Albert Schweitzer (2009)

Directed by: Gavin Millar | 114 minutes | drama, biography, history | Actors: Jeroen Krabbé, Barbara Hershey, Judith Godrèche, Samuel West, Jeanette Hain, Patrice Naiambana, Jonathan Firth, Armin Rohde, Eleonore Weisgerber, Hans Werner Meyer, Jennifer Ulrich, Francis Chouler, Micheal T. Dube, Ivan Idzik, Sean Cameron Michael , Sivuyile Ngesi

Respect life and respect everything that breathes. That is the philosophy of Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965), a German physician, Lutheran theologian, philosopher and musician who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1952. Born in Alsace (then still German territory), Schweitzer philosophized about culture and ethics and was a much sought-after musician for his studies and interpretation on organ and piano of the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. However, he was best known as a medical missionary for his development work in Africa. As early as 1915 he helped leprosy patients in penniless Gabon, where he set up a hospital with his wife Hélène. The German-produced film ‘Albert Schweitzer’ (2009) offers a glimpse into the life of Dr. Schweitzer, in the period just after the war. Jeroen Krabbé takes on the role of the famous doctor, Barbara Hershey portrays his wife.

Gabon, 1949. These are the heyday of the Cold War. Schweitzer’s life’s work, the leprosy hospital in Lambarene, is in danger of falling apart as the local government swallows too much money intended for the charity project in view of the independence struggle. Schweitzer and his wife decide to go to the United States to raise funds. However, America is under the spell of Communist fighter Senator Joseph McCarthy and his witch hunt against anyone he believes is guilty of “anti-American activity.” Schweitzer, like his friends Einstein and Oppenheimer, is against nuclear weapons. Einstein (Armin Rohde) asks his good friend to speak out openly against ‘the bomb’, but Schweitzer doubts whether he is doing the right thing. It can scare away a lot of lenders. Knowing that Einstein and Schweitzer are good friends, the communist fighters keep a close eye on the doctor. On his return to Africa, it appears that several outsiders are trying to discredit Schweitzer and his hospital, endangering the survival of the leprosy hospital. Jeroen Krabbé presents a convincing Albert Schweitzer, although his accent is not always accurate.

Director and screenwriter Gavin Millar has done well to cover only a fraction of Schweitzer’s long life. The discussions that the film sparks are still current. Even today, ‘respect for life’ is not always self-evident and idealists are thwarted by power-hungry and political games. In the wake of Krabbé, Barbara Hershey and Judith Godrèche (as photographer Thérèse Bourdin, who was brought in by the Schweitzers to take pictures for a promotional brochure) also play fine roles, but it is Krabbé who steals the show in the role of the slightly eccentric Schweitzer. Unfortunately, a subplot around a PR man with a double agenda, played by Samuel West, does not fully show itself, but does not detract from the story. Despite beautiful sets, sets and clothing, the film looks too much like a ‘made for TV’ film (although that is not the case). Unfortunately, the film doesn’t jump off the screen. Nevertheless, this is a very nice biopic about a fascinating phase in the life of Albert Schweitzer, whose philosophy of life is still rock solid.