Talk:Life Is Beautiful

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[edit] Filming at Auschwitz

No scene was filmed in the concentration camp at Auschwitz in Poland. I have confirmed that by the direction of the museum. They everytime refused all films except some documents. Wulfstan 09:38, 31 October 2005 (UTC)

I saw a TV quiz a few years ago on Serbian TV "BK" with a question "In which recently-released movie does the greater part of the plot take place in Aushwitz?" The answer was "Life is Beautiful", but the man who came up with the question failed to take into account that the Aushwitz was liberated by the Soviets, not Americans, as shown in the movie (and never mind the mountains that look more like Italy than Poland). So the camp (in the movie plot) was definitely not Aushwitz.
-- Veljko Stevanovich 7. 12. 2005. 9:50 UTC+1

I am the main author of the thema of the Nazi camps in the Polish Wikipedia. I am also in very good relations with the direction of the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum. They have confirmed to me, that they were asked, but they refused the authorization to film a non-historical movie inside the ex-camp. Wulfstan 18:42, 2 January 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Misinterpretation

I do not think that this is true: "The misinterpretation, meant as humor, placed other captives in jeopardy under the gravest of circumstances." Right after Guido finishes his mistranslation, he tells the other captive, who is fluent in German, to tell all of the other men what the guards really said. In the end, they all learn the real rules and Guido maintains the facade for his son.

We can guess they learn the rules, but they don't show it in the film.--Rataube 22:56, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

In the English version, he tells a person to make sure to tell him the translation, so no guessing is needed.

[edit] Controversy: add heading?

A chapter on the controversy the film arised would be good...--Rataube 22:56, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

I agree (see my discussion: "...and outside of that the horror is not whitewashed"), based on my reading of Kobi Niv's book and my understanding of Italian Jewry during that period and practices in Nazi concentration camps overall.
As I'm insufficiently prepared to write the pertinent material, I'll watch this page and edit in due course. -- Deborahjay 00:13, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] "...and outside of that the horror is not whitewashed" -- Really?

Whichever editor wrote this remark in the article, I challenge it but seek corroboration before editing further.

According to Kobi Niv's book, "Life is Beautiful, but Not for Jews" (in the Hebrew original I read), the film scrupulously avoids onscreen depictions of the actual circumstances of concentration camps, e.g. starved and broken inmates, summary executions and corporal punishment frequently delivered in full view of other inmates rather than discreetly performed elsewhere (offscreen), and similar points. Is that not whitewashing?

I don't have access to the book's English edition for the purpose of citing passages. Would appreciate other editors' assistance here, in this or in adjusting the text of the article on this point (as noted in the heading of this discussion). --Deborahjay 00:04, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

  • The edit was recent, on 2006-05-20 19:07:01 by 71.146.133.208. As an IP Address, it is unlikely that they are watching this article. I've not (yet, although it's in my collection) watched the film yet, personally, so have nothing more to add at this time. — Estarriol talk 13:14, 15 June 2006 (UTC)
    • Further info, as reported on the NCHP - that IP user is famous for dodgy edits of historical articles. See User talk:71.146.133.208, and please consider removing the statement if you feel it isn't appropriate. — Estarriol talk 13:22, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

Done, as NPOV ("horror" being a subjective assessment in this unsupported statement). -- Deborahjay 07:48, 16 June 2006 (UTC)

Further to this, I'll translate the bio article on Kobi Niv into English to establish his credentials for English-language readers. I'll add a synopsis of his thesis to this article (preferably supplemented by Web-accessible critiques as external links), then develop that into a separate article on his book. -- Deborahjay 07:48, 16 June 2006 (UTC)

I realize now about the confusion that the "whitewash" term created. What I meant was that Life is Beautiful is not whitewashed (ie what I meant is that it was stripped down to the VERY bare hints of dark and violent content ALA Hogan's Heroes) but it was "bowdlerized" to make it suitable for a wider (though obviously not too wider) audience than say Schindler's List, for lack of a better term (aka it did not go into every nitty gritty detail about the horrors commited by the murderous thugs (and yes, I know that might offend some ex-concentration camp guards, but after everything that happened to those who were unfortunate enough to come under their power, I am FAR beyond caring)in the concentration camps, but it is shown prominently enough so that anyone with base knowledge of the holocaust and a healthy amount of common sense knows EXACTLY what the sick rats are doing.) Again, I am sorry about the confusion caused, but it was DEFINITLY a lot more viewer-friendly than Schindler's List, though it is also not a happy-happy joy joy like Hogan's Heroes, and I find it strange that the criticisim claims that it "whitewashes" the holocaust, when it is obvious about the utter depradation it portrays. Again, sorry for the confusuion, and do what you wish with the add-on.ELV

Comparison to Stalag 17, which Hogan's Heroes stole from, might be more pertinent. Stalag 17 is much darker. And since Life is Beautiful claims to be a fable, I don't see a reason for criticizing that it is not more of a documentary. Oh, and just to be clear, Stalag 17 (and Hogan's Heroes) are about life in a POW camp, not a concentration camp, and in Stalag 17, POWs are shown being shot for trying to escape, the lead is not beloved by those in his barracks but is beaten up by them because he is accused of being a snitch, a character is so haunted by the horrors of the war that he is silent throughout the whole movie, etc. The TV show is very different (even Sergeant Schultz is shown as having a sense of humor and being amused by the jokes played on him, rather than as a mindless dolt in the TV show).

[edit] Wonderful...! Ironic...!

My name is Veronika Swanti. I once did a play performance of Life is Beautiful. It became the best performance in my university. Thank you for the story. We are so inspired by this. We know that life is so beautiful and full color, though the color is black. If you want to see the copy of video, please send me an e-mail at phero_2109@yahoo.com Yours,

Swanti

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