Denial

I think movies that deal in any way with the Holocaust are a tricky matter. Not only is it an issue that deserves to be treated with respect, but it’s such a big issue that I find myself often asking “would this movie be as big of a deal, would it be as good as it is, if this was about another historical event, another group of people or even a fictional story?” I came into “Denial” expecting it to be moving, inspirational, maybe even important. It is, and I’m happy to say that it isn’t solely because it deals with Holocaust denial.

Deborah Lipstadt (Rachel Weisz) is a Jewish history professor specializing in the Holocaust. One day, she is surprised to find that she is the subject of a libel lawsuit. In her book “Denying the Holocaust”, she accused David Irving (Timothy Spall) of being a Holocaust denier, falsifier, and bigot, of falsifying historical evidence to forward his views. Arriving in England, where the trial is to take place, she finds that the case has grown into something much bigger.

This movie is about more than just the real-life events re-enacted within in. Yes, it’s about a man claiming that he isn’t anti-semitic despite the fact that he calls Adolf Hitler the Jews’ friend, claims that the number of Jews murdered by the Nazi party is widely exaggerated and that Auschwitz was not an extermination camp, but it’s not only about that. The film is, in a way, a legal thriller. It’s about court proceedings, putting your beliefs on the line, being scrutinized by the press, the importance of documentation, resisting an enemy that pushes your buttons, being held accountable for what you say and, to a certain extent about the burden that accompanies free speech. It’s a lot of material to consider and I think that it speaks volumes that this film could generate these many thoughts in its audience.

Some time ago, I wrote a speech for my Toastmasters group about Flat Earth theory, a humorous piece that “proved” the Earth is a disc floating in space. While doing research, I immersed myself fully in the subject and found myself getting swept up by the backward logic; becoming brainwashed by the so-called proof and the dismissal of evidence I would call damning. It’s an odd but frightening experience. How can you prove to someone that doesn’t think rationally that what he or she believes isn’t true?

This movie is about a woman being provoked. It’s about a having to fight for something that you shouldn’t have to fight for because no one in his sane mind would ever claim that the Holocaust is a fabrication. Here, Weisz’ character has to do something extremely difficult: put aside her personal feelings and confront her accuser under his terms. It’s more than about what the final verdict is going to be, it’s about her struggle to do everything by-the-books, to ensure that the question is never being raised again. I mean, can you imagine if she lost the case? It wouldn’t only be a blow to her wallet, and to her pride, it would be HUGE. Suddenly it wouldn’t be a big deal to say “Those gas chambers? I’m pretty sure they’re a fabrication. It didn’t really happen. ” It’s impossible not to get swept up in this court case for many reasons, the main one being that in a libel case like this one, the burden of proof lies in the defendant, not the accused.

Only when the writing is sharp, the directing confident and the performances truly good do you get riled up like you do in “Denial”. I have to give special praise to Timothy Spall, who plays a living mound of intestinal waste curled up and stuffed inside the skin of a human being so perfectly that you hate him, but also find genuinely frightening. Far from being a cartoon character, this is a real person, a profoundly misguided one that is nonetheless intelligent, articulate and even (most dangerous of all) genuinely charismatic. He represents that guy you’ve talked to that is blind to logic but manages to deflect crucial blows in a way that’s so elegant you can almost understand him. I also found Rachel Weisz to be quite good in her role. Over and over she perfectly captures what the real Deborah Lipstadt must have reacted and how you, as an audience member also feel. Tom Wilkinson as Richard Rampton also stands out in a strong, meaty role that’s got a lot of depth to it.

Ultimately, I think everyone walking into the film knows how it will end, and so the picture’s climax doesn’t have the punch that it wants to. Still, “Denial” receives a strong recommendation from me. There are so many little things about this story that will get to you. The way the court case comes about, the preparation for the big day, the arguments back-and-forth, how everyone reacts to them, the seemingly Bizarro logic of the courtroom, it had me sweating. Take away the fact that we’re dealing with someone that’s questioning one of the most horrifying chapters in human history and “Denial” is still thought-provoking and effective. (Theatrical version on the big screen, November 5, 2016)