The National Daily World Enquiring Globe

Film Review - Empty Mirror, The

This is a strange little film. On paper it isn't going to sound like much. But as Adolf Hitler did with the German people in the 1930's, this film sucks you in and doesn't let you out until the end.

Imagine watching a film where Hitler is watching films about the Third Reich. He talks about how they took power. How they suppressed the other political parties. Later he talks about the war, why he attacked the Soviet Union, about how Britain should be on Germany's side.

Throughout the film you keep wondering what reality you've walked into. Is this an alternate universe where Germany won the second world war? If this was true I wondered why he never left the bunker. Continuously, film of Hitler is played for him. He continues his commentary. Finally, the end is very strange. It is as if some veil was lifted from Hitler's eyes and he truly sees what he has done. The horror hits his face.

So is the film maker saying that Hitler was either mentally ill and didn't know what horror he caused? Or is he saying Hitler was too far out of the loop? Or that Hitler had lost his connection with humanity? It doesn't really matter if any of those ideas are true. I take on the film was Hitler was being interviewed just after his death, while it was decided if he was going to heaven or hell. Hitler's denial of the horror is refuted and he is forced to recognise his sins, just before being sent to hell.

As I said, this is a strange little film. You could interpret the meaning several ways, and I guess you decide on what ending you would like to see for Hitler. Personally, I would like it if just before being tossed into the pit, the S.O.B. were exposed to the complete horror of his doings. So I kind of like this movie. But this won;t be for everyone.

Jammed Pipe!

Film Facts

Directed by Barry J. Hershey

Released in 1997

MPAA Rating: PG-13

Reviewed by Mongo