JourneytoJustice

  • 120分钟
  • JourneytoJusticetellsthestoryofHowardTriest,aGerma… JourneytoJusticetellsthestoryofHowardTriest,aGermanJewwhofledNaziGermanyin1939whenhewas16-yearsold,returnedasanAmericansoldierandthenservedasaninterpreterduringtheNurembergTrial.Hecameface-to-facewithimprisonedNazileaderswhowereco-responsibleforthedeathofsixmillionJews,includingHoward'sparentsatAuschwitz.In1947heboughta16mmcameraandfilmedtheruinsofMunich.ThisuniquedocumentisasbonusmaterialontheDVDinitscompleteversion.Partsofitareembeddedintheactualfilmwhichtellsthestoryfromtheviewpointof83yearoldHowardTriestwhoisreturningtoGermanywithhissonBrenttovisittheplacesofhispast. Thefilmusesnever-before-seendocuments,photos,andarchivalfootage,muchofittakenfromHowardTriest'sownfiles,torecounthisharrowingjourneyfromMunichtoAmerica,where,justafewyearslater,hejoinedtheArmyandservedasaninterpreterattheNurembergtrials.HerecalledtheequanimitywithwhichNaziofficialsdescribed,"likebureaucrats,"theinhumantortureanddegradationinflictedonthecamps'inmates,takingprideinhaving"exceededtheirquotas."RecallinghowhesomehowmanagedtomaintainhiscomposurebeforeRudolfHoess,thecommandantatAuschwitz,wherehisparentsweremurdered,TriestacknowledgedthathebelievedthesentenceHoessandothersreceived--hanging--was"tooeasyforthem." Effectivelymixingpastandpresent--attimesTriestbecomesaphotograph,observingtheinterviewsorsilentlycommentingonastill--Palackdharry'scinematicachievementisablyabettedbythephotographicskillofHoward'ssonGlenn,whoadmitsthathecannotcompletelyrelaxinGermany,unlikehisfather,whonowcan.Buthisfatherhasmorethanearnedthatease,whichwasfeltbyallduringtheshoot,thanksinlargeparttothedirector;Margottoldtheaudiencethathisopen,honest,andrelaxedmannerenabledhertofeelfreetosaythingsshehadnoteventoldherchildren,whowereastonishedandmovedwhentheysawthefilm.Butchildrenarethenextgeneration,andHowardandMargot'smeetingwiththeyoungcouplewhonowliveintheirformerMunichhomeisilluminatingandheartwarming,astheyexhibitafriendliness,opennessandcuriosity,andawillingnesstoquestion"acceptedtruths,"thatcontrastssharplywithwhattheTriestsexperiencedseventyyearsbefore.Theirhopefuloptimismremainedwithus,asdidthefilm'sindelibleimages,asweexitedthetheater.