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 and Night both have stories of a father and son connection. In both instances the son is what keeps the father going and fighting for another day. Guido from Life Is Beautiful doesn't show the hard work and pain he has gone through, for the sake of his son, which keeps him strong. In Night the father doesn't hide the fact that he is getting old and taking a beating, but he continues to fight for his son. A large difference that I noticed between their bonds though, was the fact that in Night the relationship doesn't develop until they are separated from the rest of their family and only have each other. While in Life Is Beautiful Guido is already very protective and passionate about his son. For example when the sign on the shop says no Jews allowed, he makes up a lie to his son that you can keep anyone out. While Elie's father in Night wasn't really a big part of his life, he had other importances to deal with. Another difference is the ages of the two sons, one being 13 the other being a young child. Therefore Elie also had to work and struggle among his father, see the realities of the camp. The child in Life is Beautiful has no idea of what is going on because of Guido's ability to make a story and hide his child from reality. Finally the last similarity between the father-son connection is the fact that both fathers die, right before liberation. They both die without their sons knowing of it, but both have to move on.
The second big connection between both is that it shows their lives before the actual concentration camp itself. Both characters were living relatively happy lives, with passions of their own. Guido's being his passion towards his what would be wife and son. Elie having his whole religion concept. Yet the difference between the two characters is the way they treat their passions once they enter the camps. Elie begins to question god and by the end has completely gone against and forgotten it all. Guido on the other hand is still determined to contact his wife, which is dangerous but he still continues to do it.
The mood/tone for both stories is completely different. Although both leave you sad in a way at the end, the entire story is completely different in mood/tone. In Life is Beautiful the entire story has humor within it, even when some of the horrid things about the camps are mentioned. While in Night there is no humor, instead a dreadful mood. Guido the entire movie makes up things and games out of everything for his son, but its funny for the audience. Even after his father dies the audience laughs because of the arrival of a tank. Or when Guido jokes about wearing his prison-mates as his clothes. The audience realizes its a terrible thing, yet I feel its taken a bit more lightly because of the way Guido presents it all. On the contrast in Night its a story of the deprivation and painful journey. Since its actually a real story there is no humor, because in the camps no one laughed because of the state of everyone. The book of Night is more precise, therefor there is no added humor. While in Life is Beautiful the humor is added because there is also a story of family. This allows the writer to add humor because its not just a holocaust story.
I feel like the poem I had "It All Depends at How You Look at It" and Life is Beautiful are actually fairly similar in a few ways. In my poem it started off by saying the Terezin is full of beauty. Not because of what is in it, but because of what it makes us appreciate is the message I understood. In Life is Beautiful when in the camp he made a beautiful story because of the way he was able to keep his son safe and innocent, not because of the camp. Secondly in my poem the fact that the entire world is unfair makes the author and those in the camp feel a bit better. In the movie it is Guido's son that makes him feel better and continue to fight on.
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.
I felt in watching the film a second time, that there are instances throughout the entire movie where life in some way is beautiful. The way I saw life as beautiful was Guido's passion towards his wife and son. It's beautiful the troubles he goes through for his family and how much he risks to protect them. For example at the beginning when he shows up as the inspector its the start of a true passion. They are both always happy to see one another and Guido is determined to see her. I think you really see life is beautiful in the instance where she goes under the table and tells him to take her away. You see how happy he makes her and that she is willing to give up everything else. It shows how they felt about each other and that everything would be good when they were together. Finally I want to go to the end of the movie. We all know about how Guido protected his son throughout their time in the camp but the end really shows it all. Although Guido dies his son didn't bear any terrible, scarring memories from the camp and he is reunited with his mother. It shows that Guido did complete his goal and that life is beautiful because his son and wife are safe, which he would have been happy about.
I felt in watching the film a second time, that there are instances throughout the entire movie where life in some way is beautiful. The way I saw life as beautiful was Guido's passion towards his wife and son. It's beautiful the troubles he goes through for his family and how much he risks to protect them. For example at the beginning when he shows up as the inspector its the start of a true passion. They are both always happy to see one another and Guido is determined to see her. I think you really see life is beautiful in the instance where she goes under the table and tells him to take her away. You see how happy he makes her and that she is willing to give up everything else. It shows how they felt about each other and that everything would be good when they were together. Finally I want to go to the end of the movie. We all know about how Guido protected his son throughout their time in the camp but the end really shows it all. Although Guido dies his son didn't bear any terrible, scarring memories from the camp and he is reunited with his mother. It shows that Guido did complete his goal and that life is beautiful because his son and wife are safe, which he would have been happy about.
In your blog post I can tell that you were very organized by answering each question separately in depth such as the similarities/differences between the film and Night. I liked how you mention that Guido completed his goal of reuniting his family after the end of World War II. I was able to see that you analyzed your poem and the film in detail mentioning that Guido is able to fight on in the camps. Great Blog Post.
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