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Speer Goes to Hollywood

  • Israel, Austria, Germany
  • Documentary
  • 2021
  • 97 min.
  • Director(s): Vanessa Lapa
  • Producer(s): Vanessa Lapa, Tomer Eliav

Synopsis

Albert Speer is an enigma. Hitler’s confidante, architect, and Minister of the Arms Industry in Nazi Germany. In 1971, a young screenwriter from Paramount Studios was sent to make a film based upon his memoirs, Inside the Third Reich. 40 years of conversations that were not meant for publication are now presented for the first time, revealing the work that went into the writing of the script. The film critically examines Speer’s chilling attempts to rewrite history and to whitewash his actions. Through rare archival materials, we analyze an individual who was responsible for the deaths of millions via forced labor, and who is still considered a “good Nazi.” A cautionary tale about the ease with which one can manipulate the media and use cinema to shape collective memory.

 

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Credits

Director(s)

Vanessa Lapa

Producer(s)

Vanessa Lapa, Tomer Eliav

Co-Producer(s)

Björn Koll

Executive Producer(s)

Manu & Cathy Schöngut, Stanley Cohen, Johnny Kneller, Philippe Laub, Agnes Steinmetz, Yossi Landesman, Guido Hettinger, Guy Lavie, Koby Gal Raday, Danna Stern

Editor

Joëlle Alexis

Original Music

Frank Ilfman

Original Language

English, German, French

With the support of

yes Docu, ORF, Makor Foundation for Israeli films, Claims Conference, Mifal Hapais

Associate Producer

Sylvain Goldberg

Written by

Vanessa Lapa, Joëlle Alexis

Festival Highlights

  • Winner

    Best Documentary Film
    Israeli Documentary Forum Awards
    2021
  • Winner

    Best Documentary
    Israeli Academy Awards
    2021
  • Winner

    Diamond Award for “Best Director”
    Jerusalem International Film Festival
    2021
  • Nominated

    Best Music Score
    IDA Documentary Awards
    2021

Zagreb Jewish Film Festival - Festival of Tolerance, Croatia, 2022

Documentary Edge International Film Festival, New Zealand, 2022

Chicago Jewish Film Festival, USA, 2022

Montreal Israeli Film Festival, Canada, 2022

SERET- Israeli Film Festival , UK, 2022

Israfest Foundation (LA Israeli Film Festival), USA, 2022

JNF Canada, Canada, 2022

Festival du Cinéma Israélien de Paris, France, 2022

New Jersey Jewish Film Festival, USA, 2022

Boca Raton Jewish Film Festival, USA, 2022

Australia Jewish Film Festival, Australia, 2022

Copenhagen Jewish Film Festival, Denmark, 2022

Russian Jewish Congress, Russia, 2022

48th Telluride Film Festival, USA, Official Selection, 2021

Moscow International Film Festival, Russia, Official Selection – Free Thought, 2021

Berlinale - Berlin International Film Festival, Germany, Official Selection - Berlinale Specials, 2020

Il Cinema Ritrovato – Bologna, Italy, Official Selection, 2020

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Reviews

  • "Engrossing, groundbreaking and thought-provoking. Speer Goes to Hollywood is a must see."
    - Etgar Keret, Israeli award-winning writer
  • "Quietly stunning...Lapa has made a remarkable portrait of one man’s reinvention, and of compartmentalizing in hyperdrive."
    - Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter
  • "Intriguing document, highlighting the ease with which the most reprehensible figures are able to whitewash their legacies."
    - Beatrice Loayza, The New York Times
  • "Speer Goes to Hollywood smashes the version of reality Speer was trying to peddle to the world."
    - Interview by Nirit Anderman, Haaretz