War is the most horrible thing to happen in this world and nobody deserves to experience it. In war’s most difficult times, the films enumerated below have lessons that serve as reminders of love, hope, and many more.
1. Life is Beautiful
Life is Beautiful shows the importance of love and optimism. Throughout the movie, the main character, Guido Orefice, displays his positive character and his love for his wife and son. Even though they are already in a concentration camp, he still manages to smile and assure his son that everything is alright. This movie makes one realize how perception and attitude can change things and reflect on the importance of valuing things that matter most in life: his family. His role as a loving father toward his son can be an inspiration to everyone — being a good example to people who look up to you and showing a positive attitude in a tough situation.
2. Schindler’s List
Schindler’s List emphasizes sacrifice and service to humanity. In a time of war, when most people are desperate and selfish, helping others in need is the most beautiful thing. Oskar Schindler, a wealthy German industrialist who sacrificed his money, time, and safety to save thousands of Jews from being deported to concentration camps by employing them in his enamel factory, has been thanked and honored with a ring that says “Whoever saves one life, saves the world entire”. This act of kindness is a reminder that when all is crumbled and ashen, a little help can paint the grass green.
3. The Pianist
The Pianist is a story of Władysław Szpilman, a famous Polish pianist, who carries determination and perseverance in himself. When the world is destroyed by war, the soul is destroyed by the mind. Self-destruction, fear, and grief, would seem to be the daily bread of those who are hopeless, until they are swallowed into the depths of the earth and become nothing. Everything is falling apart but Szpilman continues to breathe, to live, to survive. Though he faces a lot of difficult moments, he still continues to be alive — he even uses his talent to save himself! Later on, he recovers from the brutal blows of war and continues to pursue his love for classical music.
4. Grave of the Fireflies
Grave of the Fireflies is a film that focuses on the aftermath of the war that presents subtle hints about compassion and contentment. It uses the point of view of a teenager and his sister and that’s what makes this film more heartbreaking to watch. In a life where war is nonexistent and everything is easy and comfortable, it would be hard to relate to this film. When everything is already given, one might not have the chance to pause and contemplate about what life might have been. The characters suffer from great losses: family, food, and even their childhood, that’s why they teach us to be more loving and caring, and not to take things and the people we love for granted.
5. The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is a film that presents friendliness and innocence. The war makes everyone harsh and violent and in order to contrast the war’s horrifying nature, they use children to portray the film’s lessons. When a person is involved in something appalling, his innocence disappears and when this happens, chains of bad actions take place. Compassion will diminish as power and selfishness take over the human mind just as what happened to Bruno’s father. Shmuel, though trapped inside a concentration camp, still has the interest to talk to Bruno and be his friend. Discrimination and hatred do not really happen at a young age — only the loss of innocence is what makes people do bad. Bruno and Shmuel proves that no race, no status, not even an electric barbed wire can break their friendship, and that’s what people need to learn and apply today.
We don’t even know how strong we are until we are forced to bring that hidden strength forward. In times of tragedy, of war, of necessity, people do amazing things. The human capacity for survival and renewal is awesome.
—Isabelle Allende
thedreamer 