The Grand Budapest Hotel Analysis | Gustave vs Fascism
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- čas přidán 26. 02. 2022
- In this analysis of The Grand Budapest Hotel, we delve into the classy antidote to fascism, Gustave H. A character who is based on the Austrian writer Stefan Zweig, once Europe's favourite author.
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//Sources//
- www.indiewire.com/2014/03/the...
- www.motherjones.com/politics/...
- www.theatlantic.com/entertain...
- www.reverseshot.org/reviews/en...
- www.bbc.com/culture/article/2...
- • Wes Anderson on Stefan...
- epigraph.ca/2018/08/13/on-ste...
- www.bbc.com/culture/article/2...
- www.newyorker.com/magazine/20...
- www.handelsblatt.com/english/...
- offscreen.com/view/wes-anders...
- Stefan Zweig: Farewell to Europe (2016)
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Henkels was not the fascist, he was simply the presentation of the old world order, bound by law to observe and enforce the rules, the fascist are only seen later, when aligned to Desgoffe and Taxis.
I think that too. We can say that he is the link between the late order and the new fascist world. But we can't say he didn't choose to conform to the new order and do things on its terms...
In one of the newspaper I think shows that Henkels was actually part of the national militia fighting against a fascist invader. The old world actually collapsed near the end of the movie when it was deliberately shown in black and white
Agreed. He is more the provisional authority trying to maintain order in a time of upheaval, tragically to no avail.
Why does this channel have such a small following? Everything that has come out of it is of absolute perfect quality.
One more now. Excellent analysis.
Gustave, mostly fictional as he is, _is_ an inspiration and a comforting reminder of what I strive for when it comes to true service. . .
Which will always bother a certain friend of mine, but to each their own and so long as you understand at least some part of the functioning and machinations of what you are aiming for, you still have a goal to pursue.
My goodness, thank you for this excellent analysis. I have always found this movie utterly lovely in every way. All characters were well-cast, but it is Gustave H who serves as the engine and beating heart of the story. You explained (and illustrated) so well how Gustave is more than charming and funny, he is also genuinely heroic. That shot of his face right before the fascist hits Zero makes me want to cry. While aware that he is powerless, his composure is ironclad, his resolve total. Monsieur Gustave is an icon and you explained it better than I ever understood.
I'm Brazilian. My favorite city here is actually Petrópolis and only found about Stefan Zweig a few months ago. I plan on visiting the city again this winter and visit his house, which functions as a museum. I imagine his suicide also was motivated on Brazil's political climate. We had the largest fascist movement outside Europe. Also, only five years prior his death, there was a coup d'etat in response to a planted antisemitic and anticommunist document called Cohen Plan. Although Brazil fought alongside US and USSR, we had a political agenda much more alligned with the axis.
I think, in that moment on the train, when Gustave tries to look for some kind of humanity, even in fascist people, and then spits out "oh, fuck it". It's at this point that things start to die in the film's universe.
In a philosophical way, we can see glimpses of the classic book by Adorno and Horkeheimer "Dialectics of Enlightenment". When humanity hides behind speeches of hope and beauty, but art itself (poetry) only serves to obscure the reality of our barbaric society.
I loved the video!! Very powerful messages about pop culture. I love that kind of thinking.
Cheers from Brazil!
We really need more Gustave...
I love this movie unconditionally, now I know why!
I wish I could be like Gustave, I wish there would be more Gustaves in the World!
Beautiful video and great analysis. You kinda got the Austro-Hungarian Empire wrong though. In the context of what u wanted to say, it made sense to portray it as cosmopolitan and fair towards all ethnicities and it might have even seemed that way for Zweig who was Austrian, but in reality there were tons of ethnic tensions and there existed very much a sort of racism where the austrians and hungarians were deemed superior and were generally richer, controlled the governement, etc and the other ethnicities (mostly the slavs) werent allowed to live freely through policies such as Hungarization... Nonetheless great video, I really enjoyed it
Not quite. The Austrians were fairly tolerant, and the Emperor had to remind the antisemitic mayor of Vienna that the Jews of the empire were “his” (the Emperor’s), indicating they were under imperial protection from any attempt to purge or pogrom them.
