THE NASTY GIRL
A film review by Ben Hoffman
Copyright 1997 Ben Hoffman
When Anja Rosmus researched her hometown's past during the Nazi era she was subjected to all kinds of harassment and death threats, the least of which was being referred to as "that terrible girl". . . or as translated for the film's title, "that nasty girl."
Based on her story of her research and the town's reaction we are treated to a most wonderful film which despite its very serious subject contains much humor. Lena Stolze does a great job as Anja growing from a teenager early in the film to a mother of 2 children.
It starts with Anna's teen years in a Catholic school, her winning a national essay contest and her decision to enter another essay contest picking as her subject, in all innocence, the people of her home town during the Nazi period.
When she begins the research she is surprised to find that she is being thwarted in her every attempt to read the town's, the library's and the church's archives of that period. As she digs into whatever information she can gather she discovers that many of the present day respectable citizens behaved despicably to the Jews, confiscating their property, accusing them of crimes and allowing them to be sent to concentration camps. Although one never hears any talk of that period, Anja discovers that the town even had its own concentration camp.
Very much in a documentary fashion but with a very effective twist, the film's characters will frequently turn to the audience and explain what is happening and the circumstances surrounding their actions. That all of this is done with a light touch to make its point is attributable to the talents of its director. And the point of the film is to show that 50 years later there is still much hidden in the hearts of many Germans, and that among many of the young, Hitler is still an idol.
In German, with English subtitles.
Masterfully directed by Michael Verhoeven
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Ben Hoffman
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