Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Mr. Death: The Rise and Fall of Fred A. Leuchter, Jr. 1999 Errol Morris


He's called Mr. Death.  He designs and builds better ways to execute someone.  Nothing gets him more excited than finding a more efficent and humane way to execute criminals.  He's the most unassuming, mousy man you'll ever see.  That makes him strangely compelling.  He keeps saying crazier and crazier things regarding his occupation, but he seems completely harmless, so it's almost quaint and likeable.

Then he drops the bomb.

According to him, the Holocaust did not happen.

Well, it happened - but the whole gas chamber thing is a lie.  Since he builds gas chambers, he knows how they work and according to him the "gas chambers" couldn't possibly be used for gassing people.
This is where the movie gets really interesting.  How can someone ignore copious amounts of evidence and witness testimony to come to such a conclusion?

I'll tell you how - he goes to Auschwitz and steals some bricks.  From Auschwitz.  With a cameraman filming the whole thing.  Then he writes a paper denying the Holocaust and becomes a minor celebrity on the Holocaust denying circuit.

The only reason I don't mind telling you about the entire movie is that I'm not ruining it.  You have to see it to believe it.  You'll laugh, your jaw will drop, you won't be able to believe what you're seeing and hearing....You must watch it.

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