Opfer des Hasses

This Jewish propaganda film from Austria is quite the historic curiosity. Aside from having relatively good intentions this films comes off as as bit of a joke, particularly because the The Jewish Relief Foundation, who sponsored the film got the main character to say the organization saved his grandson's life in the first seen of the film, they also refer to themselves in third person as "the noble benefactors". How full of yourself can you get? And of course at the end they use little children to beg you for money - which might have been my favorite part because at least the kids were cute. The film is reasonably well made, but the plot is just too contrived. One thing I found amusing was that the Jewish wasn't victims of hate because they were Jews but because they were rich factory owners who lost their funds in the Russian revolution. The backstory has the films most emotional moments, but it's primarily done to such a silly and ludicrous manner that it's hard to get particularly worked up. It just fights so hard to be sappy, sentimental and forceful. From an historical perspective it can be seen as a tragic attempt at scoring points with the right wing by denouncing and demonizing communism as much as possible. In the end all it's flaws just kills it.

Mixed feelings arose while this Herr Graf was watching "Opfer Des Hasses" ( Victims Of Hate ), a film directed by Herr Hanns Marschall in the silent year of 1923. This usually happens when this German count must choose between a rich Teutonic heiress and another one even richer but sometimes a well intentioned but poor film has the same effect.

"Opfer Des Hasses" depicts how the family of Herr Goldschmidt ( Herr Gyula Szöreghy ) a Jewish Russian manufacturer, suffered ruin and murder as victims of a pogrom during the Russian Revolution. Herr Goldschmidt manages to save two of his grandchildren and they flee to Vienna where the Jewish welfare organization helps immigrants in an orphanage in Baden. Years later Herr Goldschmidt tells the whole sad story (in flashback ) to a visitor. This docudrama of tragic and historical events is by far the most interesting part of the picture and is both dramatic and moving.

Unfortunately, the section showing Herr Goldschmidt settling in Vienna turns into a special report about the humanitarian work of the Jewish Relief Organization. This has a certain historical interest but is done in such a slow and uninteresting way that it becomes boring, however praiseworthy the intentions. Just in case you fell asleep during the movie and missed the point, at the end three cute orphans appear on screen and ask you to contribute as much as you can to the Jewish Relief organization. This German count kept his hands in his aristocratic pockets during this shameless and clumsy appeal.

So, the film is a combination of a good story of the hardships suffered by the Jewish people due to the pogrom in Russia and a dull report that may have some sociological merit but is hard to sit through without squirming. "Opfer Des Hasses" is a good example that the end doesn't justify the means.

And now, if you'll allow me, I must temporarily take my leave because this German Count must ask his servants to contribute as much as they can to the Save the Aristocrats Organization.