‘Hitler and the Nazis: Evil on Trial’ Netflix Series Review - A Lethargic Docuseries

Just look at Joe Berlinger's filmography. He is the man behind titles like Confronting A Serial Killer, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, and Three Conversations with a Killer TV series. No wonder Berlinger has now confronted one of the most notorious killers in Hitler and the Nazis: Evil on Trial. The docuseries is packed with details that trace the rise and fall of the Nazi regime. It builds itself step-by-step as the talking heads dispense every minor thing that led to a major disaster. The show allows us to wonder how the situation could have been different if, say, Hitler hadn't spoken up at a gathering where the leaders of the German Workers' Party ended up finding potential in Hitler through his angry speech. Or if Hitler had really been a good artist (he was a mediocre painter who used to copy buildings from postcards as he could not paint humans), he would have spent his time coming up with new artistic ideas rather than ugly political schemes.

Indians will surely draw parallels between this show and their reality. Many people have made comparisons between Hitler and Narendra Modi. For instance, Hitler stifled the opposition, going as far as killing people who didn't share his beliefs. There are news reports regarding Modi using his power to suppress the opposition's voice (kicking them out of the parliament, using law enforcement officers for raids and arrests, etc.). Hitler created a myth around himself that he was the savior of his people. He presented himself as a godlike figure. Modi, in an interview during the recent elections, stated that he was not born biologically. Jewish businesses were boycotted under the rule of the Nazis. Many shops run by the Indian Muslims were destroyed under Modi's BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party). We are told that there were Germans who didn't mind sacrificing their liberties, and their rights to support Hitler and his ideologies. You can find Hindus who say everything is fine (no matter how disgusting and ugly) if it means Modi will retain his seat. Hitler had Leni Riefenstahl. Modi has the mainstream Bollywood film industry.

There comes a moment in the series where we are told how SS soldiers felt sick while shooting the Jews, leading them to look for an "efficient" way of killing. This is extremely revolting. The details regarding the concentration camp are so haunting that you still wonder how such an atrocity is even part of history. Hitler's niece, with whom he had an affair, shoots herself. Ernst Röhm is asked by Hitler to shoot himself. You can say these two incidents foreshadow Hitler's demise (yes, he shoots himself). Nonetheless, these events do little to save the whole docuseries. Hitler and the Nazis: Evil on Trial suffers from that age-old issue that has infected most of the Netflix Documentaries: The Curse of the bland recreation scenes. As Hitler, Károly Kozma merely exaggerates his gestures cartoonishly and Balázs Kató, as William Shirer, holds his pipe in one hand and looks at the pages of his typewriter intensely. Meaning: He is a serious writer/journalist. During the Nuremberg trial portions, Kató gets to act surprised. Both actors merely do the job of a cartoon illustration, while their thoughts seem to be written in the bubbles floating above their heads.

Hitler and the Nazis: Evil on Trial is a lethargic docuseries. It resembles an audiobook that you can listen to while doing other things. It takes a special kind of talent to render something like this so tedious, so undistinguished. You should, however, remember the message that is delivered by this series - What happened there can happen here. Stay vigilant.

Final Score- [4/10]
Reviewed by - Vikas Yadav
Follow @vikasonorous on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times