The Boys from Brazil (1978)

 

Speculative fiction can be pretty great when done right. Yes, of course this goes for all fiction, but here the trick is to make something either outlandish or completely thought up seem real. This film makes one of these 'What if...?' feel true in a most sinister way possible. 

This could also be thanks to the story elements, but who knows?

Laurence Olivier plays Ezra Lieberman, an old nazi-hunter who now spends most of his time in his dilapidated apartment, filing away whatever information he still has on war criminals that he either managed to track down or those that are still out there. Things take a turn when he is contacted by a young man in Paraguay who wants to explain to him that there are strange things afoot. It turns out that several high ranking nazis are gathering there for some plan, even if it is unclear what the plan might be. But the presence of doctor Josef Mengele (a chilling Gregory Peck) is what makes it all seem that more important. 

However, Ezra doesn't feel it is worth his attention as yet, even if his curiosity is a little peaked. But when the young man gets killed, Ezra decides to look into it. 

The information he has is rather sparse. It seems that Mengele has instructed several people to kill 94 men in about two years. All these men are 65 years old and have very mundane jobs. There is nothing overtly special about them. But the plot thickens when Ezra discovers similarities between the families and especially that the babies there were brought in to be adopted specifically by these families. Even more bizarre: the child is always a boy with striking blue eyes and black hair. Ezra even thinks that twins are involved, which isn't a stretch considering a lot of Mengele's horrid experiments in Auschwitz had to do with twins. 

But it is actually even worse...

When you take a step back and look at the idea behind this story, it is fairly ridiculous, to be sure. However, thanks to the solid script and direction and especially the performances, you get sucked in and it all becomes almost tangible and real. It will even make you think twice. At first you might dismiss this idea, only to realize that this insane plan of Mengele isn't that far-fetched for someone to try. 

No, I won't spoil it. But you can figure it out during this film and especially when you hit the halfway point. But that doesn't detract from the experience. 

What really makes this film stand out, is the absolutely chilling performance by Gregory Peck as Josef Mengele. Peck has always been a commanding presence, but he has never been this sinister and evil. You feel he believes in every evil deed he does and that he is determined to succeed. Peck actually shaved some of his hair and eyebrows to look more like the real Mengele and combined with his stature and that booming voice... *shudders*

Possibly the most disturbing things in this film are almost hidden in the background. Mengele is living in Brazil, in a remote location, where he is still experimenting on local people. You can sometimes see native people with blank expressions and bright blue eyes, as if they were lobotomized; or turned blonde, and you just know they have been traumatised, tortured and abused all for his experiments. It is rather gruesome.

Laurence Olivier is passable as Ezra Lieberman, but you can unfortunately tell that the man was very sick at the time of filming, as he feels exceptionally frail. On the one hand, it makes this opposition with the towering Peck more epic, but you can tell he is struggling at times. 

Oh, and also keep a lookout for James Mason as Eduard Seibert, a gleefully evil nazi who seems like Mengele's supporter, but who clearly has an agenda of his own. But it's James Mason, so that is always a plus. 

'The Boys from Brazil' might feel a little dated at times, but it is still one of those cool stories that manages to make you ask the question whether or not stuff like this could actually happen. Who knows? Somehow it feels possible, but only time will tell, I suppose...