“Inglourious Basterds” (2009) is a war film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino.
The film opens with one of its most iconic scenes: Colonel Hans Landa, a cunning and ruthless SS officer played by Christoph Waltz, arrives at a dairy farm in occupied France. Landa, known as the “Jew Hunter,” is searching for hidden Jewish families. Through a tense and masterfully written interrogation, Landa discovers the Jewish Dreyfus family hiding beneath the floorboards. Only the family’s teenage daughter, Shosanna, manages to escape.
The narrative then shifts to the “Basterds,” a group of Jewish-American soldiers led by the fierce and charismatic Lieutenant Aldo Raine, portrayed by Brad Pitt. The Basterds are on a mission to terrorize the Nazis, using guerrilla tactics to brutally kill and scalp German soldiers. Their ruthless methods earn them a fearsome reputation among the German ranks.
Shosanna, now living in Paris under the alias Emmanuelle Mimieux, runs a cinema and plots revenge against the Nazis who killed her family. Her plan gains momentum when the German war hero, Fredrick Zoller (Daniel Brรผhl), takes an interest in her and arranges for the premiere of his propaganda film to be held at her theater. This premiere is set to be attended by high-ranking Nazi officials, including Adolf Hitler.
Meanwhile, the British government hatches “Operation Kino,” a plot to assassinate the Nazi leadership at the same film premiere. They enlist the help of German actress and undercover agent Bridget von Hammersmark, played by Diane Kruger, and the Basterds. As the operation unfolds, it becomes clear that multiple parties have deadly intentions for the Nazis at the cinema.
Tarantino’s signature storytelling style is evident throughout the film, with its non-linear narrative, sharp dialogue, and suspenseful set pieces. The tension builds as the film interweaves the plans of Shosanna, the Basterds, and the British agents, leading to a fiery and explosive conclusion.
