Written and directed by Leon Prudovsky, co-written by Dmitry Malinsky, South America,1960. A lonely and grumpy Holocaust survivor is convinced that his new neighbor is none other than Adolf Hitler. Not being taken seriously, he starts an independent investigation to prove his claim. Starring: David Hayman, Udo Kier, Olivia Silhavy and Kineret Peled.
If you’ve even taken just a moment to read the synopsis before diving into My Neighbor Adolf then you will already have a good idea of what you’re in for. Meaning that it should be judged on that basis, it’s very clearly going to be a bit ridiculous and over the top, and uses that classic, familiar formula of the grumpy, lonely man who’s unable to process his emotions. Leon Prudovsky and Dmitry Malinsky follow that formula pretty closely, with the added flourish of its WWII influences, and the result is exactly what you’d expect, simple entertainment and an unexpected, touching friendship.
That blossoming friendship is really the key to the success of My Neighbor Adolf, not Marek Polsky’s (David Hayman) attempts to prove that his neighbour (Udo Kier) is actually Adolf Hitler. Watching the fervent reluctance that they have to interact with one another, and how their walls slowly get broken down is a beloved plot that works for good reason, it’s satisfying and sweet to watch. Hayman and Kier both give great performances, which is another key reason why this film works. Their spiky personalities and initial hatred making things into, quite appropriately, a chess match between the two of them is really enjoyable to watch because they both have such strong presences.
Admittedly, it does also employ some classic emotional manipulation along the way, but it’s transparent and well intentioned enough that you can look past it. It moves well, it holds your attention surprisingly strongly, and handles exploring both its silly side and how the sort of pain that Marek went through can really infect all aspects of your life, without help, fairly well. It perhaps doesn’t perfectly balance the two to drive home a bigger sincerity, but it works.
My Neighbor Adolf is the type of film where you know exactly what you’re in for and it gives you that on a platter, in entertaining fashion. So, while it might be relatively predictable, it still has plenty to offer as a good piece of simple entertainment. Especially because David Hayman and Udo Kier make for an excellent pair and there’s a strong ensemble cast behind them. If you’re looking for something deeper, you’re not going to find it but if you take the film at face value, you can have an enjoyable, unexpectedly touching time with it.
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