'My Neighbor Adolf' star Udo Kier: Hitler is 'the most evil man in the world'
German-born actor and Palm Springs resident Udo Kier has a new film and TV series coming out portraying who he describes as “the most evil man in the world.”
The 78-year-old will be featured as Adolf Hitler in the upcoming second season of the Amazon Prime series “Hunter” and in the movie "My Neighbor Adolf" as a man suspected of being the infamous dictator hiding out in South America.
“My Neighbor Adolf” will be screened at the Palm Springs International Film Festival on Jan. 7, 8 and 15.
During a recent interview at his home, Kier, who was born months before Germany surrendered during World War II, said he never understood the reasons for the food scarcity and impoverished conditions of the postwar country. The war and the Holocaust was never taught in the schools. He didn't learn about what really happened until he left for the United Kingdom at 18.
“We were vegetarians because we didn’t have any money, so my mother made lentil or potato soup. On Sunday, we’d have a little piece of meat with salad or pudding,” Kier said. “It was horrible when I found more (about the war) and it sounded unbelievable to me.”
Kier has played Hitler before.
In 2002, he played the role in drag for the short “Mrs. Meitlemeihr.” He also appeared as a Nazi in the satirical film series “Iron Sky.” He has a requirement while playing the Fuhrer: It has to be satire. One example he gave is Charlie Chaplin in "The Dictator" during one of the final scenes where Chaplin, dressed similar to Hitler, is kicking around an inflatable globe.
"My Neighbor Adolf," which is set during the early '60s in Colombia, features dark humor. When a Holocaust survivor (David Hayman) becomes interested in his new German neighbor (Kier) and notices his resemblance to Hitler, he starts his own investigation. Kier said his character owns a German shepherd and spends time painting. Since Hitler's death by suicide at the Führerbunker in 1945, there are many conspiracy theories that he survived. After World War II, many Nazi war criminals fled to parts of Latin America.
While many of the theories surrounding Hitler's death have been debunked, Kier alludes to the fact Hitler had four doubles and why many believe he possibly escaped to Latin America.
"(The Nazis) could have killed one of his doubles and put him in the bunker where he was found by the Russians," Kier said. "Hitler could have theoretically disappeared to Argentina or some other country, because politically they had the same ideas. A lot of Nazis did go to (Latin America). The Nazis had the money and the power to get on a boat to Argentina. It has never been proven Hitler was living there, but even if he would have been alive in Argentina, that would have come out after the war."
But there was an uncomfortable moment in his career a decade ago when the subject of Hitler and anti-Semitism affected a film he appeared in.
In 2011, Kier had a role in Danish director Lars von Trier apocalyptic art film “Melancholia” with Kirsten Dunst, Alexander and Stellan Skarsgård, John Hurt and Charlotte Gainsbourg. During a press conference with the director and cast, a reporter asked von Trier a question about his "German roots" and a previous mention about an "interest in the Nazi aesthetic."
Von Trier, who learned the man who raised him wasn't actually his father, responded to the reporter saying he grew up believing he was Jewish until he learned the man who raised him wasn't his father. But then said "I found out I was actually a Nazi because my family was German" and "I think I understand (Hitler). He's not what you'd call a good guy, but I understand him and I sympathize with him a bit."
In response, Cannes didn't allow the film to be screened in competition and von Trier issued an apology. Kier describes von Trier's comments as "misunderstood" and said the director was speaking in reference to his biological father.
“It was hard for all of us,” Kier said. “(Reporters) came up to me asking, ‘Mr. Kier, how do you feel about working with a Nazi?’ I left the next day because everybody was talking about it. When I left the press conference, I said to Kirsten Dunst, ‘Wait until tomorrow.’ She asked me what I meant and I said it would be on all the covers of the newspapers, and it was, with the headline ‘Lars von Trier: I’m a Nazi.’”
'Don't act'
Actors usually have a method for each role. But Kier has the same approach for every film role, including Hitler, which is the advice von Trier once gave to him before filming a scene: 'Don't act.'" He doesn't do scenes of looking out of a window, turning to look at the floor and then interacting with his partner. The "little things" are more important to him and make an impact. One example he explained is a scene in "Melancholia" where he informally passes by Dunst and puts his hand up, which he said "everyone talks about."
With over 200 film credits and labeled as a "character actor" by critics and film aficionados, Kier has played many different roles in the films "Blood for Dracula" and "My Own Private Idaho." But even portraying a historical figure such as Hitler, there are things he won't do, such as shout like the dictator, or imitate his walk and other mannerisms. When asked about the importance of authenticity, even for a wicked man in history known throughout the world, Kier is disinterested.
"Nobody can criticize me for how I play Hitler, how can you?" Kier said. "There was a joke somewhere that said I play Adolf Hitler like a dinosaur. If there any questions, I can answer and have no problem talking about it because I don't sympathize with (Nazis or Hitler)."
After what he calls the "best reviews of his career" playing a retired gay hairdresser in the 2021 Todd Stephens film "Swan Song," Kier appeared at several screenings during 2022 and is still receiving awards for his performance. Even though he stopped smoking several years ago, his character, Pat Pitsenbarger, smokes in the film. Stephens tried to give him fake cigarettes, which he refused and insisted on the real thing. He also said there are "little things" in the film he enjoys.
"People come up to me after seeing the movie and say 'Oh, I cried and I laughed' and I always ask, 'Why did you cry?'" Kier said with a mock-confused look.
Kier also attended a recent Miami beach party celebrating the 30th anniversary of Madonna's 1992 "Sex" book. The explicit photo shoots feature himself and the singer in formal wear attending a party and then later end up in what he said was a real sex club. During the party, Madonna spotted him in the crowd and the two had a brief reunion. The book is considered to be one of the most in-demand out-of-print published works. Saint Laurent is rereleasing a limited run of the book in February for $2,200.
"(Madonna) is 64 years old and looks very young," Kier said. "All these people were around her and it was like nostalgia with girls in sexy dresses and boys in silver jackets."
Since moving to Palm Springs over a decade ago, Kier said he's "surprised" by the prominence of the film festival and the actors coming in to receive film awards. He plans to attend all three screenings of "My Neighbor Adolf" during the festival and take questions from the audience afterwards.
"I like the festival because they have 200 films," Kier said. "If somebody I know has a movie showing, that's nice because I can invite them for a drink. But I like seeing the movies and that's the good thing about the festival, you have the chance to see movies you might not see anywhere else.
If you go
What: "My Neighbor Adolf"
When and where: Screenings are at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 7 and Sunday, Jan. 15 at Palm Springs High School and at 9 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 8 at the Palm Springs Cultural Center.
Cost: $13
More information: psfilmfest.org
Desert Sun reporter Brian Blueskye covers arts and entertainment. He can be reached at brian.blueskye@desertsun.com or on Twitter at @bblueskye. Support local news, subscribe to The Desert Sun.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Actor Udo Kier talks playing Hitler: 'The most evil man in the world'
