anarchista feminista
5th December 2006, 10:23
Mephisto is the title a 1981 film adaptation of Klaus Mann's novel of the same name, directed by István Szabó, and starring Klaus Maria Brandauer as Hendrik Höfgen. The film was a co-production between companies in West Germany, Hungary and Austria.
The film adapts the story of Mephistopheles and Doctor Faustus by having the main character Hendrik Höfgen abandon his conscience and continue to act and ingratiate himself with the Nazi Party and so keep and improve his job and social position.
Both the film and Mann's 1936 novel mirror the career of Mann's brother-in-law, Gustaf Gründgens, who is considered by many to have supported the Nazi Party and abandoned his previous political views for personal gain rather than conscience. However, Mann's book is satirical, making Höfgen more a lampoon than a character in his own right, while the film offers a more realistic exploration of a flawed but recognisably human character. from wikipedia.
I loved this film. In extension english this year we studied "selling your soul" and used Dr Faustus, The Picture of Dorian Gray and Bedazzled(both versions). The film was long but it was incredibly well cast and Brandauer was amazing. It has some interesting historical background about the era and Mann's own personal life. If anyone else has seen it and has comments?
The film adapts the story of Mephistopheles and Doctor Faustus by having the main character Hendrik Höfgen abandon his conscience and continue to act and ingratiate himself with the Nazi Party and so keep and improve his job and social position.
Both the film and Mann's 1936 novel mirror the career of Mann's brother-in-law, Gustaf Gründgens, who is considered by many to have supported the Nazi Party and abandoned his previous political views for personal gain rather than conscience. However, Mann's book is satirical, making Höfgen more a lampoon than a character in his own right, while the film offers a more realistic exploration of a flawed but recognisably human character. from wikipedia.
I loved this film. In extension english this year we studied "selling your soul" and used Dr Faustus, The Picture of Dorian Gray and Bedazzled(both versions). The film was long but it was incredibly well cast and Brandauer was amazing. It has some interesting historical background about the era and Mann's own personal life. If anyone else has seen it and has comments?