How do the characters in Life Is Beautiful represent an engaging and unique presentation of the Holocaust experience?

• The love story between Guido and Dora
• It's from a Jews perspective
• The movie doesn't just jump into the holocaust part of the movie
• Joshua makes it very hard making Guido tell him the whole reason they are there is a game
• When Joshua doesn't want to take a shower because he is simply a child and has no reason not to want to. This is dramatic irony because we know that if he took the shower he would have been gassed 
• It's symbolic that Dora wears red as she gives up her rich future for her love of Guido who is poor
• Guido isn't a very serious person but treats everyone with respect
• Close up shots that help us connect to the characters more
• The qualities the characters have to help us feel emotion for them

There are many ways that the characters in Life Is Beautiful represent an engaging unique presentation of the Holocaust experience. Some of these characteristics include the movie not just jumping to the holocaust and concentration camps, qualities the characters have so that we can feel emotion for them and the dramatic irony throughout the movie.

One of the reasons why this movie is so successful is because it has a story line and main characters before they get taken to the concentration camp. It shows us how these people lived so innocently like everyone else but were treated different because they were Jews. The whole movie is about a love story between Guido and Dora their love does not change for each other no matter where they are. Their love starts back at home and is carried to the concentration camp pushing the book and the story. This is one example of why it is good that the story didn't just start at the concentration camp but in their home Italy as this ads another plot to the movie making it more tense and interesting to watch.

Another way the characters in life is beautiful represent an engaging unique presentation of the Holocaust experience is by the qualities these characters have. Guido the main character has many qualities that make us feel emotion for what he's doing and what is happening to him. No matter where he is he is always happy, out going, funny, loving and caring. The whole time while he is in the concentration camp with his son he pretends it is all a game. He is also funny about what he says where ever he is. The qualities he has draw us closer to him as a character and make us feel sad when he is shot. Joshua is an innocent little boy who has know idea what is going on and why he is in the concentration camp. Because of his young age and innocence this helps us feel for this cute little boy. In doing this we are again drawn close to him as a character and don't want to see him be killed.

In the movie there are many scenes showing of dramatic irony. This is when we know more than that character so we know what is going to happen to them or what could have happened to them. An example is when Joshua and Guido are in the concentration camps and Guido is sent off for work. Later Joshua comes running up to Guido and Guido says what are you doing here. Joshua replies by saying they wanted us to take a shower and I didn't want one so I ran away. All the viewers know that they aren't really showers but are gas chambers and if Joshua went there he would have been killed. The reason why it is ironic is because we as viewers know this and that Joshua's innocence as a child simply not wanting to do something saved his life.

These are all three major ways that the characters in Life Is Beautiful represent an engaging unique presentation of the Holocaust experience.

Life Is Beautiful Scene Depiction

1) In this scene one of the German soldiers needs someone to translate his German to Italian so they can understand what he is saying. Guido volunteers and makes everything up as he goes pretending to translate what the German soldier is saying. He pretends that the German is talking about a game so Joshua thinks that's why they are at the concentration camp.

2) The hero in this seen is Guido as he volunteers to translate even though he doesn't speak German this shows he is brave and courageous. The villains are the German soldiers who are keeping them in the concentration camp because they are Jews.

3) The villain connects to the audience as they are trying to show that they will discipline anyone that steps out of line will be punished. He also shouts at them while talking and uses angry hand gestures. The soldiers are also talking to them from a platform so they are trying to show dominance. Also their uniform compared to the Jews clothes is a very different and shows who is in charge. The hero draws the audiences attention as Guido is trying to be funny in what he is saying and also help Joshua so he thinks this is all for fun and is a game and not anything bad.

Life Is Beautiful Questions

1. What is a tragedy?

Something very bad and sad that has happened affecting others. 

2. How is Life is Beautiful a tragedy?

Joshua's father dies leaving him and his mother very sad. 

3.Could it also be a comedy?

Yes it could be a comedy but just have a very sad ending.

4.What is a villain? What is a hero? Give examples of each both from real life and from fiction.

A villain is a bad person how does evil things. A hero is a good person who does good things. In real life a villain could be someone who has committed a murder. A hero in real life could be someone who saves someones else's life. A villain in fiction would be the Joker in Batman. A hero in fiction is batman. 

5. Who are the villains and heroes?

In the movie villains are the Germans who run the concentration camps and who started and are fighting the war. The heroes in that movie are the people who won the war and the Jews who escaped from the concentration camp.

6. What value do each of these characters play in the movie? What role do they play in the plot? What role do they play in connecting the movie to history? What role do they play in evoking a reaction from the audience? (List the important characters in the movie and label them as either villains or heroes. Then, in dot points, list the important role they play in regards to plot, history, and to the audience.)

Name: Guido

Plot: He is a hero trying the save his son.

History: He plays the role of a Jew which creates one of the many stories of someone who dies for another loved one.

Audience: He is always funny and outgoing which engages the audience further into the movie causing them to feel emotions for him. 

Name: Joshua

Plot: He makes everything a little hard for his father in the concentration camp as his father tries to protect him and keep him safe and pretend everything that is happening there is a game. He then causes his father to pay the ultimate sacrifice which is his life.

History: He makes the history of many stories of fathers trying to protect their sons in the camps. 

Audience: He is a young innocent little boy who intrigues the audience as he thinks it is all a game and he is winning.

Name: Dora

Plot: She marry's Guido and goes the concentration camp with him and her son.

History: Guido dies trying to look for her so they can escape. 

Audience: She plays the role at the start of the movie of a young pretty lady who is flattered by Guido suddenly appearing.