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| The Clown and The Fuhrer |
Europe during the 1940s: bombs are going off everywhere and the Nazis occupy Denmark. But these are nothing like the fireworks and on-stage dramas that envelop Charlie Rivel (1896-1983) - then Europe's most famous and popular circus performer - who is trapped in Copenhagen when the Nazis roll in.
Having already fled to escape the Nazis, Rivel and his family are forced to return to Berlin, where he and stage partner Witzi are dragooned into entertaining the Nazi élite.
But Witzi, whose Jewish wife has already been deported, is disgusted and flings thinly disguised comic insults at his hosts (including some hilarious gems); he is made to pay for it with his life. As the war bears down and the line-up of his act changes, Rivel struggles to remain the forever-innocent comedian when finally he is enlisted to perform for Hitler's birthday celebrations.
Adapted for the screen by Gerard Vazquez from his own stage play (the real-life Rivel appeared in Federico Fellini's 1971
The Clowns), the film explores uncharted territory between comedy and tragedy. Its climax, where Rivel is forced to perform for the Führer himself, is a masterpiece of both comedy and suspense, and alone worth the price of admission.
