Film: Truth and Treason

The heroic activity of Sophie and Hans Scholl, and other members of the White Rose, a network of Catholic university students from Munich, who initiated non violent resistance against the Nazi regime has been well documented in books and films. Truth and Treason, a film produced by Kaleidoscope Pictures portrays the lives of a less well known group of heroes, who were even younger, and were Mormons. Whereas I might disagree with the theology of the Mormon Faith, which would be considered a sect from the Catholic point of view, there is no denying the work of the Holy Spirit and the courage and bravery of the protagonists.

Director Matt Whitaker, an independent film maker, came across the story in 2001 when he was making a documentary about World War II. He interviewed Karl Heinz Schibbe, who was then an old man, but as a teenager had been part of the group started by Helmuth Hubener, then only 16, who saw it as his duty to tell the truth about what was really going on in Hitler's Germany and paid for it with his life.

The story is almost unbelievable, in that Helmuth was originally an enthusiastic and patriotic member of the Hitler Youth. The film opens with Helmuth, Karl and their other two friends Rudi and Solomon enjoying the outdoor carefree life, swimming and bicycling. But more and more the horrors of Nazi brutality begin to impinge on their lives. Solomon is refused entry into their meeting house because of his Jewish roots, and eventually disappears to a concentration camp..

Helmuth's brother, meanwhile, who has been serving in the German army in France brings back a short wave radio. Helmuth begins to listen to the BBC world service and hears a different view of what is going on. This he recognises is the truth. He takes it upon himself to launch a one man campaign to counter the propaganda being disseminated by the Nazi government by typing up this information on red cards and posting them through letter boxes and on notice boards throughout Hamburg.

He eventually persuades Rudi and Karl to join him in this risky activity. The film cleverly demonstrates the danger of what they are doing and the mixture of teenage bravado and purpose they show in carrying it out. Eventually they are tracked down by the meticulous and ruthless SS officer Erwin Mussener (Rupert Evans). The film cleverly doesn't portray Mussener as a monster but also a loving husband and father who even makes an appeal for clemency for Helmut when he is sentenced to death. This makes his behaviour all the more disturbing, because you realise how easy it is for all of us to compartmentalise our lives and to justify the evil we are complicit in. The interrogation and torture scenes between Helmuth and Mussener are a master class in acting by the seasoned Evans and the young Ewan Horrocks, who plays Helmuth. The acting throughout is excellent.

The film does a wonderful job of depicting the horrors of what they suffer without becoming too graphic and certain scenes linger in the mind.. This was deliberate on the part of Whitaker as he wanted parents to bring their young teenagers to watch the film and be inspired. I hope they do. The film is beautifully filmed with a rich content and highly recommended. It took Whitaker 25 years and immense personal sacrifice to get the film made. All I can say is "Well done, good and faithful servant."

The two hour film will be available on Amazon Prime and other streaming platforms from 18th May and a four part longer TV series with extended content is available from Angel Studios. An interview with the director Matt Whitaker talking about some of the background to the film is available on this link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYvjs5JBc6E