Dear Diary,
Today I must recount the tale of a film I have seen, a film titled “Plan A.” It is a story that touches upon the wounds that still fester in the hearts of those who survived the war. The film is set in the aftermath of the war, a time of great upheaval and raw emotion. It tells the story of a group of German-Polish Jews and Holocaust survivors who hatch a plan so audacious, it left me both disturbed and contemplative.
The film opens with a chilling premise โ a plan to manipulate the water supply in several large cities in occupied Germany by poisoning the very drinking water that sustains life. It is an act of retaliation, a dark echo of the horrors that were inflicted upon our people during the war. The characters, though fictional, carry the weight of real experiences, and this is perhaps the film’s greatest strength.
The protagonist, a survivor of the camps, is portrayed as a man who carries the scars of his past upon his soul. His vulnerability is both a strength and a flaw, for he becomes entangled in the plot without much resistance. This portrayal stirred conflicting emotions within me. On one hand, it captured the fragility of those who have endured the unthinkable. On the other hand, it seemed to undermine the resilience that so many survivors exhibited during those dark times. Yet, in the face of his wavering determination, there lies a haunting quote, “6 million for 6 million,” encapsulating the desperate desire for some semblance of balance and justice.
The film, based on a true story, unravels a character unknown to many โ the one who seeks vengeance, who contemplates crossing boundaries of morality to enact retribution. It is a portrayal that challenges the notions of victimhood and mass murderers, blurring the lines between them. This distortion of roles left me deeply unsettled, for it forces us to confront the complexities of human nature, even in the face of the gravest atrocities.
The setting and scenery deserve commendation. The meticulous attention to detail in recreating the post-war period was striking. The bombed-out streets, the shattered buildings โ they transported me back to those days when the world was shattered along with our dreams. It was as if the filmmakers reached into history and pulled out fragments of reality to stitch together the backdrop of the story.
However, the film falls short in terms of character depth. The protagonist’s susceptibility to persuasion was a double-edged sword. While it highlighted the vulnerability that many survivors felt, it failed to delve deeper into his psyche, leaving some aspects of his motivations unexplored. This lack of depth robbed the narrative of a more profound emotional resonance. Moreover, there were moments where the drama felt overdone, pushing the boundaries of believability.
In conclusion, “Plan A” is a film that forces us to confront the blurred lines between victim and perpetrator, revenge and justice. It captures the turmoil of a post-war world where wounds are still fresh and emotions run deep. While the character development might have benefitted from a more nuanced approach and some of the dramatic elements felt overdone, the film’s portrayal of a little-known facet of history, its audacious premise, and the haunting quote “6 million for 6 million” make it a thought-provoking experience.
Yours,
Fellas
6/10