Ghetto

I saw this movie in Mexico City, of all places, on Cinemax. At first I wasn't sure what to make of it, but I think that's why I liked it so much. You were never sure who to trust; who was good and who was bad (though, obviously, the Nazis were easy to categorize as the bad guys). The movie is really about Gens and the position he is in between the Nazis and the Jews. It really isn't clear whether he does the right thing; indeed, it isn't clear that there IS a right thing to do. In this way I thought the movie was more three-dimensional than "The Pianist," in which we know that our hero is an innocent victim. Here, Gens could be an innocent victim or he could be a ruthless opportunist. Or he could be both. In my opinion, that is what makes a character interesting.

What impressed me the most about this movie, however, was the music. Please, if anyone could find a soundtrack for it, let me know. It was a great combination of opera, swing, and tango, and captured the passion and drama of the times. While it could be argued that "The Pianist" was, in Adrian Brody's own words, about how a man's love of music saved him during horrible times, that movie had almost NO music at all. This movie is a much better illustration of the theme of music and art being mankind's salvation.

To me, a good movie is one that makes me think, one that rattles around in my head long after it ends. This movie passes the test, as I've been thinking of it on and off for several days. Yes, it is an odd blend of humor, drama, and horror, but I thought its uniqueness and depth made it a great film.