Look Who’s Back: German comedy about Hitler is too dark to digest | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Friday
June 13, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 2025
Look Who’s Back: German comedy about Hitler is too dark to digest

Glitz

Sadia Rahman
28 June, 2020, 10:45 am
Last modified: 28 June, 2020, 10:51 am

Related News

  • Netanyahu more dangerous than Hitler: Obaidul Quader
  • Turkey's Erdogan says Israeli PM Netanyahu no different from Hitler
  • Mexico president doubles down on Hitler comparison with Jewish analyst after protest
  • Polish president says calls with Putin like speaking to Hitler
  • Putin apologises for foreign minister's Hitler remarks: Israel PM

Look Who’s Back: German comedy about Hitler is too dark to digest

Filled with dark humour and satire, Look Who’s Back provides comic relief while making the audience ponder about certain political decisions and choices

Sadia Rahman
28 June, 2020, 10:45 am
Last modified: 28 June, 2020, 10:51 am
A screengrab from the German satire film ‘Look Who’s Back.’ PHOTO: COLLECTED
A screengrab from the German satire film ‘Look Who’s Back.’ PHOTO: COLLECTED

Hitler is lying on dried, yellow leaves with his eyes wide open - full of surprise and curiosity. He has been resurrected in the 21st century near one of his bunkers after 70 years. 

He bumps into some teenagers who do not address him properly; no proper greetings, no salute, nor do they bow before him. Tourists mistake him as a performance artist. They laugh and gather around him, taking photos.

"Look Who's Back" is based on the 2012 bestseller novel of the same name by Timur Vermes. The book was translated into film in 2015 by David Wnendt. It starred Oliver Masucci as Hitler, otherwise known as Führer of the future.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

Watch the trailer of "Look Who's Back" here 

Although the movie's duration was an hour and 56 minutes, it took me longer to watch as I was dependent on English subtitles to understand the German dialogues.

Despite the language barrier, the movie had me glued to the screen the entire time while Hitler found himself in a different country than what he had envisioned. To add to his distress, everyone laughed at him when he introduced himself. Unable to convince people of his identity, he took shelter at a newspaper kiosk. 

He was finally discovered by TV reporter Fabian Sawatzki who was recently fired from his job. Fabian also considers himself an incredible impersonator of Hitler. In a desperate attempt to get his job back, Fabian decides to take the Führer to his boss.

The events that followed afterwards convinced me that the movie is a dark comedy filled with satire. 

Hitler was having a hard time digesting that people now take Nazism as a joke when he was presented as a "Hitler impersonator" by Fabian. Still, he became a big name in showbiz within a short span of time.

But he soon realized the temperament of the present world, and moulded his speeches according to the demands of the 21st century, and started presenting his bizarre ideas of dominating the new world.

While impersonating himself, Hitler criticised all other actors who tried to portray him saying that all their acts were futile compared to his grandeur. 

It was comical to watch the audiences reactions too, as they took him to be an actor dedicated to bringing the character to life. 

In the grip of fame, Hitler wrote a book which became a bestseller. He becomes a role model in Germany. This is when things start spinning out of control. 

An elderly citizen who recognised him warned that this is exactly what happened years ago; people laughed at him in the beginning, then worshipped him - bringing forth grim consequences.

On the other hand, Hitler develops the belief that his resurrection was destiny so he could make Germany great again.

By the time Fabian realises his mistake of promoting the real Hitler the Führer is already invincible. 

Starting as mere fiction, the movie ends in a very serious note reminding us that it was the people who chose him as their leader with 43.9 percent votes in a democratic election. It is not possible to just wipe him out as he lives in the spirit of every citizen. 

By the end the audience finds Fabian in an asylum for protesting against Hitler, who, on the other hand, waves to his admirers and followers from the back of a sedan with plans to conquer the world again. 

What I did not expect was such an ambiguous ending for  a movie I perceived as a comedy. 

Look Who's Back left me grappling with questions about our own democratic decisions and choices. For me, it was a movie too dark to digest. 
 

Look Who’s Back / German comedy / Hitler

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • BNP Acting Chairperson Tarique Rahman and Chief Adviser  Muhammad Yunus meet at Dorchester Hotel in London, UK on 13 June 2025. Photo: CA Press Wing
    National polls possible in 2nd week of February, agree Yunus, Tarique in 'historic' London meeting
  • File Photo: TBS
    Bangladesh records 2 Covid-related deaths, 15 new cases in 24 hours
  • File Photo: Rajib Dhar
    Dengue claims 5 more lives, 159 new patients hospitalised

MOST VIEWED

  • Wreckage of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner showing part of its registration "VT-ANB" in Ahmedabad, India, June 12, 2025. REUTERS/Amit Dave
    Air India Dreamliner crashes into Ahmedabad college hostel, kills over 290
  • File Photo of Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus: UNB
    Prof Yunus to receive Harmony Award from King Charles today
  • Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur. TBS Sketch
    Bangladesh mulls settlements with tycoons over offshore wealth: BB governor tells FT
  • Railway seeks Tk2,000cr foreign loans to revive coach assembly, modernise workshops
    Railway seeks Tk2,000cr foreign loans to revive coach assembly, modernise workshops
  • UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus
    Disclosure of unconfirmed Yunus-Starmer meeting shows ‘diplomatic imprudence’: Analysts
  • Brother sues Latifur's daughter, widow over alleged forgery to seize control of Transcom
    Brother sues Latifur's daughter, widow over alleged forgery to seize control of Transcom

Related News

  • Netanyahu more dangerous than Hitler: Obaidul Quader
  • Turkey's Erdogan says Israeli PM Netanyahu no different from Hitler
  • Mexico president doubles down on Hitler comparison with Jewish analyst after protest
  • Polish president says calls with Putin like speaking to Hitler
  • Putin apologises for foreign minister's Hitler remarks: Israel PM

Features

Photos: Collected

Kurtis that make a great office wear

2h | Mode
Among pet birds in the country, lovebirds are the most common, and they are also the most numerous in the haat. Photo: Junayet Rashel

Where feathers meet fortune: How a small pigeon stall became Dhaka’s premiere bird market

2d | Panorama
Illustration: Duniya Jahan/ TBS

Forget Katy Perry, here’s Bangladesh’s Ruthba Yasmin shooting for the moon

2d | Features
File photo of Eid holidaymakers returning to the capital from their country homes/Rajib Dhar

Dhaka: The city we never want to return to, but always do

4d | Features

More Videos from TBS

Did the possibility of an Iran nuclear deal set back after the attack?

Did the possibility of an Iran nuclear deal set back after the attack?

6m | TBS World
IRGC chief Major General Hossein Salami killed in Israeli strike

IRGC chief Major General Hossein Salami killed in Israeli strike

1h | TBS World
'Historic' meeting between Yunus and Tarique underway in London

'Historic' meeting between Yunus and Tarique underway in London

4h | TBS Today
Iran warns Israel of severe retaliation

Iran warns Israel of severe retaliation

5h | TBS World
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net