I have been waiting for sometime now to see the movie Schindler's List, as it is considered an icon of Holocaust cinema. Good Evening, Mr. Wallenberg was the other film assigned. These films present characters that could be considered "Heros", but I look at them as regular people would made the decision to perform "heroic" deeds or actions. In the previous two films we saw characters that were simply determined to survive. John Halder and Max are in two different situations, as well as Schindler and Wallenberg. Halder a straight, German teacher and Max a gay socialite. However, with the onset of the war, they made the decision to survive regardless of the loss of family and loved ones. This was their choice, which can be looked upon as cowardly or pathetic. But due to the overwhelming circumstances, could we excuse their actions/decisions? I would say no simply because of the two men we learn of this week.
Oskar Schindler, a German business man, is the star of Schindler's List. This movie however seemed to be less about the actual plight and horror of the Jewish people and more about the glorification of this one man who saved a few lives. In reality, Oskar was a hard man with questionable motives. He saved the Jews by putting them to work in his factories. His actions were considered as heroic as he did save the lives of many Jews in Germany during the Holocaust. He even had the audacity to ask to be buried in Jerusalem "where his children are". Instead, he was buried on Mount Zion, the only member of the Nazi party to be treated in any such manner. Raoul Wallenberg was a Swedish diplomat who saved the lives of thousands of Jews from Nazi-occupied Hungary. He did this by remaining true to his beliefs and not straying from what he considered as his path. His work allowed for the salvation of many Jews during the war. He would have continued his efforts had he not disappeared after a meeting with the Russian Malinovsky.
Sorry this is late. I have been gone for the weekend. Geaux Tigers.
ReplyDelete"I look at them as regular people who made the decision to perform heroic deeds or actions." I agree with you. I do not believe either of these men had super-human powers or anything. I do think that their extraordinariness was at least partially due to their social and economic circumstances which afforded them an extraordinary amount of freedom and possibility in their lives. For instance, both men were from upper-class families, were well-educated and basically were at the top of the social totem pole. Although these factors aren’t mandatory for their kind of heroism and are also not consistent indicators of success, they can potentially provide for many freedoms, resources and social advantages that aren’t available to everyone. Also, both men lived the single life, not really bound to anyone or anything but themselves, or at least they didn’t seem to put anyone, like a spouse or child, before themselves. This level of freedom is impossible if one also wants to also be a good spouse and parent. Responsible only to themselves, they were extraordinarily free to pursue things and ideas that others who were juggling marriage, parenthood or other relationship-oriented roles simply couldn’t.
ReplyDeleteI do agree with the to men being "people who have done heroic deeds." However, I disagree with your view on Schindler. I think he did more than just have Jews work in his factory. In the film the survivors said they practically did nothing in the factory. They were actually fed with food! The Jew in his factory were given real clothing! Schindler did not have to treat the Jews this way when everyone else was treating them as subhumans/animals. Schindler gave the Jews hope and did not want them to feel afraid. Yes, he was just a man and not a superhero but he did do more than see to it that he had workers for his factory. Schindler risked his own life to see to it that the Jews on his list were cared for properly. I think it is important to note role in the lives of those survivors.
ReplyDeleteInteresting point about glorifying Schindler. Wallenberg's heroism was much more subtle and he wasn't quite so charismatic as Schindler. Schindler started out to make a profit off the Jews and ended up saving them to save his conscience. However, he did not continue to live a better moral life after the war, and he borrowed heavily from "his Jews."
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