Film Review: 'I Is Another' — Claes Bang Portrays Himmler's Massage Therapist in Psychological Thriller
"I Is Another" is a period psychological thriller starring Claes Bang as Felix Kersten, massage therapist to Heinrich Himmler. The film explores historical truth and contemporary resonance. It is directed by Felix Randau.
The feature, directed by Felix Randau, marks his fourth directorial effort and premiered in the open-air Piazza Grande section of the Locarno festival. It centers on the real-life Baltic German figure Felix Kersten, who served as a personal massage therapist to SS chief Heinrich Himmler during World War II.
The narrative pits Kersten, portrayed by Claes Bang, against a fictional journalist played by Valerie Pachner. This character actively questions the validity of Kersten's claims regarding the liberation of concentration camp inmates, setting up a conflict over historical memory and personal legacy.
This film could prompt audiences to reconsider how historical figures shape their own legacies, particularly when evidence is ambiguous. By juxtaposing a self-serving protagonist with a skeptical journalist, the narrative may resonate with contemporary concerns about disinformation and the erosion of objective facts. Viewers and cultural commentators might find the thriller's exploration of narcissistic self-mythology particularly relevant in an era of contested truths.