Speer Goes to Hollywood
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.
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
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Winner
Best Documentary FilmIsraeli Documentary Forum Awards2021 -
Winner
Best DocumentaryIsraeli Academy Awards2021 -
Winner
Diamond Award for “Best Director”Jerusalem International Film Festival2021 -
Nominated
Best Music ScoreIDA Documentary Awards2021
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
Reviews
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"Engrossing, groundbreaking and thought-provoking. Speer Goes to Hollywood is a must see."
- Etgar Keret, Israeli award-winning writer
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"Quietly stunning...Lapa has made a remarkable portrait of one man’s
reinvention, and of compartmentalizing in hyperdrive."
- Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter
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"Intriguing document, highlighting the ease with which the most reprehensible figures are able to whitewash their legacies."
- Beatrice Loayza, The New York Times
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"Speer Goes to Hollywood smashes the version of reality Speer was trying to
peddle to the world."
- Interview by Nirit Anderman, Haaretz