Diplomacy

Adolf Hitler's purported goal was to enhance Mankind. Yet, faced with the defeat of his Reich chasing his troops back to Germany, he, in his spite, sought to destroy one of the things on this planet that did enhance Mankind--The City of Light, Paris, France. What is more, he threatened severe reprisals to the families of any of his army who failed to carry out his decree. He was determined to render Paris, that is, The Eiffel Tower, The Arch of Triumph, Notre Dame, The Place de la Concorde, The Louvre to the approaching Allies as rubble by using planted explosives. What he had on his side were three things: the overwhelming emotional force within many Germans to follow orders, whether agreed with or not, the threat to the families of disobedient officers and the idea that other great cities in the past had been destroyed in wars; why should Paris be spared? This from the man whose troops had so joyously ridden through The Arc de Triomphe just years earlier. (A grim lesson for all countries contemplating the acquiescense of accept with occupation by a foreign force.) This traps the general-in-charge, General Choltitz, portrayed like a charismatic steel rod with a hint of hidden humanity by Niels Aestrup, into following the pointless, stupid orders given him by the Fuhrer. His antagonist, Raul Nordling, the Swedish consul-general, painted with a delicate brush by actor Andre Dussolier, must find a way in his diplomatic dialogue with the general to guide him around the orders that center his soul and the lives of his wife and three children and not destroy Paris. it comes down to: what is more important, the safety and well being of his loved ones or the glory of Man's great gifts to the world? There are no explosions. no Seine River flooding of Paris. The drama and electricity happen between these two men and they are surrounded by a superb ensemble of actors, directed with exquisite discipline by Volker Schlondorff to create a masterful cinematic experience.

When I watched “Diplomatie” for the first time with my weekly French Movie Club, I could not leave my seat at the finish for the tears streaming down my face. In fact, the room stayed dark several minutes longer than usual; in the silence could be heard sniffles and digging in purses for tissues. I tear up even now, faced with the gripping reality that Paris, City of Lights, was literally moments away from absolute, total destruction as Hitler’s rage-vengeance for the Allies driving the Reich’s forces out of France in the summer after the Normandy invasions. This film of what was originally a two-man stage play tells the delicate tip-toe of diplomacy in one of the world’s most critically defining moments. In French & German with several language subtitles. Must-see.

Volker Schlöndorff's gives us yet another masterpiece in his 2014 film "Diplomacy." It tells an incredible story about the last days of the Nazi occupation of Paris. Roughly 80% of the film is conversation between the General Dietrich von Cholitz, the military commander of the city, who had been ordered to completely destroy it, and a Francophile Swedish diplomat, Raoul Nordling, who argues for its survival. Set during the uprising led by the Forces Francaises de l'Intérieur (the military structure of the French Resistance), and as Patton's U.S. Third Army and General LeClerc's 2nd French Armoured Division approached the city outskirts, this is nonetheless more a film of ideas than action. It's about the betrayal of ideals, standards, and allegiances. It's about definitions of guilt and responsibility. It tells a remarkable tale and is well worth watching.

This film dealt with the question of whether to destroy Paris or not. This was a very hard decision based on the facts that Berlin was bombed out and most of Germany was destroyed by vicious and immoral men whose hate blinded them to compassion and Christian values when confronting the enemy and as the Master had said, "Love your enemies and do good unto them. Bless them that curse you..." The German General could have chosen the low ground and obeyed Hitler but he chose the high. Morality will always be superior to "just following orders excuse." I see and hear this weak, evil, devilish excuse often and think to myself that the one who obeys an immoral order is the worst of mankind. To be moral and noble requires letting the good thought or result of my actions override the evil And harm I would cause. I greatly admire men like this fine German General's moral correct choice. The world can still visit old Paris as it was instead of destroyed rubble.

Very loosely based on historical events; Hitler ordered his troops to completely level Paris with bombs before they withdraw. The general in charge of the Wehrmacht garrison had his men placed all the explosives but never ordered the detonation to take place. It's really just a brilliant play about what is humanity. For a movie that is essentially just dialogue between two old men, it's surprisingly gripping. The end of the movie, a long shot of a camera panning back from the Pont Neuf to show Paris, is tremendously emotional when you consider what could have been, what would have been, had Hitler's order been carried out.

Only for a few art lovers. Most of the film takes place in a generals office where dialogue reigns Its mainly a conversation between a Diplomat and a General. Very little action except at the end. I didn't know the story, which is based on fact.