Confronting History: New Films Examine Auschwitz and Nazi Escape Routes
Table of Contents
A powerful double feature at the FILMCLUB Capitol beginning January 27th will confront audiences with the horrors of the Holocaust and the disturbing ease with which perpetrators evaded justice in the aftermath of World War II. The screenings – featuring “The Investigation” and “Nazis on the Flight, The Route of the Rats” – offer a crucial opportunity for reflection on a dark chapter of history and its continuing relevance today.
The FILMCLUB Capitol’s programming aims to spark vital conversations about historical accountability and the dangers of indifference. These films, presented in close succession, underscore the interconnectedness of remembrance, justice, and the ongoing fight against prejudice.
“The Investigation”: Recreating the Frankfurt Auschwitz Trial
On January 27th at 5:30 p.m., the FILMCLUB Capitol will screen “The Investigation” (DE 2024, 241’, Rolf Peter Kahl), a monumental work presented in German with Italian subtitles. The film, based on Peter Weiss’s 1965 play of the same name, meticulously reconstructs the Frankfurt Auschwitz trial (1963-1965).
The film centers on the interactions between a judge, a defense attorney, and a prosecutor as they hear testimony from witnesses recounting their experiences in Auschwitz. Defendants are directly confronted with these harrowing accounts and compelled to respond. According to director Rolf Peter Kahl, “The systematic extermination of six million Jews is hardly comprehensible. But coming to terms with it can help us better combat prejudices, hatred and distortion of history. Because the worst thing that can happen to us as a society is a slide into indifference.”
The screening will be particularly poignant with the presence of the film’s producers, Alexander van Dülmen, and actor Wilfried Hochholdinger, known for his roles in “Inglourious Basterds” and “Babylon Berlin.”
“Nazis on the Flight, The Route of the Rats”: The Escape to South Tyrol
The following evening, January 28th at 6:00 p.m., the FILMCLUB Capitol will present “Nazis on the Flight, The Route of the Rats” (IT 2025, 52’, Paolo Tessadri and Marco Benvenuti), an Italian-language documentary. This film exposes the surprising role of South Tyrol as a haven for fleeing Nazi criminals in the post-war period.
The documentary reveals how hundreds of individuals responsible for atrocities sought refuge in the region while awaiting passage to countries in South America. The film names specific individuals – including the Latvian hotel manager Otto Pape, the South Tyrolean Richard Klement, and the mechanic Helmut Gregor – who facilitated the escape of notorious figures like Erich Priebke, Adolf Eichmann, and Josef Mengele along the so-called “Via dei ratti” – the “rat line.”
Following the screening, a discussion will be held with one of the film’s authors and a historian from the Center for Regional History, providing further context and analysis.
A Call for Reflection and Vigilance
These film screenings are not merely historical exercises; they are a call to action. They invite audiences to grapple with the complexities of the Holocaust, the failures of justice, and the enduring threat of extremism. By examining how perpetrators were able to evade accountability and the role played by seemingly neutral territories like South Tyrol, these films underscore the importance of vigilance, remembrance, and a commitment to combating all forms of hatred and prejudice.
