Tuesday, March 02, 2010

Lunch With... Colonel Hans Landa

It's Inglourious Basterds Day. Theme days until Hollywood's big night.

Lunch with new acquaintances should be fun if not entirely relaxing. You definitely want to get to know each other but still, it shouldn’t feel like an interrogation. Next time before accepting an “invitation” like Shoshanna did in Paris, you might want to reconsider. Not that she had much of a choice.



You’ve surely noticed that Landa’s refreshment breaks always involve dairy -- a glass of milk, a dollop of cream -- “Attendez la Crème!” But what makes this scene in Inglourious Basterds so amazing (it's my second favorite after this one) is that his amiability isn't sweet at all but curdled.


This strudel may well be delicious, but if your dining companion isn't what you'd hoped for you won’t have the appetite for it. Shoshanna doesn’t enjoy this one but at least she gets sweet revenge later on. Landa will get his just dessert.

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16 comments:

JL said...

I'm thinking of doing an Apfelstrudel on sunday?

Jim T said...

"She doesn’t enjoy this one but at least she gets sweet revenge and Landa will get his just dessert."


Jesus, Nathaniel, you sound like a Basterd! And they were the worst thing in the movie.

NATHANIEL R said...

JL -- I TOTALLY am doing strudel for my Oscar party.

Anonymous said...

So wait, did he know that it was Shoshana or not?

Jim T said...

He didn't.

Caroline said...

I LOVE THIS POST! On Sunday I had breakfast in this adorable little Austrian cafe on 86th and Park. Of course I had to order apple strudel with fresh cream. I was so geeked out about it.

Lucky said...

"So wait, did he know that it was Shoshana or not?"

It's ambiguous. Tarantino didn't explain, he left it for us to speculate. The first time I watched it I thought he knew, now I'm not sure. I'm glad it was left unexplained.

I'm loving Inglourious Basterds day, Nathaniel!

Magicub said...

I think that Shoshanna and Landa needed one more scene.

NATHANIEL R said...

LUCKY -- thanks.

My vote is that Landa didn't know and the 'glass of milk' bit was sort of a psychic unaware deja vu reminder (and brilliant scripting) --what. i lost my train of thought.

i don't think Landa knew. But i think he knew subconciously.

CAROLINE -- i must seek that place out!

Lucky said...

Maybe Landa was really paranoid and went around offering every young girl he met milk, with the hope of finding the girl who escaped!

Kidding. I agree, I think he knew subconciously

Colin Low said...

I prefer the Lust, Caution answer: that Landa sorta knew that it was her, but he didn't do anything about it because she was interesting and by waiting for the cream she passed his test.

Agreed with Magicub that they should have had another scene.

Jim T said...

Colin, I don't really remember my thoughts during Lust, Caution but... did he kind of know? Then why was he so relentless at the end when she should have gained some points by changing her mind? Just thoughts.. (totally offtopic ones :p)

Bryan said...

Where do you find your screencaps, Nat?

NATHANIEL R said...

i take them myself usually -- unless i don't have the dvd or a way to instant watch... in which case i scour the internets

Branden said...

This is one of the best scenes of the film.

Caroline said...

Nathaniel - Cafe Sabarsky, near the Met, with a little German art gallery. Pricey, but good for a special occasion.