Prompt: Based on the Holocaust literature and poetry we have read, what connections can be made between Life is Beautiful and our reading? What events, scenes, or situations are similar or different? What is similar or different about the mood or tone of the pieces?
How is life shown as beautiful throughout the film. Pull out at least two examples from different parts of the film and explain your rationale.
After watching the film Life is Beautiful, I have noticed some things that are similar and different from the poems and the story, Night by Elie Weasel. It was also evident that the mood and tone of the pieces were very distinct from one another. This can be because of certain scenes, events, or the relationship between the characters in both pieces.
One of the things I find similar between Life is Beautiful and Night is the bond between the father and son. In fact, that character relationship played a major role in both the film and the story. However, it differs because the relationship between the father and son in the two works are not alike. It's as if they have their own special bond. For example, Elie and his father didn't exactly get along in the beginning, from what I interpreted. But in the film, Life is Beautiful Guido and his son had a great relationship. They were always together, and Guido did everything to protect his son. Also, towards the end of the book and the film, both of the fathers passed away. Although they were very sad and tragic, I think their deaths played a big part in the characters. It also effected the tone.
For example, towards the end of the film when Guido dies it's sad for a brief moment but then it changes into a cheerful tone when the camp is liberated and Joshua finally gets to be in a tank, thinking he won "the game". The music changes into more happy and celebratory than sappy and depressing. Then in the end it shows Joshua being reunited with his mother, and them hugging showing a more happy ending than in Night by Elie Weasel. In the story, Elie cries when his father dies, and the depressing tone lasts a little longer than in the film. Then again, Elie was well aware of everything, and he was much older than Joshua. Elie had gone through so much with his father and I think it had a different effect on him when his father deceased. Joshua didn't go through the same experiences. He still had his innocence, and wasn't fully aware of his surroundings.
Another similarity I've noticed is how the characters in both the film and the story were almost free. They were almost close to being free at an earlier time. For example, in Night Elie and his father could've been home already if they had stayed at the hospital a little longer. However, since that wasn't the case they weren't liberated and were still held captive, later on leading to Elie's father's death. Then in Life is Beautiful, Guido could've been set free with his son and the others. However, he wanted to leave as soon as possible and took action which led to his death. Then the next day the camp was liberated. It was as if these two characters both had their chances, but in the end it didn't work out for them.
For example, towards the end of the film when Guido dies it's sad for a brief moment but then it changes into a cheerful tone when the camp is liberated and Joshua finally gets to be in a tank, thinking he won "the game". The music changes into more happy and celebratory than sappy and depressing. Then in the end it shows Joshua being reunited with his mother, and them hugging showing a more happy ending than in Night by Elie Weasel. In the story, Elie cries when his father dies, and the depressing tone lasts a little longer than in the film. Then again, Elie was well aware of everything, and he was much older than Joshua. Elie had gone through so much with his father and I think it had a different effect on him when his father deceased. Joshua didn't go through the same experiences. He still had his innocence, and wasn't fully aware of his surroundings.
Another similarity I've noticed is how the characters in both the film and the story were almost free. They were almost close to being free at an earlier time. For example, in Night Elie and his father could've been home already if they had stayed at the hospital a little longer. However, since that wasn't the case they weren't liberated and were still held captive, later on leading to Elie's father's death. Then in Life is Beautiful, Guido could've been set free with his son and the others. However, he wanted to leave as soon as possible and took action which led to his death. Then the next day the camp was liberated. It was as if these two characters both had their chances, but in the end it didn't work out for them.
Life was beautiful in the sense that it provided something that everyone in one or another shape or form needs -- Hope. The movie showed the cruelty of life like the Holocaust and yet managed to shed some light and insight into the beauty of love and life in general by Guido's personality and his relationship between him and his family.
How is life beautiful?
ReplyDeleteLife was beautiful in the sense that it provided something that everyone in one or another shape or form needs -- Hope. The movie showed the cruelty of life like the Holocaust and yet managed to shed some light and insight into the beauty of love and life in general by Guido's personality and his relationship between him and his family.
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