February 25, 2006
Forgiving Dr. Mengele
Sharon, Michelle, and I went to see a provocative documentary last night. It was called Forgiving Dr. Mengele. Cheri Pugh and our friend Bob Hercules directed the movie. The film is about the life and message of Eva Kor, a survivor of Auschwitz. She and her sister Miriam lived through horrible experiments while in the camps. A Nazi doctor, Josef Mengele, perpetrated these inhuman acts in the name of science and genetic research.
Kor created controversy nationally and internationally when she publicly declared amnesty for all Nazis, forgiving them for the crimes committed against her and her family during World War II. She makes very clear that her act of forgiveness represents only her own personal viewpoint. She does not pretend to speak on behalf of others. She speaks only for herself. Throughout the documentary, she describes her rationale for forgiveness. She wanted to be free from the suffering and misery of the camps. One day she realized that she had the power to forgive the Nazis personally, a power that was hers alone to give. Her primary motivation was to be free from the pain while not forgetting the past.
Kor, a real estate agent and mother of two, built a Holocaust museum in Terre Haute, Indiana, her place of residence. The movie documents her travels around the world. She has spoken at international conferences but has also dedicated much of her time to address teenagers. Wherever she goes, she shares boldly and without reservation her controversial and moving message of forgiveness. Her point of view, as one could guess, often creates controversy. Other surviving Mengele twins and many within the Jewish community and beyond have been openly critical of her. One of the most powerful and difficult scenes in the film occurs when she goes to Israel/Palestine and has a heated exchange with Palestinian Arabs. The participants at this meeting share with her openly their own pain and struggle with the Israeli occupation. Kor is unable to deal with their pain. Everyone walks away from the discussion hurt and disappointed (including the filmmakers). Even though her life is an embodiment of the power of forgiveness, Kor’s strength and resolve fail when discussing peace and reconciliation between Jews and Palestinians.
Even with the controversy and complicated nature of her proclamation of forgiveness, there is no denying the power of Kor’s message and its effects upon certain audiences. Two other powerful scenes include Kor walking through Auschwitz with a former Nazi SS and doctor (Dr. Munch). The scene closes with her forgiving him openly in public. Another scene shows her lecturing to young people. Afterward, she is seen talking with a long line of obviously moved teens. She comforts and encourages them as they weep openly about their own problems with parents and society. Throughout, the movie tries to make clear that Kor is not promoting the universal applicability of forgiveness. Rather, the film documents one person’s way of healing the violence within her past.
After the film, the filmmakers and Kor were present for discussion. As one would expect, the film touched many people. Many were inspired by Kor’s life and message. I too was moved but not in the same way. While the message of forgiveness moved me to tears (esp. the scene with teens), I thought the beauty and power of the film was located among the contradictions within and around Kor’s life. Forgiveness is powerful and problematic. It is powerful because it has the ability to transform people’s lives, providing a vision of the world that is based in hope and healing. It is also problematic, not because other people fail to see the power of forgiveness, but because forgiveness does not fit neatly in situations that demand justice.
This film will make you think. For those of you who are in the Chicago area, I highly recommend it to you. It will be at the Siskel all week.