Sunday 26 July 2015

Valkyrie [2008]:





It only matters that we act, now, before we lose the war. Otherwise, this will always be Hitler's Germany. And we have to show the world that not all of us were like him.
...
You know, God promised Abraham he would not destroy Sodom if he could find just ten righteous men. I have a feeling that, for Germany, it may come down to one.
– Kenneth Branagh, as Henning von Tresckow,
in Valkyrie [2008].



Kenneth Branagh commands this powerful scene from Valkyrie [2008], played with no dialogue from the lead actors:


THE GERMAN EASTERN FRONT.
SMOLENSK, RUSSIA.
13 MARCH, 1943.

A small fleet of planes land.



As they do, Major General Henning von Tresckow [Kenneth Branagh] tenses, preparing to meet his Führer, the madman he is part of a conspiracy to assassinate.


Adolf Hitler [David Bamber] alights from one of the planes, surrounded by his entourage and personal guard.


In the mess tents, they wait to attention as Hitler is seated and served first.


As Hitler proceeds to dine on his plate of vegetables, Tresckow watches him eat.
Tresckow’s combined feelings of hate and revulsion are evident in his cold gaze as he stares at Hitler and his plate of food.


Finally, Tresckow gasps and has to turn away.