Ruckenlage

On May 10, 1941, Rudolf Hess flew a small plane to Scotland to sue for peace. He went unannounced and in secret. For Hitler’s right hand man, it was an extraordinary act of selfless futility and courageous endeavour that led to a prison cell for the rest of his life and a reputation for mental instability.

Astrid Bussink does not tell the story of what happened to Hess once he landed, but takes cameraman Ian Dodds on the journey through misty skyscapes over soft, tranquil islands in nostalgic monochrome, while Andre Hennicke reads excerpts from letters written by Hess in prison, explaining his motives and emotions (“I expect I have become not quite normal”).

The result is a poignant reconstruction, expressed through words and pictures, attributing neither blame, nor motivation.