This Week at the Movies: Hannah Arendt: Facing Tyranny

Authoritarian movements are gaining influence worldwide, undermining democracy, dividing societies, and relying on fear and control. In their documentary film "Hannah Arendt: Facing Tyranny," filmmakers Jeff Bieber and Chana Gazit do not directly refer to the current global political situation – but the parallels to Hannah Arendt's observations and thoughts are unmistakable. Arendt's political theory could hardly be more relevant today. The film brings her life and way of thinking to life – from her student years in Germany to her escape from Nazi Germany and her career in the 1970s. In addition to commentaries and historic interviews, such as the conversation with Günter Gaus, "Hannah Arendt: Facing Tyranny" focuses in particular on original quotations from Arendt's essays and letters, recited by Nina Hoss. Supplemented by extensive archive material, including rare film footage and little-known photographs, the result is an intimate portrait that provides deep insights into the thoughts and feelings of one of the most important political theorists of the 20th century.