentina and apprehended. So, we are introduced to the setting of many of the Nazi regime seeking refuge in Latin America, hiding there.

But, this is a story of Mr Polsky, a wonderful performance by British actor, David Hayman, the father of that initial family, the sole survivor of the concentration camps, living a secluded life in the hills of Colombia. He has the photo, the memories, and is growing black roses.

But, of course, the title is arresting. The name Adolf immediately conjures up Hitler – and it was the name also of Eichmann. And, the mention of neighbour in the title, surely indicates that there is going to be a lot of unneighbourly activity, over the fence hostilities, each neighbour out to defeat the other. And, more or less, this happens.

First comes the intrusion of a German woman, Frau Katenbrunner, who upsets Mr Polsky who resists any neighbours in the dilapidated next door deserted house. But, then the neighbour arrives, along with trucks and carriers for his luggage. He is elderly, has grey hair, a large grey beard, and wears dark glasses all the time. An unexpected and fine performance from Udo Keir. And he has a dog, Wolfie. It is Wolfie who initiates hostilities, getting through a pale in the fence, leaving his calling card, disturbing the roses. Confrontation looms immediately.

And the Adolf? Mr Polsky starts to see resemblances to this strange neighbour and Hitler himself, the blue eyes concealed, the look, and he starts to research Hitler in the books that he has, in newspaper articles, ticking off all the characteristics he finds in his neighbour, left-handed, bad temper, teetotal, vegetarian, painter of ruins, certain that this is Hitler. But, in his visits to the Israeli office, he is met by stern scepticism no matter what the evidence he produces.

Chess is at the centre of the story and, before long, for good or for ill, the two men are playing chess – which does give the opportunity for Mr Polsky to search his neighbour’s house, finding a locked steel box. But, some moments of doubt as the neighbour paints a genial portrait of Mr Polsky (though in Hitler’s style!), actually drinks, makes some suggestive remarks about Frau Kaltenbrunner.

Probably enough said about the plot – but, we can say tantalisingly, that it does not all work out as we might have anticipated (except, perhaps, Mr Polsky battering Wolfie with his shovel).

This is a small fable, appealling in its way, even in the conflict between Mr Polsky and his neighbour – but, ultimately, believing that there is a great deal of goodness in human nature and that we are all victims.

1. Memories of the Jewish communities of Eastern Europe, the 1930s, families? Memories of the Holocaust, concentration camps? Survival is?
2. The picture of 1934, the father, his camera, his daughter, his wife, the elders, posing for the photo, the comic touches? The black roses?
3. The transition to 1960, 15 years after the end of World War two, the death of Hitler, Nazis taking refuge in South America, the tracking down of Adolf Eichmann, his capture?
4. This story set in Colombia? The landscapes, the two houses, the town, the Israeli office? The musical score? The songs?
5. Mr Polsky and his story, David Hayman’s presence, performance? Memories of 1934, his knowledge of cameras and using them? Growing the black roses and the memories of his family, his wife? Living alone, curmudgeonly, newspaper deliveries, the post?
6. Frau Kaltenburnner, the issue of renting next door, Mr Polsky’s reaction, shutting her out, her perseverance? The carriers and bringing the furniture? The arrival of Mr Herzog? Mr Polsky’s alarm?
7. The issue of the roses, the fence, the dog, the faeces, Mr Polsky and the letterbox? And the newspaper with Eichmann’s arrest? The dispute, the fence, legal issues, documents, going to the local Council, the compromise, the building of the new fence? The roses on the other side? And the threat of Herzog’s dog, Wolfie?
8. The dark glasses, his beard, Mr Polsky’s suspicions, the Hitler eyes, his research, the books, the art, checking off various facets about Hitler in the documents? Dislike, memories?
9. His going to the Jewish office, the official and her continued smoking, scepticism, his argumentation, documents? Later going with the painting, asking for the art expert? His final visit, the art expert, an agent, the plans to capture Herzog?
10. The chess background, from the 1930s, Mr Polsky and his moves in his mind, observing? Hitler and chess? Mr Polsky, the chess set, Herzog and his play? The building up of the games between them, Mr Polsky wanting Herzog to write a letter about the fence? The games, Mr Polsky deliberately losing? The surprise of Herzog’s drinking so much, the sex talks about Frau Kaltenbrunner?
11. The search of the house, the chest with the lock, the painting, taking it, the dog attacking him, out into the street, Polsky hitting the dog with a shovel, the passing vehicle, pretending that it had been killed in an accident, Herzog’s grief, the burial of the dog?
12. The posing for the portrait, the painting, Mr Polsky smiling, his looking at it, liking it, yet the colours and style of the sky painting like Hitler’s?
13. The arrival of the men in black, sinister, the Heil Hitler salute? Mr Polsky convinced?
14. The truth, the chest and Herzog opening it, his story, an actor, groomed to be like Hitler, 10 years of his life? Painting Hitler paintings, their sales? Mr Polsky and the test of Hitler’s one testicle, the truth, and the pathos, the bonding with Herzog? Warning him about the Israeli agents?
15. Herzog leaving, the carriers, the furniture, the final embrace?
16. The conventions about hostile neighbours, but growth in interactions, understanding, affection?