Language Does Not Lie (2006)
"La langue ne ment pas" (original title)

Victor Klemperer (1881-1960), a professor of literature in Dresden, was Jewish; through the efforts of his wife, he survived the war. From 1933 when Hitler came to power to the war's end, ... See full summary »

Director:

Stan Neumann

Writer:

Victor Klemperer

Stars:

Denis Lavant

Cast

Credited cast:
Denis Lavant	...	(voice)

Storyline

Victor Klemperer (1881-1960), a professor of literature in Dresden, was Jewish; through the efforts of his wife, he survived the war. From 1933 when Hitler came to power to the war's end, he kept a journal paying attention to the Nazis' use of words. This film takes the end of 1945 as its vantage point, with a narrator looking back as if Klemperer reads from his journal. He examines the use of simple words like "folk," "eternal," and "to live." Interspersed are personal photographs, newsreel footage of Reich leaders and of life in Germany then, and a few other narrative devices. Although he's dispassionate, Klemperer's fear and dread resonate.

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Plot Keywords:

journal | jewish | professor | hitler | nazi | 

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Genres:

Documentary

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Country:

France

Language:

French German

Release Date:

23 October 2006 (USA)

Also Known As:

Language Does Not Lie

Company Credits

Production Co:

Les Films d'Ici

Technical Specs

Runtime:

79 min

Color:

Black and White (archive footage) Color

User Reviews

A Must See

I just watched this on Sundance Channel today. All I can say is WOW. It makes you really think about not only the language we use in our ever day life but how old words gave rise to new meanings at a time when even being outside when you were not supposed to could get you killed. Victor Klemperer made a wonderfully detailed diary that is brought to the screen with wonderful moments of joy mixed in with the pain and horror of what was happening around him on a daily basis. People ask if you could meet one person from the past who would it be. I would say this man would be a good one to talk to. This was so very well done I can think of no other words to describe it than Thank You!