Independent Lens Season 17 Episode 16 My Nazi Legacy

My Nazi Legacy is an emotional and personal documentary that follows two men in their attempt to understand their fathers’ roles in the Nazi Party during World War II. One of the men is Philippe Sands, a human rights lawyer who is also the son of Jewish refugees. The other is Niklas Frank, the son of Hans Frank, a high-ranking Nazi official who was Hitler’s personal lawyer and governor of occupied Poland.

The documentary is a fascinating exploration of how the actions of the past can reverberate through the generations, and how difficult it can be to come to terms with family history that is steeped in atrocities. The two men travel together to different sites in Poland and Germany where their fathers were involved in the atrocities of the Holocaust. They also share their personal journeys of discovery, as they try to understand the men who were so central to their lives, but also complicit in such horrific crimes.

Throughout the documentary, the viewer is taken on a journey of reflection and introspection, as the two men try to reconcile their fathers’ actions with their own identities, beliefs, and values. The viewer is also introduced to a range of historical documents, including Hans Frank’s diaries and personal letters, which help to paint a picture of what life was like for the Nazis during the war.

A key theme of the documentary is the question of guilt and responsibility. On the one hand, Philippe and Niklas are acutely aware that they are not responsible for their fathers’ actions, and that they cannot help the past. On the other hand, they both feel a sense of shame and responsibility, simply because of their family connections. This is particularly true for Niklas, who struggles to come to terms with the fact that his father was responsible for the deaths of so many innocent people.

The documentary is full of emotional and powerful scenes, as the two men visit former concentration camps, synagogues, and other sites that are significant to their families’ histories. The scene in which Niklas confronts a group of school children at one of the concentration camps is particularly moving. In this scene, he attempts to explain the horrors of the Holocaust to the children, and to impress upon them the importance of remembering the past.

Overall, My Nazi Legacy is a thought-provoking and insightful documentary that explores the complex and difficult legacy of the Nazi regime. Through the personal stories of Philippe and Niklas, the viewer is given a unique perspective on the past, and on the difficult process of coming to terms with family history that is steeped in atrocities. The documentary is both powerful and emotional, and is a must-watch for anyone interested in the legacy of World War II, the Holocaust, and the impact that these events continue to have on our world today.