Himmler’s ‘anti-Nazi’ masseur: Claes Bang stars as SS chief’s ‘magic Buddha’
Felix Kersten, the personal therapist of Hitler’s principal enforcer, claimed to have saved countless lives from the Holocaust. A new feature film exposes him as a narcissist prone to myth-making
TL;DR
- A new film questions the heroic image of Felix Kersten, SS head Heinrich Himmler's personal masseur.
- Kersten claimed to have saved countless Jews and concentration camp prisoners from death.
- Director Felix Randau's research indicates Kersten was an SS member who forged documents.
- The film suggests Kersten was a narcissist motivated by self-preservation and reputation.
- Randau believes Kersten saved some lives, but not thousands, and did so for personal reasons.
- The film portrays Kersten as overbearing, thin-skinned, dishonest, and prone to tantrums.
- The movie also examines Himmler as a human being, not just a villain.