briskt

I don't know much about your field, but I can appreciate the fine quality of output that you have produced. I have noticed in my 50+ viewings of The Big Lebowski that in a couple of scenes there is a noticeable difference in volume between The Dude and the one he's talking to.

For instance, when he leaves The Big Lebowski's office for the first time and Brandt approaches him, Brandt's voice is sort of muffled. Also, when The Dude visits Maude and he's making a drink at the bar, talking to Maude while she putters around the room in the background, her voice has a muffled quality. This seemed pretty unique to me, as usually characters are at an equal level of volume and clarity, even when they are not in the closest proximity.

My question, is there a name for this technique, and why did you decide to use it?

To play devil's advocate, the Nazis were considered to be a very civilized first world type nation, with a highly advanced culture and academic sphere. That's not something that prevented the atrocities from occurring.