Synopsis
The German-Jewish philosopher Hannah Arendt caused an uproar in the 1960s by coining the subversive concept of the “Banality of Evil” when referring to the trial of Adolph Eichmann, which she covered for the New Yorker magazine. Her private life was no less controversial due to her love affair with renowned German philosopher and Nazi supporter Martin Heidegger. This thought provoking and spirited documentary, with its abundance of archival materials, offers an intimate portrait of the whole of Arendt’s life, traveling to places where she lived, worked, loved, and was betrayed, as she wrote about the open wounds of modern times.
A word from Tënk
As a member of the jury at the Master of Arts Festival in Sofia, Bulgaria a few years ago, the viewing of this film had a profound effect on me. It seemed to me essential from a moral and educational standpoint. First, to understand Arendt's philosophical thought, then the systemic construction of what she calls "evil" and the idealization of nationalism, and then, above all, because her sharp eye made me recognize contemporary totalitarian excesses, past and present. I remember that this film fueled a lively discussion with my Bulgarian colleagues who were already well aware of the warlike motivations of their Russian neighbor.
Though this film might not contain anything exceptional in its form and its presentation, it is remarkable - if not essential - by its subject. It is with the same fascination and sense of urgency that I rewatched it this evening and I am happy to ''pass the puck'' of Hannah Arendt's free thought to you!
Marie-Odile Demay
Transmedia producer and creator
