Film Review: 'I Is Another' Explores Himmler's Masseur in a Thought-Provoking WWII Drama
The German drama 'I Is Another' stars Claes Bang as Heinrich Himmler's masseur, with Valerie Pachner. Directed by Felix Randau, the film is a weighty meditation on a WWII footnote that becomes relevant in a post-truth world.
The story is largely confined to a 1952 train journey to Oslo, where Kersten and his wife anticipate a Nobel Peace Prize announcement. A journalist from East Germany, accompanied by a photographer, persuades him to record an interview, prompting cinematic flashbacks to his wartime sessions treating the SS leader's stomach ailments.
The disputed historical basis involves the White Buses rescue of Scandinavian prisoners, typically credited to Swedish Red Cross president Folke Bernadotte. The screenplay incorporates Kersten's later publication of a letter that undermined Bernadotte's role, though the film takes creative liberties with these events. It premiered at Locarno's outdoor venue and runs 93 minutes.
This film could resonate with audiences grappling with historical revisionism and the fragility of truth. By dramatizing a disputed wartime account, it may prompt viewers to question how narratives are constructed and who gets credited for moral actions. The focus on a charismatic figure's self-serving claims could influence public discourse on memory and accountability, particularly for those interested in WWII history or contemporary media manipulation. It may also spark renewed debate about the White Buses incident's legacy.