Director Yves Simoneau wanted the film to feel “immersive.” Translation: he wanted you to forget you’re watching a movie.
It’s a clever trick. By mixing real footage with re-enactments, your brain stops asking questions. You just sit there, nodding, like a chicken watching a magic show.
Nuremberg Movie True Story: The WWII Trial That Changed Justice
But history nerds (like me) get huffy because it blurs the line between fact and fiction. Was Göring really that smug in court? Yes, actually. But was the judge that dramatic? No, he was just a guy with a headache.
What Historians Say (And Why They’re Grumpy)
Most historians agree: don’t use this movie as a primary source. Please.
The actual trial footage is available online. It’s slow. It’s boring. Lawyers stammer, translators pause, and defendants look sleepy. The movie edits out 93% of that boredom and adds dramatic music.
So yes, the real footage is in there—but it’s like finding a single raisin in a giant loaf of banana bread. It’s technically present, but you wouldn’t call it “raisin bread.”
