WELCOME TO VIENNA
A film review by Ben Hoffman
Copyright 1997 Ben Hoffman
This is the third in a trilogy by the Viennese director which is based on the real-life experience of the screenwriter Stephan Troller, an Austrian Jew who fled the Nazis prior to WWII, came to the U.S. and then went back to Austria with the victorious American army, as an interpreter.
It is not necessary to have seen the first two of the series as this is a self contained movie, and is an exceedingly gripping, well-made film not to be missed.
The film follows Freddy, its hero, right to his home city but none of Vienna is like the civilized country he had left, and of course it is in shambles from the bombings. As one woman mumbles at the American soldier, "All you Americans are good at is bombing" as if Vienna were in no way at fault.
The "adoption" by the U.S. of Nazi war criminals who are able to reveal to us Russian secrets, and how the Nazis are brought to the U.S. shows the collapse of the ideals the war was supposed to be about. As one of the officers points out to Freddy, "The Russians probably are doing the same thing." The analogy to Kurt Waldheim is not overlooked.
There's the family that says they "bought" the pharmacy that Freddy's parents used to own; the children running after the American soldiers for chocolates, and the women playing up to them, too, for the same reason. There are the black marketeers. Freddy realizes that he belongs neither in the U.S. nor in Austria.
Rather than dwelling on the war, the director explores the post-war issues. No one, including the American officers, stays clean as they compromise their ideals as each new situation arises.
I noted that a banner strung across a street, written in German, was not subtitled: "Welcome the Red Army, Liberators of Vienna." Just one more compromise and adjustment to new life by the Viennese. Not to be missed.
In German with English subtitles.
Directed by Axel Corti.
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Ben Hoffman
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