If you laughed at "Inglourious Basterds," you're probably a Nazi -- at least according to Quentin Tarantino

After watching this movie on Friday night, I was driving home with my friend Brad Jersak wondering, "What's the point?" Knowing Tarantino, he wouldn't just make a movie for the heck of it. But as far as I could tell, this film was nothing more than an excuse to stretch his creative muscles by applying his trademark panache to a period piece. But I still wasn't willing to give up. Brad and I agreed to sleep on it and then reconvene later on to see what we came up with.

Yesterday, I happened to stop by Brad's to drop something off. He came running out with his dog in tow to tell me he had figured it out. And after he explained it to me, I felt stupid and ashamed for being so quick to write off Tarantino's efforts. Here's the gist of what Brad told me:

*spoiler alert*

First, some background: The climactic sequence of the film takes place in a movie theater where the top Nazi brass yuck it up while watching one of their own mow down hundreds of Allied troops on screen. The film they're watching is based on a story that actually happened (in Tarantino's retelling of the war anyway), and it stars the actual sniper who survived the ordeal. But while everyone else is laughing, the sniper can't stand to watch it any longer. So he goes up into the projection room and hits on one of the film's protagonists--who is in the midst of carrying out a plan to burn the theater down with the Nazis trapped inside. Things go horribly wrong on all fronts, and the screening ends in a fiery, bloody, explosive climax that none of the participants anticipated.

While we watch Hitler and the other Nazis laugh and giggle at the spectacular deaths suffered by the Allied troops, we're supposed to feel revulsion and hatred toward them. After all, we would never lower ourselves to enjoy such things as entertainment. Or would we?

Suddenly, it occurred to Brad that while we were watching Hitler and co. sit in a theater laughing as they watched stereotypical enemies die -- smugly thinking that we would never stoop to such a level -- we were sitting in a theater doing exactly the same thing. Up until this sequence, we had watched the Basterds torture, murder and scalp Nazi soldiers. All of it done with a dash of humor and far more personal satisfaction than was comfortable. And now we had the gall to call Hitler was a monster?

The moral equivalency was painfully clear. I suddenly realized that the entire film was an exercise in sleight of hand. Tarantino had tricked us into thinking it was just another of his whip-smart, action-packed killfests, only to turn the tables and scold us for making light of such terrible things. For the way we had embraced his entire body of work, for gleefully turning a blind eye and a deaf ear to death and violence, for taking the most horrible things humans have ever done to one another, and turning them into entertainment. Could it have been an act of public penance?

I'm still trying to figure out if Brad was reading into things or if this was really what Tarantino meant to say. The more I reflect back on the film though, the more certain I am. If you have seen the film, think of what Brad Pitt`s character keeps saying about Nazis in and out of uniform, how he wants to make sure they have something they can never take off. Think of the discussion about rats and squirrels. Like I said, I'm still processing this, and I`d definitely like to see the movie again to trace this moral argument throughout.

But for the most part, I'd like to issue a public confession of my ignorance and a public apology to Tarantino for doubting him. Because now that my dull-witted mind finally understands the film, I have to say it truly is one of his most brilliant works.

Comments

[austin]

Tarantino didn't want to scold the audience for laughing at the Nazis, he purposefully made them funny.

[Kevin]

ri9ght, do I understand your comment correctly as a call for someone to kill me? You must remember that even though you hide behind a pseudonym, your ip address is recorded every time you make a comment.

[Kevin]

I hear you, David. I've yet to read/watch anything Tarantino has to say about the film b/c I don't like to spoil a movie before I see it, and I haven't had time since I saw it. But I've heard similar comments from other people, that he simply wanted to make a movie where he could f*ck up some Nazis. I guess I (and Brad) were hoping there was a little bit more to the story. But I think the key point is that whether or not Tarantino intended what I describe above to be his central message or not, it's still there.

[David Sutherland]

didn't see the movie -- and was planning to miss it (I can't wait to miss it in fact) -- but my feeling from watching part of the Charlie Rose interview with Tarantino, from watching several of his other films, his interviews, etc. is that your right, but only half-way there.

Tarantino surely could play with the question of "What makes us so different from them?" but I think his answer is "not much" and "so what?" I doubt it's any reason he'd give to cause for pause.

Repentance in the face of guilt doesn't seem like a message Tarantino toys with. Rather indulgence-- indulge the violence! Question if we are violent, but "Surely we are no? and isn't it exciting?"

I'll pass this time. I like a good question, but at least it must have just a hint of resolution involved.

[ri9ght]

first of all, what you have to say in this article is completely irrelevant because of the fact that tarantino is entirely geared toward making the audience feel insane for having considered the inhuman to be possibly, if not legitimately, rational. secondly, it is undeniably and painfully obvious that you don't have any jew friends, you must think it your responsibility to die for your country... anyone, please oblige him!

[marco]

Wow man. That was extremely obvious.