Many people that are survivors of important events that take place in history write novels to re tell their experiences. Here we read and watch a film about a man named Wladyslaw Szpilman, whom was a survivor of the wrath of the Holocaust. In the book The Pianist, we have the man himself retelling the story word for word right of the horse’s mouth as we say. This of course is the best perspective to learn about ones experiences and accounts for what they went through. You are able to empathize with the character as if you are there with him only to a point. I do not like that in a book you cannot see exactly what is taking place. Szpilman does tell it like it is and tries to give as many descriptive words to allow the read to really see what is happening. Just in the beginning of his book, he speaks of the children whom smuggle goods all day long. Then the scene goes into one day how we see a little boy almost having his task complete without being caught. Then he is stuck and you can hear the Soldiers on the other side the wall he says. As I read, I try to see all this happening in my head, yet it is hard to do. This exact scene and others are best in movies you get the full understand and rush of is he going to make it or not. I’m a more visual person and prefer movies rather than books. I do however, believe that some films can and do chop up the actual events to receive better ratings and reviews for the audiences. When we watch the movie The Pianist, Polanski I think did a great job portraying the accounts that Szpilman endured through his long journey. One scene, that takes place in the movie, where Jews are seen as military types. They march in lines and follow commands of the SS soldiers, and then they stop marching, a few are called out of line and asked to lie on the ground. Once these very unlucky chosen ones lied down a SS soldier comes by and shoots them in the back of the head. Then the SS soldiers and rest of the Jews march on as if nothing just took place. I do not believe that reading the book you would be able to feel as much sympathy and heart ache for the ones who are killed. This gives you a firsthand seat and an in your face look at a few of the horrific acts taking place. Polanski, I do not believed doctored up this scene for movie purposes. This was an actual daily occurrence during the Nazi’s being in charge and gaining control. Again, as I watched this scene and others, I think how do they kill these random people and move on with their lives? How is this not affecting them? Why are they listening and carrying out these orders? All these and many other question will I’m sure go unanswered and/or asked for years to come.
The story of the boy is compellingly told by Szpilman. You need to cite a few more incidents to complete a picture of the man himself.
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ReplyDeleteHa, I looked at Wendi's comment right before I started writing mine and saw that she had written almost the same thing that I was going to say. Szpilman, being a talented musician wanted to give a raw first account on what had happened to him and how he saw the kindness of strangers through the thick of things. It is so raw that it is difficult to picture because he doesn't coat everything he writes with literary devices. He writes it was though he was speaking directly to you.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't matter how much we read or how many movies we watch about the Holocaust those same questions that you ask arise. But now we have gained some insight into why people can randomly choose someone to kill and how they live with it. Wiesel says much of it is indifference and that is what makes us inhuman. We have to care, as much as it hurts. We have to speak up, though we may not have all the answers. I suppose this class will have some obligation to be a voice for those that can't speak out, for those discriminated against. Even in our own small circles, our voice may lead others to think before randomly labeling someone. But even with all we have researched, inhumanity to man still doesn't make any sense and it shouldn't.
ReplyDelete“Jews are seen as military types”
ReplyDeleteI agree with this to an extent,. Yes, they do march around in military formation. Yes, they are at the will of the Nazi SS who are commanding them. However, I am at a crossroads when you go on to indicate how some unlucky few are taken out of the line and are shot. In a military unit, the main purpose is to stay together as a unit. The unit works together for one goal. The Jews do not have a goal that they are working towards. I can’t say that survival is even a goal, because the Jews had no idea what their destination was going to be while walking in those lines. Also, military is a human ideal. The act of killing is an inhuman thing. If they were in a sense of military unit, the SS would be working to preserve their unit for the SS goal. Sadly, the SS goal was elimination of the Jews. To take it down another level, if one associates the Jews to cattle, their treatment if inhumane as well. A cattle herder does his or her best to preserve the cattle for a future goal (money). Random selection out of line for assassination works against the human act of a military unit and the animal unit of cattle. Altogether, I’m not even sure there is a way to classify this human herding.