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As a young man Redl is sent away to a brutal and unforgiving
military school to train as an officer. As a man, from a family
of dubious aristocratic credentials, Redl is only half accepted
by those of his professional and social circle, but Redl is
ambitious. Through natural talent he rises to the position
of military intelligence before the fates conspire against
him and orchestrate his fall from grace just prior to the
outbreak of World War I...
Colonel
Redl (1985) was directed by István Szabó and forms one
part of his trilogy which also included Hanussen (1988)
and Mephisto
(1981). The film is less about historical accuracy in the
form of Redl's life; rather Redl is used to dissect Austro-Hungarian
society just prior to the war. The film was extremely well
received and won four film awards and was nominated for a
further three including an Oscar, though it lost out to the
Argentinean film La Historia Oficial.
Through
Redl we experience all the decadence of an inward looking
dissolute aristocracy with their attendant prejudices, anti-Semitism
and insistence on position and wealth. Boredom in the empire
has bred immorality and a creeping malaise. As a relative
outsider Redl represents the wind of change and modernisation
that was sweeping over the continent. He takes his oath of
office very seriously and is repelled by the thought that
others use their position to steal and rape. His disillusionment
and moral stance finally becomes his downfall.
As
a film about an era rather than a man, some of the characterisations
can remain a little sketchy; even so, Klaus Maria Branddauer
puts in a stunning performance as Redl - quite probably one
of the best of his career. His understated homosexuality becomes
Redl's driving force, especially after the object of his affections
is killed in a duel. Finally, Redl is brought down by the
very people he has sworn to protect, caught up in a court
intrigue, not of his making; the child from a poor family
is destroyed by a ruthless prince.
Alfred
Redl was a real person, born in 1864; he rose to head of counter
intelligence for the Austrian empire. In 1913 he committed
suicide after it was revealed that he had been selling state
secrets to the Russians. It is widely held that his acts of
treason led to Austria's eventual defeat and the dissolution
of the empire.
The disc contains no extras and comes with burned-in subtitles.
The print is not great and has only a stereo soundtrack -
a sad treatment for such a good film.
Charles
Packer
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