“Where there is no publicity, there is no justice.”
The trial of Nazi Adolf Eichmann in 1961 was a turning point not only for history, but for the world of television. Over the course of four months, the horrifying and inhumane treatments of men, women, and children all throughout Europe were exposed to the world in terrifying detail for the first time. The Eichmann Show attempts to shine a light on the struggle to bring this ‘architect’ of the Nazi regime to justice, not merely in Israel, but all around the world.
The Eichmann Show follows Milton Fruchtman (Martin Freeman), TV producer and father, and Leo Hurwitz (Anthony LaPaglia), out of work director dependent on a big break to raise his credibility once again. There’s no denying that the performances are stand out, particularly LaPaglia as he tries to find the balance between ethics and reputation. Freeman is also excellent in the role of Fruchtman, and it seems as though his affinity for the accents has improved greatly since his work in Fargo last year. Whilst its heart is in the right place, we can’t help but feel as if it never manages to find its feet. Although it was marketed as a show about how the Eichmann trial was televised, we’re only briefly exposed to the immense challenge that the production team faced at the start of the ninety minute drama. It almost feels as though the showrunners were being drawn into the trial during the writing process, and it was left to the big bosses to gently remind them of the actual task at hand.
The real star of the show here is the genuine footage from Eichmann’s world-famous trial. Editing is subtle, drifting in and out of colour to gently remind audiences that this is in fact a show rather than a documentary. In some instances the prolonged use of trial footage may be considered excessive, and at some points viewers can’t help but feel disappointed about being brought back into the show’s reality. The trial is so gruelling, both for those involved and for audiences watching, and at numerous points you can’t help but wish that this was a documentary detailing the trial itself.
The Eichmann Show undoubtedly has its flaws: while justice was given to Eichmann in the end, the efforts of Fruchtman and Hurwitz in illuminating his true atrocities never really received the recognition they deserved. Regardless of this, excellent acting from Freeman and LaPaglia respectively, as well as a stellar supporting cast, make for an enthralling and sobering piece of television. It is thanks to pieces of television like The Eichmann Show that the horrors of the war will never be forgotten, and the memories of those we lost will live on in our remembrance.
Words by Sophie Mace.