Further, the assassinated Archduke had openly spoke of turning the Dual Monarchy into a Triple one by incorporating a third kingdom of Yugoslavia to provide a guaranteed “homeland” for the Slavic peoples of the empire.
The main issue were the Hungarians. They didn’t like the perception that they were second fiddle to the Austrians, and tended to be racist and heavy handed against the empire’s minorities within their land. When the archduke was assassinated, in fact, the first rumors in Vienna were that the assassins had been Hungarians attempting to prevent such a Slavic kingdom.
It’s also important to understand that, while not flawless, the Austro-Hungarian Empire was far more liberal and tolerant than what came after.
What the reviewer and film are getting at is the widespread nostalgia for the empire that arose in the 30s and 40s, both by Jewish writers and ethnic German writers who began seeing the empire as a better expression of (south) German culture than the racism and militarism of the (north) German culture of Nazi Germany.
Ironically, the racism of Hitler was the result of his exposure to the cosmopolitanism of the Dual Monarchy as a child born in Austria. He ended up in Germany in the first place to avoid the required military service because he did not want to fight alongside or for the mixed and multiple races of Austria-Hungary.
What a terrific essay. Teared up a bit. Thank you friend
I started watching this video, looked down and saw 970 and assumed that you had 970k subscribers, finished the video and jumped when I saw that it was just 970, great channel
Henckels isn't a fascist, he's just the regular police. The actual fascists come later.
Beautiful video! I was certainly surprised when I noticed this has only 1000 views.
An absolutely masterful analysis. Striking how these Wars between communities of plurality / diversity are challenged by the rigid cultures of Authoritarianism which seem to pop up throughout history. Those who must have the World 'ordered perfectly' the need for control vs those who embrace diversity, beauty, creativity, compassion.
Brilliant essay. A true work of art that is both moving and interesting.
Thank you for making such a wonderful short documentary about a wonderful film - very insightful 😊
I love this film, plus you explain stuff so well. automatic subscribe
Henckels is not a fascist commander, he is a police chief... Decent analysis and comparison but as a history student, historical reenactor and fan of this movie I found it profoundly interesting the way that they forged costumes to reflect institutional differences, it was one of the key factors I recommend you go over. A brief study of the history of fashion of the late 19th and early 20th century as well as military and political uniformology will allow you to appreciate yet another layer to this magnificent tale.
I don't think Edward Norton's character was a fascist, he was the old school police wasn't he?
I think his character probably started off as old school police but was later co-opted by the fascists. He wears a military uniform throughout the film so can be compared to the Ordnungspolizei - the uniformed police force of Nazi Germany.
@@jake_bishop I read his character as an aristocrat. Hailing from a grand family that could afford extended stays at the Grand Budapest in the past and perhaps taking up military service according to family tradition or perhaps because it was a profession expected of an aristocrat.
During the rise of the Nazi party in Germany the upper echelons of the military was dominated by the prussion junkers and other aristocrats.
They disliked, but tolerated the Nazies in the beguinning, before being slowly indoctrinated/ "persuaded" to join the party.
I imagine a similar situation being possible for the young military police officer.
@@jake_bishop I think the point is to show, that he already was in an authoritarian system (like austria already being a fascist state befor getting in bed with Hitler or German democracy already dying befor Hitler took power). So many countries that became more open, liberal and democratic after WWI were already in decline befor Hitler took power. And not just in Italy. Greece, Poland, Austria... democracy and a lot of liberty died the Nazis even set foot in those places. Obviously the Nazis were the worst and everything got wrose, and I thinkt this is what this scene represents. The police is already authoritarian and violent but there is still some dignity, which the Nazis fully destroy.
I also think it is interesting that we do not see him late. This probably symbolizes the that the last people with dignity and love for freedom got replaced.
excellent, insightful and most enjoyable. A credit to this marvellous film. thanks.
