Oscar-winning short offers powerful Holocaust story

SPIELZEUGLAND (TOYLAND)

By TERRY R. CASSREINO 

First, I apologize for the sparse updates on my Web site. My other work teaching and doing political consulting have been consuming my time. Nevertheless, I plan to do a better job updating this site and offering you more viewing tips, in-depth analysis and film commentary.

Meanwhile, I am giving you a treat.

American cinema has seen many landmark dramas concerning the Holocaust. Certainly Steven Spielberg’s masterpiece “Schindler’s List” is the finest, a bold, sweeping, emotionally draining epic that illustrates exactly whast life was like for Jews in Europe during World War II. Spielberg came close to topping it with his D-Day follow-up “Saving Private Ryan.” But notice I say he came close. “Schindler’s List” remains today a remarkable achievement.

That said, below you will find an embedded video window where you can watch the Oscar-winning German short “Spielzeugland” (“Toyland”), a powerful, 13-minute film about the Holocaust. While certainly not another “Schindler’s List,” “Spielzeugland” is an amazing feat in itself. I will not spoil the film for you; watch it below yourself.

I first saw 2007’s “Spielzeugland” (“Toyland”) a couple of years ago on the Sundance Channel. I was blown away. I hope you find it as powerful and emotional as I did. Please drop me a line or comment below. Despite some problems with the English subtitles, I hope you enjoy the film.






Spielzeugland by Toan-01

Pacino, DePalma team on crime thriller ‘Carlito’s Way’

Editor’s Note: This is the last of three posts on films of Brian DePalma. 

CARLITO’S WAY (1993)

By TERRY R. CASSREINO

Fresh off his Oscar-winning performance in “Scent of a Woman,” Al Pacino jumped head-first into his second collaboration with director Brian DePalma following the ultra-violent “Scarface” in 1983.

In the process, Pacino wound up starring in yet another of a long line of mob films that have dotted his career that began with “The Godfather” and included that film’s two sequels and “Donnie Brasco.” Ahhh, but “Carlito’s Way” is significantly different.

Like “Scarface”, 1993’s “Carlito’s Way” features an Hispanic hero played by Pacino. But the similarities end there. These are two distinctly different films, both thematically and stylistically.

“Carlito’s Way” eschews the vicious, mean-spirited violence of “Scarface” for a haunting, tragic story of a deeply flawed man.