JIFF: Führer and Seducer

The Story

Australian Premiere

“Powerful.” - The Guardian

“It is brutally effective, exhaustive.” - The Irish Times

“Shows how effectively Goebbels concealed the truth to feed his propaganda machine." - Rolling Stone

"A highly current relevance...the manipulation strategies from back then are still models for today's populists…a film about the danger of seduction—and against forgetting.” - NDR Info

It’s 1938. Joseph Goebbels, the Minister of Propaganda, is at the peak of his power, while Hitler is celebrated by the people. But the dictator is marching resolutely towards war, and propaganda up to now has emphasised peace.

A sudden change is not possible, and Goebbels’ messy efforts to fuel enthusiasm for war draw the Führer’s ire. To maintain his standing, the minister will do anything he can. Spanning seven years until his downfall in May 1945, we follow Goebbels as he attempts to whip up support for the war even as the fortunes of Nazi Germany fall.

This remarkable drama deconstructs Goebbels’ deadly propaganda machine and reveals how he created the images, speeches and films that form the frame of reference when discussing the Third Reich and the Shoah. A powerful insight into historic events and how they parallel today's “fake news” landscape.

Festivals and Awards
Winner - National Audience Award, Munich Film Festival 2024

Rating

Unclassified 15+

Duration

123 min

Cast

Robert Stadlober, Fritz Karl, Franziska Weisz

Director

Joachim A. Lang