Napolean: A PBS Documentary Aired in Fall 2000

combines homemovies, newsreels, andphotographs to create minibiographies , in the guise of autobiographies. These notorious figures are presented without introduction, historical context, or reference to their political ambition, place in history, or the lives lost in pursuit of their goals. Through his use of omission, skilled camera work, thejuxtaposition ofwords with images, and a darkly comedie wit, Rosenblatthas createdinHumanRemains apowerful and provocative work. Human Remains begins somberly with a view of disappearing railroad tracks, reminiscent of Shoah. Then we see Hitler playing with a child. We hear German in the background, then the translation. "I was an artist," the film begins. At first the viewer isn't sure what is happening. Is the German voice in the background really Hitler's? Are these his words? Soon it becomes apparent —they may be Hitler's words—but Rosenblatt is creating his own version of history. Hitler, Mussolini, Franco, Stalin and Mao may have wanted to be remembered as "great men ofhistory," but Rosenblatt uses facts about their personal Uves to turn them into petty men, braggarts, and bullies. We learn about their families: Hitler had no children, and admitted photos ofhim with children were "propaganda, pure and simple," Franco wanted more children, Mussolini had five children , and Stalin loved only his daughter Svetlana. We learn about theirhabits and idiosyncrasies: Mussolini slept seven hours a night and wanted to be physically fit, Mao was an insomniac who worked in bed and rarely bathed, Stalin loved to smoke, Franco Umited his wine, and Hitler shunned tobacco. We learn about their interests: Hitler loved pornography, Mussolini was obsessed with hats, Stalin liked practical jokes, Franco enjoyed the hunt, and Mao swam in polluted waters. We learn about their women: Hitler Usted fheir names, Stalin forgot the name of a son's mother, Mussolini had many mistresses, Franco was "a good family man," and Mao enjoyed sleeping with many young girls at one time. We learn about theirhealth: Hitlerhad stomach cramps, eczema and gas, Mussohni had problems with an ingrown toenail, Hitier and Mao were often constipated, Mao had a venereal disease, Franco had Parkinson's, and Hitler and Mao each had but one testicle. Between each man's story, Rosenblatt shows us a gravedigger shoveling dirt, or human remains. This recurring image and the repetitive sound ofthe shovel add a weight, perhaps the weight of history, to his interpretation of these men. He shows famihar images in a new hght. For example, as Hitler discusses Leni (first name only), the camera narrows in on Hitler's face, then on his lips, and a smirk as he says, ". . .by the way, we were very close." Hitler discusses his digestion and mentions that anti-gas pills "helped me with my flatulence." Rosenblatt shows Hitler and several ofhis cronies fanning the air as Hitler continues: ". . .though not completely." Mussolini is the braggart, boasting about how the people supporthim, how the mob loves strong men, andhow, ''when willing, the Italian people can do anything." This latter statement is juxtaposed with a photo of the murdered Mussolini. StaUn tells us that at 5'4", he was "taU for a Georgian," yet, Franco, at the same height, admits how small he was. Franco complains his "entire life was work and meditation," while Rosenblatt shows him hunting and displaying his trophies. Rosenblatt gives us Franco's last words about "how hard it is to Regular Feature | Film Reviews die," while showing him holding a flaikng fish—something else he had killed. Rosenblatt uses photo-op pictures of Mao "happy" on pills while talking to Henry Kissinger. He then moves the camera to manipulate Stalin in and out of a picture with Mao, who is explaining his need for bodyguards to administer enemas to him. As they talk about their lives, we see how casually and cruelly these men treated the people around them. Hitler's niece killed herself with his gun after he locked her in a room for a weekend, Stalin had his daughter's unsuitable boyfriend arrested, and the venereal Mao "washed (his) genitals in the bodies of women." In other hands, humanizing such figures, without reference to the people andnations that suffered from the consequences oftheir power, might be...