Ruckenlage

A fascinating account of Rudolf Hess’ solo flight to Scotland in 1941. His stated goal in the letters he wrote (and that the narration of the film is taken from) was to negotiate for peace, but its use here under the heading of 'lies' suggests otherwise.

Perhaps his obsession with and determination to make the flight were born from other feelings, less noble but more human. Fear of what was being done in Germany, fear of the reprisals against him when (as perhaps he secretly felt was inevitable) the Third Reich collapsed, and the desire to be free of the construct within which he had power but was at the same time confined.

His joy in flying over unrestricted territory is stated alongside beautiful aerial footage of the Scottish coast, as is his willingness for Hitler to distance himself from him, to be seen as a crazy man acting randomly. In the end, however, he professed to be unrepentant.