Max (2002)

In the tumultuous aftermath of 1918 Munich, Max Rothman, a German-Jew and former aspiring painter, grapples with his lost dreams and reinvents his life after the war cost him his dominant right arm. Now an art dealer, Max navigates the complexities of his personal life, torn between his wife Nina, their two children, and his enchanting mistress Liselore von Peltz. Max's life takes an unexpected turn when he crosses paths with Adolf Hitler, a penniless Austrian war veteran with an unfulfilled dream of becoming a painter. Despite Hitler's lackluster originality and his abrasive personality, Max, compelled by their shared war experiences and sympathetic to Hitler's desolation after the war, decides to mentor him, hoping to uncover the veteran's unique artistic voice. However, as Max encourages Hitler's artistic pursuits, the desperate and bitter Hitler finds himself at a crossroads. Influenced by Captain Karl Mayr, Hitler reluctantly begins working as an anti-Semitic propagandist for the army, a role that brings unexpected rewards. As Hitler's political influence burgeons, his art begins to evolve into a dangerous vision of a new world order. His art and politics start to intertwine, giving rise to a provocative perspective that, despite its deeply anti-Semitic undercurrent, fascinates Max. Caught in the vortex of Hitler's ascending political influence and captivating artistic expression, Max grapples with a pressing question: will the dark sentiments behind Hitler's vision eclipse its artistic merit? This tale of art, politics, and friendship unfolds against the backdrop of a world on the brink of monumental change, offering a haunting exploration of the forces that shaped one of history's most chilling figures.

Max is a drama movie featuring John Cusack and directed by Menno Meyjes.

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