Your Unknown Brother

 

Picture: C-     Sound: C     Extras: C     Film: B-

 

 

Since the fall of East Germany, more and more of the films about World War II made under the most oppressive of all Communist countries continue to find their way to DVD.  Ulrich Weiss’ Your Unknown Brother (1981) is one of the more interesting tales of The Resistance and the secret witchhunts during Hitler’s reign that made battling the original Axis Of Evil so difficult.  Though the film shows us things we basically knew and have seen, even on film before, it is well acted and has solid writing.

 

Possibly influenced by the success of Rainer Werner Fassbinder, the look is subtly lush and full, from offices, to private rooms, to big theater spaces.  Though the parts where people are chanting “Heil Hitler!” everywhere they can get repetitious and threatens to bog down the production, the story of betrayals and maneuvering circa 1935.  The fascists were concerned by Communist movements long before the U.S. became involved, but this was so smart and articulate that the East German authorities pulled it fearing a transfer of the mechanics of oppression on themselves, so this is a banned film.  Unlike many such films that have not aged well, this one does and is worth a strong look with your undivided attention.

 

The letterboxed 1.85 X 1 image is hazier than usual, despite some good moments of color here and there.  Why this is makes no sense, but there are even limits when watching it on smaller screens.  Claus Neumann’s cinematography is a highlight and deserves better.  The Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono has background hiss and is limited in fidelity, more so than you would expect from a 1981 film.  Extras include some still, intro essay, newsreel clips and Irene Harloff remembering The Resistance.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo