Dangerous communist East German movies are still being released to this very day. Dangerous to Communism, I mean.

“While the GDR, we learn, has the lowest crime statistics in the world, Wolkenheim (literally Cloudland – suggesting a place that has no connection with reality), the town where Holms is stationed, boasts the lowest crime statistics in the GDR. Even the disappearance of a pet rabbit causes him excitement – he hopes it has been taken hostage – until he discovers it has merely escaped to a nearby lettuce patch. So, when Holms’ drinking acquaintance Pinkas hatches a plan to snatch a monument from the plinth in the main square and flog it to an antiques dealer, Holms seizes the opportunity to make his mark – and of course, discovers love in the process.”

This comic film (Hands Up Or I’ll Shoot), which gently mocks the premise that crime ceases to exist in a fully fledged communist state, was banned in 1966 by the regime’s thought police, who were unhappy with its ironic criticism of the system. It has now been dusted off and put on general release for the first time, to the delight of German cinemagoers – who have made much of the fact that this is the last remaining banned film from the old East Germany.

So what do you do now, German Intelligenzia? Nothing Quentin Tarantino does or says can do or say no wrong, right? But to call himself a fan of Nazi propaganda films, uh, isn’t that a little over the top? Even for him, I mean?

I understand the Leni Riefenstahl thing, although she’ll always stay caught between a rock and the hard place. But Joseph Goebbels? Whatever. Now at least I know why I’ve never liked his (Tarantino’s) films. Or the violence in them, I should say.

“Sie war die beste Regisseurin, die jemals lebte.“

PS: I just happened to be on the British Airways flight that he was on when he flew to Berlin last Sunday. Talk about a normal looking and talking and seeming-like dude. That should only make one all the more suspicious. Damn, what a name dropper I am, right?