Emperor of California appears to behave as a Trenker film, especially with the rugged sorts of imagery, especially when Suter is climbing the mountain. Secondary to this identity is the notion of the film as a western, which lends a certain sense of novelty to the film, perhaps. These identities seem to be well established, and are also the reason that this film works as propaganda.
Because the film is not immediately recognised as a propagandistic or overtly nazi film, the viewer is more susceptible to the propaganda within, because their guard is down. The film is slanted, but appears not to be- that makes for good propaganda.
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What did you make of the scene where the govenor is discussing the virtues of the German settlers?
ReplyDeleteThis discussion of virtue was a critical exposition of the nazi values, at least as far as the selfless work ethic for the betterment of the 'state.'
ReplyDeleteWhile this scene was perhaps more overt in its ideals, it is nestled neatly into the middle of the film. By the time the film is over, the sensational escape from the burning city has caught our interest, and we are hardly aware of the propagandistic messages that we may have absorbed earlier.