Ordinary Fascism or Triumph Over Violence

Ordinary Fascism, also known as Triumph Over Violence, is a Soviet documentary film released in 1965. It is an impactful, historical cinema piece that scrutinizes the nature of fascism, with an intense focus on the rise and downfall of Nazi Germany. The film is co-written and directed by the renowned Soviet filmmaker Mikhail Romm, who provides the narration in its original version. Additionally, the documentary features the voice of Marlene Dietrich, who participated in the anti-Nazi effort during World War II, providing a poignant and familiar connection for international audiences.

Orchestrated as more than a mere historical chronicle, Ordinary Fascism melds a variety of source materials, ranging from archival footage to personal photographs, speeches, and propaganda films to stitch together a narrative that is both educational and deeply moving. It delves into the psychological underpinnings of fascism, bringing to light how this ideology cultivates violence, cultivates hate, and manipulates masses.

The film opens with a series of innocent images of children playing, quickly contrasted with images of devastation wrought by war. This juxtaposition sets the tone for an exploration into the axis of innocence turned into malevolence under the lacerating influence of fascist indoctrination. Romm's narration is a deliberate and haunting examination of how ordinary human beings can be swept up in a torrent of extreme ideology and the collective fervor which ultimately leads to acts of extraordinary violence and cruelty.

As Ordinary Fascism progresses, it meticulously documents Adolf Hitler's rise to power, showcasing the manipulative power of propaganda, the dangerous allure of totalitarian ideologies, and the blind obedience they can inspire. The film examines the conformity of the German populace under Nazi rule, revealing the mechanisms of complicity and the banality of evil that enabled the normalization of terror and the implementation of the Holocaust.

One of the most powerful features of the documentary is the use of authentic Nazi footage. This material was meticulously compiled by Romm and his team, who spent years gathering it from both Soviet archives and contributions from East German and Polish collaborators. Much of this footage was unseen before Ordinary Fascism brought it to the screen, giving audiences a raw and unfiltered look at Nazi rallies, concentration camps, and other brutal realities of the era.

As the narrator, Romm's voice captures an array of emotions, ranging from ironic detachment to downright horror, which serves to dissect the grotesqueries of the regime and its leader, Hitler, with both precision and a profound moral outrage. Meanwhile, Dietrich’s contributions add a resonant depth, as hers was a voice synonymous with defiance against fascism, having herself been a prominent figure in the Hollywood anti-Nazi effort.

One of the central themes of Ordinary Fascism is the film's exploration of how media and imagery can be employed to manipulate society. Romm demonstrates how the Nazis were masterful in crafting their own mythos through the use of film and how they used this to inculcate their ideology into the hearts and minds of the German people. This is exemplified through detailed analyses of Nazi cinematic productions and Romm's own direct addresses to the audience, urging viewers to question not only the film material but also the nature of images and their impact on human beliefs and actions.

The documentary also offers a chilling look into the normalization of extreme violence and prejudice, with Romm dissecting various stages and facets of the Nazi era, from the early days of rabble-rousing nationalism to the implementation of systemic state-sponsored genocide. It also does not shy away from the depiction of the concentration and extermination camps, confronting the audience with the industrialized horror of the Holocaust in a manner that demands reflection and remembrance.

With a running time of nearly three hours, Ordinary Fascism is comprehensive in scope, yet crafted in such a manner that each frame, each piece of dialogue, continues to engage and compel the viewer. It's a rigorous historical document that seeks not only to present facts but also to promote universal understanding and vigilance against such horrors ever being repeated.

In sum, Ordinary Fascism is as much a work of historical documentation as it is a powerful piece of social commentary, offering a disquieting yet essential look at one of the darkest chapters in human history. This film goes beyond mere recounting; it is an appeal to conscience, a profound meditation on the capacity for evil that lies within and the eternal need for vigilance against the vile seductions of totalitarian ideologies. It stands as a vital document for those studying the past and a haunting reminder for those concerned with the shape of the future.