0/5

Movie: The Eichmann Show

Martin Freeman & Anthony LaPaglia feature in the true story of US TV producer Milton Fruchtman & blacklisted TV director Leo Hurwitz.

2016-05-04_0858

I don’t often highlight movies here, but The Eichmann Show screening this Sunday night has a few pointers that make it relevant.

Produced by BBC Films in 2015, this is based on true story of American TV producer Milton Fruchtman and blacklisted TV director Leo Hurwitz. They broadcast the trial of one of the war’s most notorious Nazis, Adolf Eichmann in 1961.

The cast features Martin Freeman and Anthony LaPaglia.

Set in Jerusalem, 1961, ground-breaking TV producer Milton Fruchtman (Martin Freeman) hires director Leo Hurwitz (Anthony LaPaglia) to film the trial or the world’s most notorious Nazi and key architect of the Holocaust, Adolf Eichmann.

This film tells the story of how a small production team overcame immense obstacles to broadcast the world’s first ever TV event. Hurwitz has a momentous job on his hands: together he and Milton must quickly train up an inexperienced camera team and persuade the judges to change their minds and let them film the trial. Working under intense pressure, the team finally wins permission to film by rebuilding the courtroom with specially concealed cameras.

Described as the trial of the century, it was shown on TV in 37 countries and was the first time that the horrors of the Holocaust had been heard directly from survivors.

The extraordinary story of how the trial came to be televised and the team that made it happen has never been told. This film also features extensive archive footage from the 1961 trial, bringing the realities of this pivotal event to a new generation.

Sunday, 8 May at 8.30pm on SBS.

Leave a Reply