Life is Beautiful

     While learning about the Holocaust in our new unit, going to the museum, and watching the movie Life is Beautiful, I have learned a lot about the tragedies the Jewish community (and others) have suffered from.  In the movie, it covers part of the Holocaust such as life in a concentration camp and actions that lead to them in the first place. The main character, Guido, is a Jewish Italian who falls in love with Dora, who is a rich Christian woman.  Together they have a child and live a happy life, until the Natzi's take them away to a concentration camp.

     The movie is similar to the actual Holocaust because they both portray which community is under attack which is the Jewish community.  The movie also hints at some actions made towards the Jews to mortify them or dehumanized them which actually did happen, this is shown when the uncle's horse is vandalized.  The movie also had references to the gas chambers and the people who were victims of it.  Lastly, the movie portrays the sacrifice people went through to save people and stay with their loved ones.  This is shown when the mom, Dora, decides to accompany her family on the concentration camp and the dad, Guido, does everything to save his child. 

     In the movie, to make it different, it adds hints of humor.  Humor is shown when the dad creates a 'game' in the concentration camp to follow, jokes around about people who are 'excited' in line, and jokes around about 'burning' people.  The father also has freedom to get away with certain things, like talking to the kids and playing music, which I don't think ever happened under the strict rules of the Natzi's. 

     Life is shown as beautiful throughout the film almost the entire time.  An example would be how two people of different religions fall in love, despite being judged, create a happy family together.  Another example would be of how dedicated and selfless the parents are to assure they are with their family and do everything in their power to keep eachother safe.  Life is beautiful especially for the little boy because it's his parents love and commitment that keep him alive.