The Confessions of Winifred Wagner

The subject is obviously compelling, but far too much time is spent on background details instead of cutting to the chase about W.W's relationship with Hitler, Wagner's connection to NS and the cultural-political legacy of Bayreuth. What's striking is WW's personalised account of Hitler that is largely divorced from his atrocities. In these moments, it's a fascinating and insightful psychological portrait of delusion and misguided loyalty captured with rare intimacy by Syberberg's camera.

Wagner undoubtedly downplays the political dimensions of the relationship between Bayreuth and Hitler and Syberberg begins by acknowledging her subjectivity, but the film does indeed shine a fascinating light on this fundamental intersection of the aesthetic and the political at the core of Germany's darkest hour. Also interesting in terms of trying to understand the perspective of the director, who began by working with Brecht but who now finds himself translated by Indian Nazi Alexander Jacob.

most of my heinies get caught in the attic