I think the overarching theme of these films is the ability of humans to exercise or choose not to exercise their sense of humanity. An early scene in "Schindler's List" shows Schindler shaving and Goeth shaving. In the middle of their shiny bathrooms, removed from the horrors and indignities of Plaszow concentration camp, they are just two men; two men who are capable of great good and great evil, but at the base of it, who are just human.
On one hand their is Goeth. Goeth emphasizes his lack of humanity by his random executions. To him, the Jews are not human, he needs no provocation or reason to shoot them. They are not human, so why should he exercise his compassion? Even after Schindler talks to him about the meaning of power, he reverts quickly back to his old ways of mindless murder. Goeth has a soft spot for Helen, the Jewish woman he chooses to clean his villa. Although she is given special treatment, at one point he remembers what she is and in order for him to feel that he is her master, he attacks and possibly rapes her in the basement.
Schindler, in his swanky digs (that formerly belonged to a wealthy Jewish family) is sort of an anti-hero. He is a womanizing playboy type with apparently little regard for anything beyond his pocketbook. We are meant to understand that behind his thoroughly German facade, there is a kind and above all, a humane, man. This we see as he repeatedly gives up his valuables as bribes to secure the transfer of Jews from the camp to his factory. When the young Jewish woman and child present him with a birthday cake, his kiss immediately cracks the facade, for although he had been kissing all of the women present at the party, it is illegal and disgusting for him to kiss the Jewish woman who does not retain her sex in the camp.
Raoul Wallenberg, who appears at the beginning of the film in his dealings with the Swedish officials to be a quiet and withdrawn man becomes burdened with his sense of humanity when he sees the young boy thrown from the train and realizes what is going on around him. When the Swedish officials question his motives and reasons for putting himself at risk, he reacts with vehemence and insists that he must be the one to save the Hungarian Jews.
One scene in "Good Evening, Mr. Wallenberg" that struck me in its raw pain, was when the Jewish woman, Marja, whose daughters have already been wrested from her, states, "I want to be naked." She wants to be naked to show the SS guards that she is nothing if not human. She has arms and legs and breasts just like a Christian woman. This statement reminded me of Shylock's speech in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice which Goeth in "Schindler's List" also alludes to: "Hath not a Jew eyes...?"
Blending in is important in the Nazi regime, and for men like Oskar Schindler and Raoul Wallenberg to draw attention to themselves by helping the Jews is, in itself, an example of their extreme compassion and sense of right and wrong. They understand that what is going on around them is atrocious, and they are willing to attract trouble from the Nazi government if it means that fewer people will suffer and die.
Excellent opening statement. You have put your finger on the essential theme of each of the film. People make choices. Some made the choice to collude with oppression; some made the choice not to notice what was going on, and a few made the choice to fight the Nazis.
ReplyDeleteI like what you had to say about how it is a choice whether or not we show humanity. These two men were quite different people, though both acted on their sense that they had to do something to help. I think sometimes we judge Schindler too hardly because he is an anti-hero, but you are right and nevertheless he does care about these Jews or he wouldn't have helped them. I didn't realize it, but I wrote the same thing you wrote about Marja. It was a powerful moment in the film. She just wanted people to see Jews were human too and no different from others. I really want to explore this theme further when we talk about the Rwandan genocide because that was extreme form of separation between ethnic differences and neighbors killed other neighbors just because they were different.
ReplyDeleteI found it an excellent connection when you quoted the Merchant of Venice, "Hath not a Jew eyes?" to show the humanity of all - our common bond. I recently watched Nine Days that Changed the World. It was about Pope John Paul II's visit to Poland in 1979 and how he saw the humanity of all; and was there especially to encourage those being persecuted. It began speaking about the travesty of World War II. At the time the people of Poland were still being persecuted there by the Communist regime and showing the closing of the Catholic churches. In this study of the Holocaust, I have been intrigued by the different situations that people find themselves in and how they respond from their own unique life experiences. The authorities did not want John Paul II to visit for 2 days because it was at the time of an anniversary and they thought it would incite rebelliousness. So, the Pope agreed to visit at a later date for 9 days. It worked out better this way for he was able to inspire so many more people with his profound messages of faith, of human freedom and of hope in seemingly hopeless times. One third of the nation saw him in person and many more through the media. Like Schindler he was in a position that allowed him access to people and places that others would not have. Yet we also must remember many others in powerful positions that could respond to persecution never did. So he made the choice and took the risk to have his message heard. Unlike Wallenberg, though, he was a diplomat and had to follow certain protocols. But he had a way of getting through to the people and instilling them with hope and enlivening their spirits to realize that things can change, and in solidarity they can make things happen for good. And it did.
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