In the Holocaust unit we have done, we have read literature, poems, and watched a movie. We read the memoir Night by Elie Wiesel. This piece of literature was an eye-opener as to what actually happened in the concentration camps. It was also an eye-opener as to the things in life that we might take for granted. We also read several poems from Holocaust survivors that had hopes, dreams, and fears. These poems each were each interpreted differently by everyone, and affected everyone differently as well. We also watched a movie called "Life Is Beautiful". It told the story of a man that encounters many aspects as to how life is beautiful, but is then put in a concentration camp with his wife and son. Although he was placed in the concentration camp, the film was able to show how life is beautiful throughout the entire movie. Between these are connections between the literature we read and the movie we watched. There are many differences and similarities portrayed, in the means of point of view, mood/tone, and personal bonds.
The memoir Night and the movie "Life Is Beautiful" have different points of view that affect both pieces in a big way. The memoir showed us the point of view from an aware Jewish prisoner in a concentration camp. It showed all of the unbelievable events that occurred within the camps. It was a firsthand account and witness of hangings, death marches, and beatings. It also showed us how much someone can change emotionally, physically, and spiritually while being in that camp. The memoir went really into depth as to what Elie Wiesel was thinking and feeling. There was one point in the story where Elie states something that greatly shows his point of view at the time. He states, "Babies! Yes, I did see this, with my own eyes... children thrown into the flames" (32). The reader could be greatly impacted when reading this, especially knowing that this came from the point of view of a teenager. In the movie "Life Is Beautiful" there really is no point at which you are looking at the scenario in. It does however, focus on Guido and the things he does. Guido is a fun guy who likes to entertain people and make them laugh. When the film focuses more on him it gives the movie a somewhat positive tone, and brings a warm feeling to the reader.
The memoir and the movie also differ in the case of mood/tone. In the memoir, Elie Wiesel goes through many unimaginable scenes that bring a depressing mood/tone to the book. He explains seeing innocent children being horrifically treated in the camps. He states, "But the third rope was still moving: the child, too light, was still breathing... And so he remained for more than half an hour, lingering between life and death, writhing before our eyes" (65). The very fact that Wiesel, as a teenager, had to see this happen is depressing and insanely sad. The depressing mood/tone seems to be everlasting as Wiesel continues throughout the camp. Toward the end of the book, Wiesel was to participate in a death march. During the death march Wiesel had a great amount of both physical and emotion pain. He states, "The idea of dying, of ceasing to be, began to fascinate me" (86). This was the point when he becomes accepting to the idea of depression and death. The film "Life Is Beautiful" on the contrary had a somewhat sweet, humorous mood/tone. The sweet mood/tone was brought by the fact that Guido would do anything to make his family happy. He surprised his wife, Dora, anytime he could because he knew that made her happy. He said silly jokes and humorous gestures to make his son laugh. For example, he would march in a silly way while in the concentration camps to make his son laugh, and therefore be happy. The humorous mood/tone was brought by the fact that Guido was a fun and funny guy. He was able to make anything a joke, and turn any serious, sad situation into something positive. For example, he pretended to be a high official of the school just to get a chance to ask a teacher, his future wife, that was there on a date. When the principal told him to talk to the students about their superior race, Guido stood on a desk and began to take his clothes off as a joke.
While there were some major differences between the memoir and the movie, there was also a major similarity. That similarity was the father-son bond that was strongly portrayed throughout both pieces. Elie in the memoir, after seeing his mom and sister being immediately placed in another line without be able to say a proper goodbye, grew extremely close to his dad. He states, "My hand tightened its grip on my father. All I could think of was not to lose him" (30). His father was the only family he had left in his daily life. Wiesel tried to do everything in his power to keep his father alive, such as give him his food rations when he was sick. Wiesel also experienced s traumatic event where his father was almost mistaken for a dead corpse. He states, "And I started to hit him harder and harder. At last, my father half opened his eyes" (99). Wiesel needed his father alive. At one point that necessity was so strong, that it was the only reason why he was still trying to live. The father-son bond in the movie "Life is beautiful" was extremely strong as well. Guido did everything he could to keep his son, Joshua, alive. He made sure that Joshua stayed with him and was not sent to the crematorium with the elderly. Guido also made up a lie, telling his son that being put in that camp was a game. He protected his son from the truth, which at the time was a very hard thing to do. He was also able to hide Joshua and told him that he would gain points to win the game by doing so. Guido gave his food rations to Joshua as well.
Throughout the movie, there were several examples showing as to just how life was beautiful. One of the main examples was shown in the beginning of the movie when Guido falls in love. The joy of falling in love itself is a big indication that life was beautiful. The inside jokes, laughter, and love that Guido and Dora showed did indeed show that life was beautiful. The humor that was incorporated with the love was a symbol of a beautiful life and it could not get any better. The love and inside jokes were also portrayed while Guido and his family were in the concentration camp. Guido was able to get access to the song that was played at an opera that both Guido and Dora attended. He played that song as loud as he could out of the window, sending a message to Dora saying how he was still alive, missed her, and loved her. Another example of how life was shown as beautiful was through Guido's attitude during the concentration camp. It was beautiful to see how life in the concentration camp was able to be interpreted with a positive outlook. Guido was able to pass that positive outlook on the camp to his son though the so called "game". When Guido was walking away from his son after hiding him in a box, he was caught by an officer. Guilty made sure that his son's last memory with his father be positive. He wanted Joshua to remember the wink and the fearlessness he shown, even though deep down he was terrified. What Guido did to save his son was true beauty.
