How do you make a film about Hitler without expanding the Nazi cinematic universe? That’s the question at the heart of the new documentary from IFC Films, “The Meaning of Hitler.”
With the film set to arrive in select theaters and VOD next month, we’re debuting an exclusive trailer for the new documentary, “The Meaning of Hitler.” The film takes a unique angle when talking about a historical figure that has been the subject of hundreds of hours of TV series and films. Instead of just recounting the atrocities of Adolf Hitler, the documentary aims to tackle the legacy and impact of the Nazi leader and how he has fascinated the public for decades, all while we’ve experienced a sharp rise in white supremacy around the world.
“The Meaning of Hitler” is directed by Petra Epperlein and Michael Tucker. The filmmakers are probably best known for their previous works, “Gunner Palace” and “Karl Marx City,” both of which take a look at historical events and people but from different angles than what you typically see in these types of documentaries.
As mentioned, “The Meaning of Hitler” arrives in theaters and Digital/VOD on August 13. You can watch the exclusive trailer below as well as seen the first look at the film’s poster.
Here’s the synopsis:
The latest documentary from directors Petra Epperlein and Michael Tucker (Gunner Palace, Karl Marx City) is a provocative interrogation of our culture’s fascination with Hitler and Nazism set against the backdrop of the current rise of white supremacy, the normalization of antisemitism and the weaponization of history itself. The film traces Hitler’s movements, his rise to power and the scenes of his crimes as historians and writers, including Deborah Lipstadt, Martin Amis, Saul Friedlander, and famed Nazi hunters Beate and Serge Klarsfeld, weigh in on the lasting impact of his virulent ideology. As fears of authoritarianism and fascism now abound, the film explores the myths and misconceptions of our understanding of the past, and the difficult process of coming to terms with it at a time in our history when it seems more critical than ever.
