Director Felix Randau Unveils Post-War Drama at Locarno Film Festival

A Dangerous Game of Influence

German filmmaker Felix Randau premieres his latest historical drama, „I Is Another,”at the Locarno Film Festival’s Piazza Grande tonight. The film features actor Claes Bang as Felix Kersten, the genuine and highly controversial personal masseur to SS leader Heinrich Himmler. The story explores the complex power dynamics within the Nazi high command.

The narrative draws heavily from Kersten’s personal memoirs. These accounts detail his unusual position as a confidant to one of the primary architects of the Holocaust. Kersten claimed that his physical treatments gave him unique leverage over Himmler, which he allegedly used to sabotage Nazi plans for mass deportations.

Randau selected Claes Bang for the lead role because of the actor’s ability to project intelligence and moral ambiguity. The director needed someone capable of portraying a man who walked a razor-thin line between survival and complicity. Kersten remains a divisive figure, as historians continue to debate the true extent of his influence.

Can a Masseur Outmaneuver a Monster?

The film examines how a man in such close proximity to evil maintained his own sense of self. By focusing on the intimate setting of the massage room, the production highlights the psychological tension between the two men. It challenges the audience to consider how much power an individual can wield from the shadows.

The production aims to move beyond standard historical tropes by focusing on the claustrophobic relationship between the two central characters. Randau avoids simple portrayals, choosing instead to lean into the uncertainty of Kersten’s historical claims. The film forces viewers to confront the uncomfortable reality of collaboration and resistance.

Frequently Asked Questions

As the film makes its debut, it invites a fresh examination of how history is recorded and remembered. By highlighting the blurred lines of the post-war era, Randau ensures that the story of Kersten will continue to spark intense debate among scholars and cinema audiences alike.

Who was Felix Kersten? Kersten was a Finnish-Estonian physical therapist who served as Heinrich Himmler’s personal masseur. He claimed to have used his position to save lives by influencing the Nazi leader.

Why did the director choose Claes Bang? Felix Randau believed Bang possessed the specific charisma and depth required to portray a man navigating a lethal environment. The actor’s performance captures the complex tension inherent in Kersten’s controversial life story.