Robson QSMSRS

This International Women’s Day, let’s take some time to celebrate and appreciate all women, with a particularly strong focus on those who may face more social and political hurdles than others. To our friends who are women of color, trans, immigrants, refugees, women with disabilities, all sexualities—we see you, and we’re grateful you’re here.

Soldiers for Hynkel! // Soldiers, in the name of democracy, let us all unite!

Some interesting parallels between the first speech in The Great Dictator and the last:

Hynkel’s speech begins with his back to the camera, while the barber marches up to the podium and his face is never concealed. This immediately communicates the dishonesty of nazism. Hynkel’s speech takes place with a constant audience behind him while the barber is on his own. Standing up for what is right must sometimes be done even if no one is standing with you, and just because people are backing you doesn’t mean you’re right. When the camera begins to zoom in on Hynkel, the speech becomes more surreal with the mics bending with his words and falling about. When the camera zooms in on the barber he stares it straight in the eye, unflinching. Under a closer look nazisim falls apart, but truth remains. Hynkel raises his hand to silence the crowds, while the barber raises his hand and provokes cheers. Their actions reflect the intent of their words; one provoking fear and subjugation and the other courage and liberty. And of course the most obvious parallel of all; the hate speech is gibberish nonsense, the final speech is one of the most inspiring speeches ever put to film and is still quoted and remembered today.