The violinist...

They probably shot him up with adrenaline or amphetimines. He had passed out from the pain as a body defense and they just wanted him awake and aware during their line of questioning. This scene was shocking to me as it was obviously harsh. I knew the kid as an artist would have some symbolic death for the movie, like he would be shot in a round up on the streets but for him to be taken as a spy and not have the opportunity his mother found, the thought of that is devastating. They were force feeding him alcohol to keep him manageable and then torturing him till he passed out and then used the adrenaline and then water. No real knowledge or experience in these matters obviously but I've seen from other movies. It's possible the syringe could have been a truth serum as well or a substance that would let loose inhibitions, like the alcohol, but with the right upping or downing quality to have his attention and focus where they wanted. I've seen movies with torture like the good shepherd possibly and remember a Steven Segal movie, Above the law with a disturbing syringe scene, and plenty of horror movies, but because this was a World War Two movie and stuff like this happened, to young people as well, to see this scene was unexpected, And because of those two factors plus the obvious horror depicted, it could have ruined the movie for me. It did not however, and I've been inspired by the posts on here most notably the scholar who seems to reference a lot of history texts in clarifying history, the books behind the movie and the mission and also the gentleman who has family from the region and had relatives who lived through the war and was inspired by the bravery of the people to the point where it's hard to be afraid of things in his present because of the horrors and obstacles these people faced bravely and for their country and countrymen.

Also, why take the cyanide pull and shoot your self in the head at the same time?