The Empty Mirror (1996)

Adolf Hitler faces himself and must come to terms with his infamous career in an imaginary post-war subterranean bunker where he reviews historical films, dictates his memoirs and ... See full summary »

Director:

Barry J. Hershey

Writers:

R. Buckingham, Barry J. Hershey

Stars:

Norman Rodway, Camilla Søeberg, Peter Michael Goetz

7 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Norman Rodway	...	Adolf Hitler
Camilla Søeberg	...	Eva Braun
Peter Michael Goetz	...	Sigmund Freud
Doug McKeon	...	The Typist
Glenn Shadix	...	Hermann Goering
Joel Grey	...	Josef Goebbels
Hope Allen	...	Woman in Black
Lorri Scott	...	Floating Female Spirit
Raul Kobrinsky	...	Jailer
Randy Zielinski	...	Hitler Youth
Shannon Yowell	...	Hitler Youth
Courtney Dale	...	Hitler Youth
Elizabeth Hershey	...	Hitler Youth
Chris Levitus	...	Hitler Youth (as Christopher Levitus)
Chip Marks	...	Hitler Youth

Storyline

Adolf Hitler faces himself and must come to terms with his infamous career in an imaginary post-war subterranean bunker where he reviews historical films, dictates his memoirs and encounters Eva Braun, Josef Goebbels, Hermann Göring and Sigmund Freud.

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Plot Keywords:

bunker | hitler | freud | alternate history | written by director | 

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Taglines:

If he looked in the mirror, what would he see?

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Genres:

Drama | History | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for disturbing war images and thematic material

Details

Official Sites:

official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 January 1999 (USA)

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$4,688, 9 May 1999, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$10,750, 23 May 1999

Company Credits

Production Co:

Walden Woods Film Company Ltd.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Goofs

In a scene when Hitler and Freud are talking, Hitler is wearing his gray army uniform with a swastika armband. The armband should not be there. An emblem of a eagle astride a swastika should be there.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Adolf Hitler: Before us lies Germany, within us marches Germany, and after us comes Germany!

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Connections

Edited into A. Hitler (2010)

User Reviews

Psychologically and historically faithful for those who understand Hitler

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While I doubt this movie appeals to the majority of people, it is never-the-less accurate both historically and psychologically. Many of the ideas expressed (by the character Hitler and his cohorts), facts referenced, and behavior exhibited are realistic. I have studied Hitler to a some extent, particularly his psychology and neuroses (read Robert G .L. Waite), and I feel that this movie shows the man as he was, a facade of power covering thinly doubt and pain. Hitler is not, after all, simply the worst monster in history, he had reasons and beliefs that motivated his actions. While the depiction of him may seem to inappropriate to some, it shows Hitler as a vulnerable, conflicted person who uses power and cruelty to attempt to hide his own debilitating lack of self confidence. Hitler needed to be accepted, loved, and to belong. He tried to use power and fear as a surrogate for all these things that make a healthy happy person, but it gave him no rest. He did indeed stare into an empty mirror. Hitler was a victim of his own twisted mind and lonely, hollow existence.

Hitler deserves not to be forgiven, but understood. The empty mirror shows Hitler as human, and a weak one. This is not a tribute: Hitler wanted to be remembered as a great destructive prophet, to see him as the vulnerable victim of himself (while not pardoning what he did) is not what Hitler wanted. Watch, and understand Hitler the victim.