[MR. KLEIN] This can't be happening with me... right?

|| MR. KLEIN || 1976 || Original Movie || Crime, Mystery, Drama, WW2, Holocaust || 

This movie was truly surreal, and I had to read movie critics about it, to make it sense, but after that... WOW. Also makes me wants to buy a bunch of Kafka novels, because if his novels are all like this, I would probably enjoy them. 

The story is about Robert Klein, a french art collector taking advantage of Jews desperately trying to sell artworks to raise cash in order to flee from France. But then one day a Jewish newspaper arrives at his door: someone subscribed him to the paper, and it turns out there is another Robert Klein in Paris, a Jew who is already sought by the police. To prevent his social image to be ruined, Robert Klein wants to find this other Robert Klein to make his name clear... 

In his own time this movie was controversial, especially in France, because it pointed out how people were compliant to hand over the Jews to the local authorities, averting their eyes to their suffering, and even taking advantage of them. Which is usually very common pattern in countries that were under Nazi occupation. If you weren't a jew, you were safe. If you didn't associate yourself with Jews, you were safe. If it's not happening with you, it's not your problem. People don't like to be reminded of such shame of their own history. 

Related literature and movies for myself to not forget:
E. T. A. Hoffmann: Die Elixiere des Teufels
Franz Kafka: Der Prozeß
Franz Kafka: Die Verwandlung
Franz Kafka: Das Schloss

And I think this makes me want to watch my own country's media take regarding the Holocaust and touching the non-jew civilian compliance topics. Collecting some here, so I will remember. 

Utószezon (1966)
Társasutazás (1985)
Budapesti Tavasz (1955)
Nussbaum 95736 (2017)
Jób Lázadása (1983)
A Létezés Eufóriája (2017)
Sorstalanság (2005)
1945 (2017)
Nagyi Project (2017)
Saul fia (2015)

[HARD CONTACT] Chapter 5: My beautiful violent Mando

|| Republic Commando: Hard Contact || 2004 || Book series || Military, Sci-Fi || 18+ for violence and harrowing themes || 

 

“No, that’s not how it works.” Hokan propped his backside against the edge of the table and stared into the anonymous masked face, arms folded. He didn’t like people whose eyes he couldn’t see. “You warn them first. If they break the rules, then you punish them. If you punish them before they break the rules, they have nothing to lose, and they hate you, and they will seek revenge, and so will their offspring.”

“Yes sir.”

“Do you understand that?” Hokan looked around at the assembled staff, and spread his arms in invitation to join the coaching session. “Does everyone understand that?”

There were some grunts.

“Does everyone understand that?” Hokan snarled. “What do we say when an officer asks you a question?”

“Yes … sir!” It was almost a chorus.

“Good,” Hokan said quietly.

He stood up again. Then he took out Fulier’s lightsaber, activated the beam, and sliced it through the Ubese’s neck, sending the head flying—bloodless, quiet, and clean.

There was sudden and absolute silence. The staff had been quiet before, but they’d been making the marginal noises of people forced to endure a boring lesson. Now there was not the slightest swallow, cough, or sigh. Nobody breathed.

He peered down at the body and then at the legs of his dark gray uniform trousers. Perfectly clean: no blood. He rather liked this lightsaber now. He sat back on the edge of the desk.

“That,” Hokan said, “was punishment for Cailshh. It’s a warning for the rest of you.

•───────•°•❀•°•───────•

There will be a day when I won't swoon over the violent scenes of this wonderful Mando gentleman, but this is not the day, I'm afraid. 

 

[HARD CONTACT] Chapter 5: Ghez Hokan you xenophobic bastard

 || Republic Commando: Hard Contact || 2004 || Book series || Military, Sci-Fi || 18+ for violence and harrowing themes || 

Guta-Nay, no doubt recalling what Hokan had done to him when he chased that farm girl, moved his lips soundlessly. Then his voice managed to surface above his fear. “I never seen, sir, not at all, not since yesterday. I swear.”

“I chose you as my right-hand …  man because you could very nearly express yourself in several syllables.”

“Sir.”

“That makes you an intellectual among your kind. Don’t make me doubt my judgment.”

•───────•°•❀•°•───────•

I'm starting to think that Ghez Hokan just hates everyone who is not a human. A true xenophobic bastard.  

[HARD CONTACT] Chapter 5: Damn...

 || Republic Commando: Hard Contact || 2004 || Book series || Military, Sci-Fi || 18+ for violence and harrowing themes || 

“Then get out on the route they were patrolling and see what you can find.” Hokan reached across his desk and took out the electroshocker. It was only an agricultural instrument for herding, but it worked fine on most nonanimal species. Guta-Nay eyed it cautiously. “This is why I disapprove of undisciplined acts like thieving and drinking. When I need to be certain of someone’s whereabouts, I can’t be. When I need resources, they’re already committed. When I need competence, my staff is … distracted.” He pushed the shocker up into the Weequay’s armpit. “There is a Republic presence here. We don’t know the size of the force, but we do have a speeder down and a large black crater at Imbraani. The more data I have, the more I can assess the size of the threat and deal with it. Understood?”

“Yes sir.”

Hokan lowered the shocker and the Weequay shot out the door, his enthusiasm for his career refreshed. Hokan prided himself on motivational skills.

•───────•°•❀•°•───────•

HOOOOoooooOLY SHI-

DAMN. 

This guy is just. THE VILLAIN. This continous classic monologuing with badass lines and sadistic tendencies and scaring the living shit out of his subordinates.  Sir, please electroshock my cock, sir!!! 

[HARD CONTACT] Chapter 5: Hokan and his moral compass

 || Republic Commando: Hard Contact || 2004 || Book series || Military, Sci-Fi || 18+ for violence and harrowing themes || 

I’m my father’s son, though. I’m a warrior. Hokan wondered if all cultures separated from their heritage were unable to move on, doomed to relive old glories. I’d rather be fighting a worthy opponent than terrorizing farmers who haven’t got the guts to stand up for themselves.
•───────•°•❀•°•───────•

Cue to Canderous Ordo from BBY 3000 yelling at Mandalorian raiders: YOU ARE DISGRACE, YOU SHOULD BE OUT THERE BURNING GALAXIES, NOT FARMS!!!!