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One tenet of Buddhism is that each human being has attachments and delusions which
cause him or herself personal suffering. Further, the deluded mind results in
behaviors which cause suffering for others. Hershey pondered how the deluded mind
of Adolf Hitler could lead to such enormous pain and suffering for others.
Fundamental questions arose: "What can we now understand from Adolf Hitler? How can
a deeper understanding of who Adolf Hitler was and how his mind operated help us to
identify and respond to situations in the future where evil deeds may be perpetrated
on a mass scale? And, on a smaller, more personal level, how can studying the nature
of Hitler's delusions help us to understand the psychological processes which, sadly,
lead men and women to cause suffering to others?"
It was important to Hershey that the film be ambiguous in its inquiry because there
are no right answers. Instead, each viewer is invited to explore these issues in
his/her own way.
Although "The Empty Mirror" is Hershey's sixth film, it is his first feature. The
critical task in pre-production was the search for an actor to play Hitler. His
preference was to find a British actor - someone with the meticulousness and presence
of a stage actor, to be able to evoke a Hitler who perhaps experienced himself as an
actor playing a role.
In considering some of Britain's top stage and screen stars, he auditioned Norman
Rodway via video-conference from the U.S. "I had concerns about a major star playing
Hitler because the star's iconography might distract the audience from its involvement
with the character," said Hershey. "Norman gave a great reading, he is clearly a
dedicated, skilled actor, and most of all he not only had class but bite. He was able
to avoid playing Hitler as merely a cardboard icon."
The rest of the cast quickly fell into line, with many actors jumping at the chance
to give a new interpretation of historical figures. Joel Grey, who won an Oscar for
his performance in the classic musical of pre-War Berlin, "Cabaret," took on a role
he says he has been offered more than a few times: Joseph Goebbels, Hitler's small,
shrewd and very loyal propaganda minister. Glenn Shadix was cast as Hermann Göring,
Hitler's failed second-in-command, who gives him a comic edge. Peter Michael Goetz does
a turn as the father of modern psychology, Sigmund Freud, who questions and probes
Hitler's psyche. And Danish star Camilla Soeberg exudes beauty, charm and a sense
of the unattainable as Hitler's obsession, Eva Braun. (For cast photos and more
information, please go to the cast section.)
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