Die Erben

When I first saw this movie, I didn't quite know what to make of it. To be sure, there is a sense of intense violence and eroticism in this film that seems to be at odds with one another, and overshadows the performances, at least on the initial viewing.

Is it formula? Perhaps, for all of the possible excuses for reaching for violence and hatred are here: indifferent and abusive parents, diminished school prospects, and poverty to some degree- however it should be noted that the most fanatical of the boys is the one who comes from a good home. By the end, there is little of him left but the desire to destroy, and the inevitable beauty that he will self destruct.

On that point, it is very tragic that Nikolas Vogel, the star of the film, passed away so very young. As the young fanatical neo-Nazi, we see him as a lovely, misguided young man whose confusion and disappointment throughout the film ultimately lead to the violent conclusion. He starts as an innocent kid, and finishes as the empty vessel that we all fear on some level.

Very sad that Nikolas Vogel didn't get to make very many films, for this one made a profound impression on me!

An outstanding movie which highlights the allure that neo-Nazi and other gangs have to disaffected youth. The movie is well acted, but is violent and has numerous sex scenes. These scenes are surprising in their graphic nature, seeing that many of the young actors are clearly teenagers. One of the better movies I have ever seen.

This was an excellent movie on how, due to lack of love and warmth in a home, a child can find love and respect in gangs, clubs, and other youth organizations. In this film, Thomas Fleigl is a poor student in school, driven to run away by a brutal and uncaring mother, who thinks she does right, but never shows love to Thomas or his brother. His father has let Thomas' mother run the home, a disaster in and of itself. The neo-Nazi 'dark' side is typical jewish influence. Not all Nazi youth groups were bad. This one is portrayed as evil. The anti-homosexual bent is real and nicely done. The ending is sad and not well done. The Germans are notorious for long scenes without dialogue which can be somewhat boring, as compared to the action-adventure and fast style of Hollywood. I highly recommend this film to any younger person old enough to handle the sex scenes and the Nazi propaganda.

This is a very raw and forthright film in its depiction of modern German youth's vulnerability to Neo-Nazi persuasion and sexual abandon. It's very adult and very disturbing, but exceptionally well-acted and produced. How about a DVD release?

Any film that deals with the horrors of war is nasty on its very own base.But, when faced with the horrors that came from one of the most insane minds ever, things get worse. This film deals with a revival, of sorts of the Nazi ideals through a terribly mislead and dysfunctional group of very young people, drawn to the darkest pits of their reality. Political or not, this film would be branded politically incorrect in all aspects. And it is, indeed.

The worst of its drawbacks is just that its own incorrect political issues were later (and still are) a sad fuel for some youngsters who believe their Fatherland should be defended the way Hitler did, and by the same means, even if their own were to be abolished from Earth. The deep consequences of the turmoil provoked in their minds (those of the young people who join the Youth Group or Party) suddenly turns into an unstopping vortex of violence.

All moral barriers are violated here. The only driving passion is the Party. The stories told are some kind of reliving the worst of the darkest times of war from the standpoint of the Nazi Reich.

Well sorted, acted, filmed and scored, the film exudes reality. Since German is the language, the film sometimes gets too "Hitlerian". Thomas's mother being the most unnerving character (every bit of her admonitions are as Hitlerian as they can be, and well over the top). The rest are good at doing their job. It's a substantial film, but, definitely, not for the faint hearted.

You'll find moments of pure repulsion and scenes when you don't want to hear what's been said. I'm not Jewish, but it hit me as hard as if I were. The depiction of some gruesome dialogues and representations are simply disgusting.

A great film with maybe too many gratuitous sex scenes, and with an eerie powerful omen of things to be in forthcoming years.