The Anatomy of Evil
Disturbing questions about the nature of evil in the documentary
How can a former SS officer describe his involvement in mass executions as a mundane task, or a Serbian paramilitary view his first kill as 'losing his virginity'? The documentary 'The Anatomy of Evil', directed by Ove Nyholm and released in 2005, seeks to explore these unsettling questions by delving into the psychology of genocide. Through interviews with war criminals from both the Balkan Wars and World War II, the film presents a chilling combination of personal accounts and archival footage, prompting reflections on the nature of evil. This 93-minute production, a collaboration between Digital Film and several Scandinavian TV channels, is available on the Danish Film Institute's archive services and features interviews in multiple languages, including Serbo-Croatian and German, with Danish subtitles.
Criticism and admiration: the film's ethical approach to war crimes
The film manages to evoke both admiration and criticism with its uncompromising approach to ethically complex topics like war crimes and genocide. The interviews with war criminals are sharply edited, complemented by photographers Dan Holmberg and Dirk Brüel, who use static shots and somber lighting to support the documentary's heavy, psychological themes. Editing by Ghita Beckendorff creates a coherent narrative that consistently explores themes like racial bias and the breakdown of morality under pressure. Criticism has particularly focused on the film's treatment of empathy—while some see it as a controversial neglect of victims' perspectives, others highlight the necessary understanding of the human elements behind evil as a crucial step towards demystifying wickedness.
The documentary's academic impact and contemporary relevance
'The Anatomy of Evil' has had significant academic influence, especially within studies of war crimes and collective guilt. By focusing on war criminals rather than victims, the documentary challenges the common perception of war criminals as one-dimensional monstrosities. The film's impact extends beyond the film world, as it continues to influence discussions about humanity's darker sides, such as psychopathy in wartime. The renewed interest in the wake of contemporary conflicts, like the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, makes the film a cautionary reminder of how ordinary individuals can be led down extreme paths—a mirror that forces us to confront whether evil is an exception or merely a part of the human condition.