I can't thank you enough for filling blanks I didn't know where there, with a movie I love..
I will give my dog a pat from you. Thank you :)
DAMN BRO İ CRİED THİS VİDEO ESSAY WAS AMAZİNG İT NEEDS MORE RECOGNİTİON!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This was beautiful great job
Awesome work !! Thank you truly
I had never thought so deep about the Grand Budapest Hotel!! Bravo! Loved your analysis
how low is your iq, 110 at best?
beautiful video!
Thanks for the wonderful video! Truly inspiring.
Brilliant video
Great video!! Great work
Shindler's List made in Disney World by Adam Lambert and Woody Allen
I have always thought Gustave was modeled at least in part on Austrian actor Anton Walbrook, in Oh...Rosalinda where he plays a blackmarketeer who works out of hotel. Walbrook was gay and Jewish and fled to the UK when Germany invaded Austria in WW2. He remained a virulent anti-Nazi and refused to play Nazi characters on screen. He refused to speak with one of the actors in that film because she had been a collaborator. There is something about aesthetics of the hotel in the pre-war period of the fillm, that looks very much like it was designed by frequent Powell and Pressburger set decorator, Hein Heckroth. (Another exile from Nazi Germany) who did the set design for Oh...Ros. Also I watched this documentary on Netflix about the French L'oreal heiress and her boyfriend who was a gay man who she constantly gave valuable paintings to and who was the subject of a long, tangled lawsuit with her children who wanted their mother's paintings/property back. All of these things plus stefan zweig are probably floating around in The Grand Budapest Hotel. I love this movie. It's my favorite Wes Anderson by a mile.
I wish Zweig could have known that the EU would exist in the future. I realize its not a perfect union nor free of bigotry, but neither was Austria-Hungary. Europe's open borders, multicultural make-up, fairly democratic institutions, and cosmopolitanism may have reminded him of what he'd thought was forever lost. The EU is being challenged today, yet its existence after two world wars will always amaze me.
very well written
Thanks for reminding us why Gustave H. is one of the best film characters of all time.
This went up 4 days after the invasion of Ukraine.
Thank you for a heartwarming video❤️👌😎
Bravo👏👏
great video
im the 700 subscriber
Gives me hope for Hungary post Victor Orban.
Nice
Brilliant. You are so good at this.
I wish I'd be able to be a much better Gustave than I am.
Hey bud, i dont know if ya knew but wes anderson tends to be fairly morbid!😁 It actually makes alot of sense that he was inspired by a writers suicide note!🤷♂️🤷♂️
Thanks :-)
I've never seen the film because it has the Anderson absurdist kitsch which I've never been into. It just annoys me. I have read about Austro-Hungary and Zweig in recent years. I came to pity Zweig greatly. Like many idealists, he could not deal with the dark side of human nature. Some want to deny that it exists. Some want to believe that human evil will just fade away, if we all promise to just love each other. That just will not be. His empire has come to fascinate me. An underrated confederation of cultures built over a number of centuries. Fragile though, like a snow globe world. One anarchist's bullet shattered the snow globe. I would also point viewers towards the works of Zweig's friend and fellow author, Joseph Roth, author of "The Radetzky March". They both cherished their empire and never recovered from its dissolution.
1:39 "peacefully co-existed" lmao what
Huh
yeah that remark sunk the credibility of this video...both author and zweig are delusional if they think that AH was some sort of multiethnic paradise
@@raingulfdrengot195 It may have been a fantasy in Zweig's mind, but it was as it could be to him.
Men these days gravitate towards characters like Tyler Durden or Patrick Batmen. Really, they should be gravitating towards Gustave H.
Exactly, Karen! Men should be more flamboyant and bisexual!
While Europe may have had such open travel regulations, which is very nearly preserves, the rest of the world was another matter. The narrator should refrain was referring to these regulations as 'world order' etc.
The claimed duality between "fascism" and "liberalism" in this video is really stupid and I doubt that the dude who made the movie would approve it.
this, dumb video
Typical J propaganda. It's all so tiresome.
great video