In the Eyes of a Sociopath.

In 2009, Tarantino released yet another film that dared to challenge the norm. Inglorious Bastards is a historical fiction film based on two alternate endings to the assassination of Adolf Hitler. As with Tarantino’s style, the film was definitely gory, yet managed to integrate comedy balancing out the gruesomeness of the war. And as usual, Tarantino’s casting could not have better complimented his dialogue. The film co-stars Christoph Waltz as Colonel Hans Landa, a Austrian Nazi officer, who we quickly learn, is truly a sociopath and a critical addition to the film’s advancement.

We are first introduced to Colonel Hans Landa in Chapter one of Inglorious Bastards. The film begins in the french countryside at the home of a rural dairy farmer, Mr. La Pedite. The film is set in a time when France was occupied by Germany under the rule of Hitler. Landa, an Austrian Nazi officer, was tasked with the job of tracking down and executing jews who are attempting to hide or flee. Almost immediately, we begin to see the sociopathic traits of the Colonel. Of course with the political status at this time, most french citizens were not fond of German soldiers. And accordingly, this simple dairy farmer was not overjoyed to see Colonel Landa at his home.

( Mr La Pedite seeing the German soldiers arrive on his property )

The two men introduce themselves, offering quite different energies to the situation. Mr. La Pedite, seems disgusted at the sight of the germans on his property but willingly complies, while Colonel Landa offers a mixed attitude. Linda appears to be very polite and charming not only at his introduction, but throughout his interaction with Mr La Pedite.

Generally, sociopathic behavior would include great intelligence and superficial charm as well as a lack of remorse. All of which are needed to be in Landa’s possition.

His charming nature is a well practiced façade of an incredibly educated yet cynical man. Mr. La Pedite, conforming with the Colonel’s request, invites Landa into his home. At this point we are able to see the tension grow between the two men. The reason for Landa’s visit is all too obvious. The farmer had be suspected of harboring jews. The Colonel enters the dairy farmers home and continues with this charming guise to introduce himself to the farmer’s family. As the colonel introduces himself, we are able to see the fear struck into the Farmer’s daughters’ eyes of having what they know to be a man with a gruesome job, who lacks sympathy, in their home.The Colonel has at this point managed to take control of another man’s home, and family, leaving them terrified as to his next move.

The Colonel, unlike most german soldiers, is highly educated. The colonel is fluent in four languages, german, french, italian, and english and this fact alone leads us to understand his character better. As with most people, the manner they speak with reflects their character traits. With constantly changing his language, Landa leaves his audience without a clue as to his next move. At the start of their interaction, the Colonel requests they continue in english, as he has “exhausted the extent of his french.” Him doing so was a very carefully planned and crucial move as he carried out his duties.

Tarantino does an excellent job of establishing character position during this time. One would be search for the notorious Tarantino low angle shots projecting an authority figure, but authority is better established through the lighting in this case. Landa is cast just in the shadows of the light entering the room. We are just about able to see his face, but this leaves his audience to continue wondering what he may be planning under the table as he gives orders.

As the language and tone of the dialogue changes, we discover the severity of Landa’s work. The discussion turns into an interrogation, and we learn of the nickname the french people have given to the Colonel. He is referred to as the Jew Hunter, and takes great pride in this. His character absolutely loves the fact that he has gained this title through merit, where as Mr. La Pedite continues to express his disgust.

As the men discuss the whereabouts of another Jewish farming family, Colonel Landa begins to establish himself as narcissist. He begins comparing himself and german soldiers to hawks.

“Now if one were to determine what attribute the German people share with a beast, it would be the cunning and predatory instinct of a hawk.”

While he takes pride in this, he goes on further to say that he is above all else more knowledgable than a hawk. Landa goes on to say that for this very reason, he was chosen to lead the hunt for fleeing jews. It was at this point that Landa’s true colors were exposed. Before making an assumption that Mr. La Pedite was hiding enemies of the german state, he begins to make a deal. He agrees to let Mr La Pedite and his family go free if they give up the location of the hiding enemies. By this point it was too late, and Colonel Landa had already figured everything out.

At this time, Colonel Landa’s choice of having the conversation in english plays out, as the family hiding underneath the floor boards does not have a clue that they are about to meet their death at the smile of this SS Officer.

Ending their conversation, the Colonel requests they return to speaking in french to continue his “masquerade.” The Colonel then appears to invite Mr. la Pedite’s daughters back into their home, when in fact, he had called in a group a german soldiers that would in turn execute all but one of the hiding family member’s who would manage to escape.

To conclude, in Chapter One alone, we are able to see great mood and behavioral changes with Colonel Landa constantly. He is seen carrrying out tasks with a smile that would evoke great fear in most people. We see him go from being polite carrying out his duties, to a strict interrogation. Finally we see him politely cite an anecdote, then lean in for the kill without remorse.These actions quickly help establish Landa’s character and his role in the film. Later on, we see Colonel Landa greatest exhibit of sociopathic behavior as he change sides in the war, leaving the country he pledged his allegiance to, just for personal gain.