November Criminal (TV Movie)
November criminal, subtitle: A reminder of the television game department of the NDR , is a German television game about the end of the First World War and the November Revolution . The production originated on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the November Revolution. It was first broadcast on November 10, 1968. The film title refers to the nationalist catchphrase November criminal .
action
Berlin 1926. The committee of inquiry into the guilt questions of the First World War is supposed to clarify the background of the military and political collapse of the German Reich in 1918 and the November Revolution . The reporter , who was not named, interviewed numerous contemporary witnesses from a wide variety of social and political milieus with a microphone and in an outfit from 1968 : from workers to soldiers , revolutionary sailors , army and navy officers , politicians from all parties, including the Spartakusbund , to French Marshal Ferdinand Foch . The answer to the question of what “November criminals” were is left to the viewer. The film ends with a look at the divided Berlin from 1968.
Production notes
The film was made in six months in the Hamburg studio with the collaboration of historian Dr. Karlheinz Dederke. The production was shot in black and white , although color television was introduced in West Germany in 1967 . The background may have been the extensive use of historical black and white documentary footage . With the role of the reporter, Dieter Meichsner deliberately relied on the means of alienation in contrast to the ZDF documentary plays , which would endeavor to “create the illusion of being there with tried and tested cinema equipment”: “It is not the cinema effect that is sought, but the impression of reporter objectivity ”. ( Nordwest-Zeitung ) Nevertheless, emphasis was placed on historically accurate masks and costumes , and it was pointed out that the answers to the reporter's questions were documented or historically substantiated.
criticism
... What makes the game so captivating, despite its length of more than two hours, is the decisive departure from documentary pseudo-truths, the perfect illusion of the viewer that they themselves have been appointed judge of this era. It goes without saying that a strong educational consequence will be drawn from this for the young and young generation who were not involved in both wars ( First and Second World War , the author). In addition to the dramaturgical strengths ... the film has an extraordinary aesthetic appeal, which is partly thanks to the cameraman Wolfgang Zeh and partly to the highly talented director Carlheinz Caspari ...
Hamburger Abendblatt dated November 11, 1968.
Lore
The film was broadcast several times on public television after its premiere . Apparently a version shortened to 89 or 84 minutes was published by the Federal Agency for Civic Education as early as 1968 , including a 36-page film booklet written by the historian Heinrich Potthoff. A DVD edition was not released until November 2018. The German Historical Museum screened the film on November 4 and 10, 2018.
literature
- Hans Berndt: About "November criminals". A new form of political television play. In: Nordwest-Zeitung . November 11, 1968, p. 38.
- K.-M .: We saw on the weekend. In: Hamburger Abendblatt . November 11, 1968.