Four and a half hours long, 'Hôtel Terminus' may test the viewer's endurance, but it is well worth the effort. Even though Klaus Barbie's youth and time in Lyon are given a good deal of time (I still would have preferred a little more, though) and attention, the greater part is spent on his life after WWII. I only knew a little about Klaus Barbie in connection with the French Vichy regime, but this documentary filled in countless blanks. There is a great amount of information here, and I had to 'rewind' a couple of times, but it never becomes truly chaotic.
Marcel Ophüls' particular and - understandably - fierce approach to the 'subject' is impressive to witness, and adds to the thorough investigation into this German war criminal. How the Americans, Germans and even members of the Vatican (and others) unscrupulously were able to aid to his 'revival' in South-America is downright shocking (some information I may have vaguely picked up on when I was much younger, but ), but this documentary also shows how perseverance and diligence pay off in the end - endless kudos.
In the final part there was something going on that confronted the state and people of France with their own past (after WWII) and almost thwarted the course of justice: the torture tactics (France) used in Algeria, even if they are, considering the circumstances, rather far apart. An interesting notion nonetheless, and one that can not be denied.
One could try seeing this in stages, but I'll warn you that it may be far too fascinating to stop once you've started.
9 out of 10.
Marcel Ophüls' particular and - understandably - fierce approach to the 'subject' is impressive to witness, and adds to the thorough investigation into this German war criminal. How the Americans, Germans and even members of the Vatican (and others) unscrupulously were able to aid to his 'revival' in South-America is downright shocking (some information I may have vaguely picked up on when I was much younger, but ), but this documentary also shows how perseverance and diligence pay off in the end - endless kudos.
In the final part there was something going on that confronted the state and people of France with their own past (after WWII) and almost thwarted the course of justice: the torture tactics (France) used in Algeria, even if they are, considering the circumstances, rather far apart. An interesting notion nonetheless, and one that can not be denied.
One could try seeing this in stages, but I'll warn you that it may be far too fascinating to stop once you've started.
9 out of 10.