Meet the Hitlers

Shakespeare once asked, “What’s in a name?” And if your name is Smith or Jones, probably not a whole lot. But what if your name is Hitler? Would you change it? MEET THE HITLERS is a fascinating look at the complicated lives of simple people with an unfortunate name. The film also introduces us to those who desire to promote the name's legacy, a well as those who desire to destroy it. There’s the teenage cheerleader, an American born long before Hitler’s reign, the Ecuadorean immigrant, an actual relative of the man who made the name infamous, and a neo-Nazi who names his son Adolf Hitler. The heart of this documentary follows author David Gardner as he tracks down nephews of the original Hitler, rumored to be living in the States – naturally, they prove to be elusive. This documentary is not just an endearing look at people with the name, but also a look at those who are fascinated by the effects the name evokes. For example, artist Jim Riswold who, in order to mock the man, centers his work on Hitler toys – and, yes, there are a lot of Hitler toys. Look past the title, and you’ll find MEET THE HITLERS is an incredible study on the effect a name can have. What’s in a name indeed! (In English, German, and Spanish with subtitles) – T.W.