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?
Life is Beautiful is sort of different from other Holocaust films and stories we have seen/read. This is because Life is Beautiful has an overall more uplifting and happy mood and tone. There are many parts where we are laughing at the way Guido is behaving. Guido is one of the main characters and he views the whole situation differently than everyone else. Guido is trying to make sure that his son, Joshua is safe and doesn't know what is happening. By doing so, he keeps a smile on his face and turns this into a "game". No one else thought of being in a concentration camp as a game. Thats one reason why the mood/tone is different from other films and books. For example, in the book Night by Elie Weisel, there was a depressing mood and tone. It was depressing because the Jews were being sent to concentration camps and Elie's father was sick. There was really no way to make that seem better than it was. Guido had an interesting way of viewing things and making them seem better than they were.
The mood and tone isn't the only difference in Life is Beautiful and other movie/books. Another difference that I noticed was the relationship between Guido and his family. He was so connected with his son and wife and tried to see her in the concentration camp. Guido had the courage and bravery to let his wife know if and his son were ok. This was sort of shocking though because I would think he would have gotten caught. Was this even possible? The fact that they had the chance to sneak into headquarters and speak on the intercom surprised me a bit.
Some of the similarities that Life is Beautiful has to other books/movies is the events. In a lot of movies/books about the holocaust, the father usually passes away before liberation due to putting their child's needs first. In the memoir Night, by Elie Weisel, Elie is only fifteen and his father wants to make sure he is stays alive and safe. Elie's father ends up getting weak and ill. He can no longer go on and eventually passes away. Something similar happens in the movie. Guido tried to protect his son and make sure he wasn't taken to the showers or found. Guido was killed when he went to go look for his wife. Although they weren't killed the same way, it is very similar because they died out of trying to protect the ones they loved.
Another similarity is the bond between father and son. In Life is Beautiful, Guido and his son Joshua were very close and Guido did everything he could to protect him. He made sure that he stayed safe and that he was healthy. This is just like Elie Weisel and his father in Night. In Night, Elie's gave his father his food when he was sick. He wanted his father to stay alive and stay healthy. Elie would give his father bread and his soup. In Life is Beautiful, Guido gave Joshua his bread to make sure he wasn't too hungry. In these two Holocaust books/films, we can see that family bonds is a common theme.
The mood and tone isn't the only difference in Life is Beautiful and other movie/books. Another difference that I noticed was the relationship between Guido and his family. He was so connected with his son and wife and tried to see her in the concentration camp. Guido had the courage and bravery to let his wife know if and his son were ok. This was sort of shocking though because I would think he would have gotten caught. Was this even possible? The fact that they had the chance to sneak into headquarters and speak on the intercom surprised me a bit.
Some of the similarities that Life is Beautiful has to other books/movies is the events. In a lot of movies/books about the holocaust, the father usually passes away before liberation due to putting their child's needs first. In the memoir Night, by Elie Weisel, Elie is only fifteen and his father wants to make sure he is stays alive and safe. Elie's father ends up getting weak and ill. He can no longer go on and eventually passes away. Something similar happens in the movie. Guido tried to protect his son and make sure he wasn't taken to the showers or found. Guido was killed when he went to go look for his wife. Although they weren't killed the same way, it is very similar because they died out of trying to protect the ones they loved.
Another similarity is the bond between father and son. In Life is Beautiful, Guido and his son Joshua were very close and Guido did everything he could to protect him. He made sure that he stayed safe and that he was healthy. This is just like Elie Weisel and his father in Night. In Night, Elie's gave his father his food when he was sick. He wanted his father to stay alive and stay healthy. Elie would give his father bread and his soup. In Life is Beautiful, Guido gave Joshua his bread to make sure he wasn't too hungry. In these two Holocaust books/films, we can see that family bonds is a common theme.
Gianna,
ReplyDeleteNice connections that you made between the movie and other works like Night! I liked how you focused a lot on father son bonding. Great blog!
How is life beautiful?
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