Looking to the past as today’s guide helps people understand
and recognize the present under its camouflage, for what it really is. An
example in point is Joseph Losey’s Mr. Klein, which he shot in France in 1976.
Prompted by a review in
the September 9, 2019 New Yorker,
I made sure to attend what turned out to be its last screening at the Pacific
Film Archive in Berkeley. (It screened earlier in New York).
Briefly the plot outline features an indifferent, ultra
manicured Alain Delon who plays an art dealer happy to take advantage of anyone
selling artwork, especially those Jews, fleeing 1942 German-occupied France,
fearing for their lives. The arrogance with which he’s shown throwing 300 Louis
d’ors at his Jewish client feels like a slap in the audience’s face.
But disaster awaits Klein when a Jewish newspaper is slipped
under his door. He discovers that, if he wants to cancel his subscription, he
will need to go to the collaborationist Prefecture
de Police. And so doing, he becomes the author of his own destruction: a
“person of interest.” His wheelchair bound father (played by a stellar Louis
Seigner) assures him “We’ve been French and Catholic since Louis the XVI!” but
Klein’s true roots remain remain amorphous. He discovers that Paris holds
another Robert Klein, this one probably a member of the French Resistance. His discovery is the seed of a new obsession.
To rid himself of his shadow he must discover the true identity of the other
Robert Klein.
Here the film takes a decidedly noirish turn, a signature of
Losey’s story telling art, but in my view, it is quite enough to observe
routine arrests of Jews as the unaffected population of Paris carries on its
daily rounds of cafes, race courses, promenades, the opera, and so forth while
in the background we see scenes where arrests, and round ups are plotted by men
in suits on a wall-sized enlargement of the city, and the Gestapo’s sinister
Citroens and antiquated buses go about their deadly work.
 |
| Trapped in the Vel D'Hiver |
But it is the scene of their final destination where Klein is trapped alongside the original Jewish client he treated with such contempt that speaks
loudest: the “Vel d’Hiver." Throughout my years-long friendships with Parisian
Holocaust survivors, the Vel d’Hiver (Winter Velodrome) features prominently in
their stories of survival, but I had yet to see the actual scene: rivers of
humanity herded behind bars, children separated from their mothers. The Right!
Left! of the Final Solution.
Never known for anything other than its temporizing and
camouflaging views, for once the New Yorker does not disappoint. Writes
reviewer, Anthony Lane: “How blessed we are to live in a decent and democratic
age where such things could not possibly occur.”
Some recent
headlines:
William Barr says “communities’ that protest cops could lose
“the police protection they need.”
Eyewitness describes troubling police shooting at 23rd
and Mission.
Video reveals police shot Jamaica Hampton while he was
tuning, not while he was allegedly “assaulting officer.
Harmed by SFPD: Tana demands to see her son, Jamaica.
Why don’t more immigrants arrive legally? For many the doors
are barricaded.
Homeless swept from Polk St. alley despite lack of shelter
beds.
Data shows 40% of elementary kids homeless in Salinas.
U.S. government drops case against Max Blumenthal after jailing journalist on false charges.
Edward Snowden: “If I came back to the U.S. I would likely
die in prison for telling the truth.”
”‘Shameless racism’: 13 countries change long-standing
position on Palestine at UN.
Reports: Israel occupation used flechette shells in Gaza.
Israeli military orders used to deprive Palestinians of
human rights says HRW report.
U.S. constructing two new basses in Syria’s oil-rich region.
Nine kids dead in immigration detention. The time for
immigration reform is now. Please sign at
Foreign
Iraq protesters form ‘mini=state’ in Tahrir Square.
100 doctors demand Julian Assange receive safe passage to
Australian hospital ‘Before it’s too late.’
Lawyer holds in court Assange cannot be extradited to U.S. because
extradition treaty bars extradition for political offenses.
Finland general strike saves postal service.
George Galloway launches workers party of Britain.
France records 391-mile traffic jam as public transport
brought to halt by third week of strikes over pension changes.
ICC prosecutor says Israel committing war crimes (duh) and
opens investigation.
‘Gas war’ averted as Russia and Ukraine agree to crucial
transit deal.
Domestic
California DOJ cuts off ICE deportation officers from state
law enforcement database.
Acting Department of Defense Inspector General Glenn Fine
announces that his office will investigate the president’s use of troops at the
Southern border.
Washington state attorney general sues Trump administration
over courthouse immigration sweeps.
In win for native rights, Hawaii governor order cops at
Mauna Kea to stand down.
New Jersey state legislature votes to grant all immigrants
licenses.
Deportation relief extended for teen with cystic fibrosis.
Supreme Court leaves ruling barring prosecution of homeless
in place.
Federal court uphold abortion access.
New Jersey restores voting rights of people on parole and
probation.
Media taking notice as Sanders surges in new polls.
Moms reclaim vacant home amid national attacks on Homeless.
Atlanta moms show up when cops arrest mother of son with
Down Syndrome.
Center for Constitutional Rights urges court to change
ground rules for Guantánamo cases.
House spending package includes clear intent to keep fossil
fuels out of clean energy program.
House approves first increase to public media in more than
ten years.
Most Americans believe basic human rights under siege.
House Democrat from red district explains who she’s voting
to impeach even if it ends her career.
Judge reverses vote in controversial first amendment case.
Anti-robocall bill passes.
Rep. Jeff Drew plans to make it official that he’s a
Republican; staffers resign en masse.
After gaining full control of Virginia government, Democrats
unveil bills to expand voting rights.
Goldman Sachs rules out funding for new coal projects,
arctic oil drilling, making explicit mention of Arctic National Wildlife
Refuge.
New ag bill includes first-ever national factory farm
moratorium.
New lawsuit challenges Trump failure to update
slaughterhouse pollution guidelines.
California gives state protection to foothill yellow-legged
frogs.
Diane Wilson wins $50 million lawsuit against cancer alley
polluter Formosa, setting major legal precedent.
Nestlé’s go at privatizing town water shot down by Michigan
appeals court.
Eastbayhills wins court victory against pesticide sprayers.
Rainy day victory: homeless man shatters window to go to
jail to escape the cold.
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