Adolf Eichmann, the person in charge of the implementation of the "Final Solution to the Jewish Question " in the movie "Judgment of the Century" , was put on trial, and Leo Hurwitz, the director of the TV film Eichmann's trial, wanted to capture Eichmann's eyes and facial expression changes to prove that the fascist was also a "human" and not a "monster", and he failed. Leo did this because of his humanistic sentiments, and he wanted to explore "the question of the nature of fascism". In his view, each of us is a potential "fascist", and once people understand this, we can "resist the temptation" to prevent atrocities like genocide from happening again. So, what does Leo mean by "temptation"? In my opinion, it is the superiority of human nature.
I have always believed that human nature is first and foremost in its animality. Animals use special methods, such as peeing, to delineate their sphere of influence. It can encircle as much as it is capable, and it may invade the territory of the same kind, but it cannot expand the territory beyond his ability. This is what we call an instinct in animals. This kind of "instinct" is actually reflected in human beings. Human beings are big enough to organize countries and societies, and they are small enough to form gangs. These instincts are all manifestations of this instinct; those who can delineate their sphere of influence are usually called "" leader". Different from the instinctive expression of animals, the "leader" of human beings is always trying to expand his sphere of influence, and he dares to try without even knowing how capable he is. This is human nature, the kind that always tries to prove himself. Humanity is superior and nobler than others, and this "proof" often requires propaganda methods similar to "fascism".
As soon as the propaganda machine based on ideology starts, the control over people's thoughts is unparalleled, especially for those who are in a hostile state. There is a Russian anti-fascist war film "Female Sniper". When the heroine was asked how many people were killed, she replied: "I didn't kill people, I killed fascists"; Not to kill, but to kill the enemy. Regardless of whether it is just or not, when these people whose thoughts are controlled by ideology, they can distinguish a certain type of people from "people", so as to find a reassuring excuse for dehumanizing murder. This also explains why the Nazi leader Eichmann, even in the face of documentaries and witnesses of his own crimes, could have been sitting there watching and listening with a blank face, because he did not Jews have been treated as human beings, then, the humanity that Leo said is impossible to talk about with him. The reason Leo insisted on photographing Eichmann's eyes and facial expressions, and even clashed with producer Milton Fruchtman, was because he firmly believed that anyone with a bit of humanity, even if they didn't worry about "the image consequences of their actions" , and will certainly react subconsciously to his own atrocities. In fact, while watching the documentary, Eichmann did twitch his facial muscles a few times, which was considered by others to be a laugh, although Leo insisted it wasn't, but that wasn't enough to justify a compassionate or penitential human response, In the end, Leo admitted that he didn't find the humanity he wanted to prove in Eichmann.
Of course, he couldn't find it, because fascism had already completely occupied Eichmann's heart, and even completely suppressed the possible humanity in the "subconscious". So, Milton might be right: the anti-Semitic atrocities committed by Eichmann were used to show that he could endure the most brutal bloodshed, "a symbol of intellectual superiority." Once this superiority took hold of Eichmann Brain, we also expect to find "cracks in his armor"? Leo's failure is not because he doesn't understand human nature, but because he doesn't understand that "human" is a devil that can be completely domesticated into inhumanity, as long as his heart is completely occupied by a sense of superiority. (Author: Shibanzhihua, please indicate the author and keep the article intact for reposting, May 13, 2015)
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