Germany Year Zero
...nce is let in on the fact that the movie will evolve around Edmund. In fact Edmond will appear in almost every shot throughout the entire film. As the film follows Edmond and introduces him to the audience, it is clear that he is a poster child for the Hitler Youth and we even later find out that before the Nazi defeat, Edmund was a Hitler Youth. It is clear that he represents the Nazi ideal. In fact as the camera follows Edmund on his journey we find out that there are three different generations represented by three different characters. When he arrives home the viewers are introduced to his father who is a clear representation of the past of Germany before the Nazis take over. We find out that the father lied to try and get Edmund out of the Hitler Youth but it was of no use because the Nazi regime was so powerful there was nothing the past generations could do to stop it. While at the house we are also introduced to Edmunds brother who represents the defeated Nazis and he shows how they now cower in fear since they have been defeated after the atrocities they did and the fear they installed on others. Last we meet Herr Enning, Edmunds ex teacher. He represents the generation between those two. He also fought hard for the Nazi regime and is pure evil in all his works. Herr Enning is introduced towards the middle of the film and invites Edmund up to his apartment. From the very moment he is introduced he comes across as very disturbing. He incarnates the soul of the Nazi very well. He informs the audience that he was a Nazi propagandist who taught the Hitler Youth. We also find out that he is using these old authoritative powers of his to provide him with sexual tools of his old students. It is very disturbing for the audience when the two go up to his apartment and he has Edmund very innocently sit on his lap while he has no innocent ideas in his mind. He caresses him and the back of his neck all while the camera captures it in very disturbing close up images. This visually shows the perversion of the spirit of childhood by the Nazi ideals by the manipulation of this boy. Later it will be this teacher who will give Edmund the idea of killing his father. He will install into Edmund his Nazi ideals that he still has brainwashed into his head. He tells Edmund that it is survival of the fittest and the old and sick should die. Edmund being only twelve years old takes this very literal. When he goes home his father is saying that his life is a burden on the rest of the family and he wishes he could die but doesn’t have the courage to kill himself. Edmund takes this as a sign that he should kill him. Edmund killing his father is very symbolic of the new Germany killing off the old Germany. The father was the only one in the house that was not in support of Hitler and the Nazi’s. Edmund represents not only the Hitler Youth, but also the young generation and future generation that has gone through all the changes of Germany and will represent the new postwar Germany. When he kills his father it shows the new Germany leaving behind the old Germany and forgetting those who were opposed to the Nazis. The new generation wants to forget the past because it can’t accept it. This is further amplified by Edmund being the only one who doesn’t show any emotion over the death of his father. The new Germany is not looking back or showing any sympathy for the old Germans and the old ideals whether they supported Hitler or not. After Edmund murders his father it is hard to judge him by standards of present and more humane civilizations. He is in one of the worst times in history and has been robed of his childhood and is surrounded by death and destruction. Edmunds conscience has been torn between childhood innocence and the horrors of the real world. As he walks around the city we get a sense of this as the camera tracks along with him through the destructive landscapes of Berlin. During this Edmund goes through a number of heart wrenching situations before the ultimate end. The first one is when he tries to play soccer with the other children and they do...