The Broken Jug

If I were to write a paper on The Broken Jug and its position as a Nazi film, I would focus on the personal failings of the judge, Adam.  In the original text, The Broken Jug focuses on the failings of the judicial system, while the film adaptation focuses on the failings of the individual.  Adam embodies all of the failings that the Nazi party was so against.  Physically, he is scarred, overweight, and bald.  He has a club foot, a physical deformity from birth that the Nazis were vehemently against in their aspirations for physical perfection. As a person, he is a drunk and also put the good of himself above the good of the community, which the Nazis were against.  We do have two men in the film who the audience can have faith in; Light and the head magistrate.  Light is ultimately good, but clearly needs an assertive leader so that he can be fair.  That leader comes in the form of the magistrate, who is not fooled by the antics of Adam and ultimately brings justice to the community.

 

I think another, subtle, argument that I would bring up would be the Adam-Eve aspect of the story.  The names of the characters (Adam, Eve, Light) were not casually given.  Eve, the female protagonist, was ultimately the lure which brought about Adam’s downfall via the downfall (pun) of the jug.  Adam did not have the strength that he needed to resist, which he would presumably have had if he lived according to Nazi values.  The audience can clearly see these faults, and see them as Wrong.