THE EXECUTION (TOD EINES FREMDEN)
Israel/Germany, 1973, 113 minutes, Colour.
Hardy Kruger, Jason Robards, Gila Almagor.
Directed by Reza Badiyi, Uri Massad.
This is a small-budget West German- Israeli co-production with German actor Hardy Kruger, Israeli actress Gila Almagor and American Jason Robards. It serves as propaganda for Israel against Arab terrorists. It involves German tourists, the Israeli Secret Service, espionage and the build-up to a dramatic climax.
The film is reasonable entertainment on the level of Spy Story – but is very interesting in retrospect to see it as a production of 1973, made during the war against the Arab countries, especially Syria and Egypt, and presenting a face of Israel to the world at large.
The direction is by Reza Badiyi, an Iranian-born director who began directing in American television in the early 1960s and was to continue in television for more than forty years.
1. The focus of the title, its grim tone, meaning? An atmosphere for a thriller? The irony of the final execution?
2. The presentation as a German-Israeli? co-production? Points of view, values, emphases? German and Israeli locations, colour, the atmosphere of both countries? Traditional music?
3. How much was the film propaganda for Israel? Against Arab terrorists? The questions of justice and their just presentation? Entertainment ? propaganda, its value? Its appropriateness?
4. The historical documentary tone, the initial assassination, the narration, the comments on the international situation, the presentation of Israel, the terrorists, the information about the German victim? How did this make the film seem more authentic, credible?
5. The presentation of Israeli Intelligence and their skill, the personalities involved, the details of their plans? The devious and shrewd nature of their plans, Involving innocent people, tricking Arab terrorists? Did the end justify the means?
6. The personality of the Israeli Intelligence Chief? His attitude towards Israel, towards his work, to ruthlessness? As seen in the interrogation of the father of the terrorist? The visit of the German and his wanting to protect him? The creation of the character Herzog? His sinister presence in Germany and in Israel? Was he a sinister person or was it just his work? His assistants and their attitude towards the work?
7. The German tourist at the start, enjoying his visit, the irony of his name being close to Herzog? Being the victim of an Israeli plan? The morality of being an unwitting victim? The irony of his presence at the airport, the immediate attempt on his life in the car? The rousing of curiosity to find out what was going on? His meeting with
the girl and infatuation with her? His being tricked by her? His motivation in searching out the truth wherever it led? His legal back ground and seeking legal aid? Seeing him involved in his own practice, and yet leaving this for involvement in understanding the plot?
8. What motivated him to go into the danger, to encounter the girl, to go to Berlin, finally to go to Israel, his ignoring the warnings? His strength of character, an ordinary man trapped in the predicaments of the modern international world? Did he have a chance of survival?
9. The personality of the girl, her involvement with the terrorists, her journalistic background, her lies, her falling in love, her presence in Germany, in Berlin, In Israel? The revelation about her family and her interaction with the family? The truth about her?
10. How well presented and justly was the terrorist group? Were its motives clear? Could the audience approve of its behaviour? Their falling into the Herzog trap? The detailed attention they gave to Herzog, questioning at the hotel, following him? Their discussions and the final plan of execution?
11. Audience response to the hero arriving in Israel, seeming at peace, searching for the girl, her being used as the bait for his execution? The presentation of his execution in the back streets and the pathos of his lying dead in Israel? Is this the fate of this kind of victim?
12. The value of the thriller techniques, the contemporary atmosphere and Setting? the message?
