Genghis Cohn

Genghis Cohn is a British production directed by Elijah Moshinsky that hit the screens in 1993. This comedy-drama is inspired by Romain Gary's novel "The Dance of Genghis Cohn". The film's main cast includes Antony Sher, Robert Lindsay, and Matthew Marsh, with each offering uniquely charismatic performances.

The movie kicks off in Paris, 1958. Here, Sher breathes life into the central character, Moishe Cohn, a flamboyant Jewish comedian who bears the eccentric guise of "Genghis Cohn." Moishe is a lively spirit, weaving laughs and delighting audience with his comedic persona. This peaceful existence, however, is disrupted when the brunt of World War II sweeps over the continent, bringing chaos and doom in its wake.

The story-line is made compelling by Moishe's ultimate encounter with a severe and stern Nazi officer named Schatz (played by Lindsay), who is committed to the fascist agenda. This confrontation ends disastrously for Moishe, but the plot thickens as it veers into areas of mystic Yiddish beliefs and a metaphysical exploration of conscience, guilt, and redemption.

Genghis Cohn blends elements of surreal comedy with the antiquity of Jewish mysticism. Schatz, having transitioned to the role of a police commissioner in a small Bavarian town, suddenly finds himself haunted by the ghost of his past in the form of Moishe's spirit, now intrusively present in his everyday life. This metaphysical resurrection of Moishe encapsulates the essence of the dybbuk – a concept from Jewish mythology of a restless spirit that clings onto a living person.

Moishe's spirit, infused with humor and wit, creates a topsy-turvy world for Schatz. The Nazi officer, who expected to escape accountability for his past sins, finds himself in an ironic twist of fate and becomes the audience to Moishe's comedic antics. The movie showcases these comedic interludes alongside a gradual personality transformation in Schatz under the influence of Genghis Cohn's presence.

Simultaneously, the plot also unfolds a series of peculiar murder cases in the town, handled by Inspector Zillich (portrayed by Marsh). These cases unfold into a mystery entwined with the metaphysical presence of the ghost, making it a hybrid comedy-murder mystery.

Genghis Cohn exhibits a somewhat disturbing intersection of real-life horrors of Nazism and whimsical comic elements. Moishe’s spirit, powerful in its humor and wit, serves as an unsettling reminder of past atrocities, embedding a strain of dark humor throughout the movie.

The presence of Jewish folklore, coupled with the haunting presence of Moishe's spirit, thoroughly challenges Schatz's search for normalcy in the post-war era. This constant cosmic intrusion into his life is symbolic of the narrative that it’s impossible to bury or deny the guilt and consequence of historically devastating events, such as the Holocaust.

There is also an exploration of diverse range of themes that include an underlying message of justice and retribution, wrapped in a supernatural cloak. The movie is not solely about a haunting, but also the ghost's – Genghis Cohn’s – journey from being seen as a victim to becoming a comic vigilante administering poetic justice.

The acting in the film is commendable. Sher's performance as the spiritually persistent comedian is both moving and hilarious. Lindsay offers a perfect contrast to Sher's bubbling charisma with his stoic representation of the guilt-ridden Schatz. Marsh, on the other hand, provides a layer of intrigue with his engaging portrayal of a police inspector, whirl-winding around the comedic mayhem.

Genghis Cohn is an unusual piece of cinema that churns comedy and intense drama into a whirlpool of entertainment. Wrapped in supernatural mysticism and historical backdrop, it's bound to appeal to viewers who appreciate a cosmic concoction of humor and the profound. The film serves not only as entertaining cinema but also as a symbolic narrative, echoing the significance of acknowledging and learning from the brutal chapters of human history.