Io accuso

This film is a premier example of what a dangerous weapon the cinematic arts can be. _Ich klage an_ was a propaganda piece, carefully constructed by the Nazis, to persuade the viewing public how reasonable it would be for euthanasia to be first legalized and then state run. The sentimentality with which the relationship between the husband and his terminally ill wife is portrayed is brilliant. The debate in the jury room (the debate is over the euthanizing of the wife and the guilt of her murderer) is indeed one of the shrewdest pieces of propaganda in cinematic history. Germans in the Nazi period had great sympathy for the film and with few exceptions accepted the reasonableness of its arguments about "quality of life". We know where that led. If dead Nazis could vote on IMDb, they'd give _Ich klage an_ nines and tens for sure. Never again, dear friends, never again.

Intended as a propaganda movie , the audience did not react to it as Goebbels expected ;in fact taken in isolation of its historical context -that made it an accursed movie- succeeds measurably well ;it should be pointed out that,in Nurnberg ,the movie was considered " a "not quite nazi propaganda " film.

A person who would not know the film was released in 1941 could easily be fooled and Liebeneiner 's movie looked upon as an intimate tragedy ,what the film actually was: the German audience was deeply upset by Hanna 's and Pr Heyt's terrible fate; a professor with good prospects and his wife ,proud of his husband, who has just be appointed to an important post in Munchen ;thus the first twenty minutes are essentially a celebration ,the wife believing she's pregnant to boot.

The medical exams and the wife's despair are treated with a great modesty ; the illness (multiple sclerosis) and the desperate research of a distraught husband are shown in parallel ;it should not be lost on anybody that there was a woman among the scientists whereas they were at best nurses at the time ; it's the female researcher who puts an end to a lab mouse's sufferings .Heidemarie Heyer is a strong actress,playing a terminally-ill woman ,hoping against hope ; matching her all along the way is Paul Hartmann's researcher ,facing the worst dilemma ;his final speech is impressive in his "judge not lest you be judged " ; the ending is daring for the time (and the historical context :one should note that there're no real hints at the political situation of the -then- triumphant country )

It must be the subject: in 2013, a terminally -ill girl in her twenties was compelled to leave her homeland for Switzerland to get assisted suicide: "und Morgens bin ich tod" ;that was then ,but this is now.

As the first comment writer explained, this film was Nazi propaganda that helped lead to the Euthanasia movement of the Reich. Over 70,000 men, women, and children were killed as a result of this movement. If you have any ounce of a conviction to follow a moral standard, the purpose of this film should outweigh intellectual recognition, that is, the fact that this film furthered darkest era of the 20th century should *alone* ban it from viewers. If anything, it should be kept in storage as a reminder of the kind of propaganda that manifests itself during similar movements. To conclude, one should pay close attention to more recent cinematic developments, particularly movies like Million Dollar Baby, The Sea Inside, Sin City, and many other movies released recently praised as "good" movies. If you're not frightened, you should be.

This is one of the best films made in the third reich with a credible storyline and very credible actors. On the other hand it is one of the most dangerous films containing poison that did not weaken in the 6 decades since its production. This film was intended as a preparation and secret promotion for hitler's euthanasia program. The plot(official, therefore no spoiler): A brilliant doctor's young wife falls ill to multiple sclerosis and urges him to kill her before the agony begins. Unable to find a cure he fulfills her wish and is accused of murder.This sounds like a dime novel but is based on real cases and presented in a very credible way(and I am allergic to sentimental films normally). This credibility and the fact that it is difficult to identify this as a nazi film by simple watching (a few seconds of cutting would remove all evidence) makes this film dangerous even today. The film asks the viewer for his judgement on the topic and even supplies him with possible objections but the answer is inevitable 'pro reo'. So this film could be used as ammunition in todays discussion about assisted suicide and its extensions (e.g. against the patients will if his resistance is considered as irrational by an authority as discussed in at least 2 western countrys). Therefore it (the film)is still banned in Germany except for scientific study. It's a pity, for it IS a very good film but I can't object the reasons.

This film has great actors and an impressive storyline. The topic of euthanasia on demand is not popular, but it is absolutely wrong to prohibit it.

It is the same like abortions. It is not good to mention on cocktail parties, but every day there are people who need it and imho this are very important rights for our entire society.

If someone has at least one very good reason to end his/her life, it should be possible to end the suffering. It is legal in several countries. In the Netherlands for example you have to visit two different psychiatrists and when both of them agrre with you, then you can die in peace and dignity.

In every old peoples home in the so called civilized world are a lot of human beings who beg for being killed. They are alone, sick, helpless and doomed to existence.

This film should be shown in every classroom, not only in cinemas. Discuss it and.give our humans the honor to decide themselves. To force people to stay alive is torture, give them the right to decide isn't.