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What happened
Nuremberg, set to release on November 7, stars Rami Malek as psychiatrist Douglas Kelley, who evaluated Nazi leaders' mental fitness for trial following WWII. Kelley, based on a real figure, spent five months interviewing 22 defendants, including Hermann Göring, using various psychological tests. His findings suggested that these individuals were not mentally ill but rather intelligent opportunists who made conscious choices to commit atrocities. The film explores Kelley's interactions with the defendants and the implications of his conclusions on accountability for war crimes. Despite the dramatic portrayal, Kelley was promoted and returned to the U.S. before Göring's trial, and his insights raised questions about the nature of evil and the responsibility of individuals in positions of power.
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Key insights
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Psychological evaluations of Nazis
Kelley conducted extensive interviews to assess the mental fitness of Nazi leaders for trial.
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2
Kelley's controversial conclusions
He argued that the defendants were not mentally ill but rather opportunistic individuals.
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Impact on accountability
Kelley's findings challenged the notion of absolving individuals from responsibility for their actions.
Takeaways
The film Nuremberg sheds light on the complex psychological evaluations conducted by Douglas Kelley, emphasizing the importance of understanding accountability in the context of war crimes.