Change Your Image
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Reviews
Die Siebtelbauern (1998)
Don't judge someone by the exterior; existence of class strugles in today's business world.
As I watched "Die Siebentelbauern", I was reminded of the film, "Gosfard Park", with its theme of class struggles among the "helpers" or servants and the upper class at that time. In both films, the moral of not judging another person by their position within society, such as if they are a cook or maid, but viewing them for their true personality, is something which can and should be applied to today's world. In terms of a "real world" application, one could view the abuse of a employee by their bose similiar to the kind of abuse, which occured between some servants and masters. Class struggles exist today, just in a different light-the work world.
Europa Europa (1990)
Common Expression of Oneself in Uncommon Societies
In the film, "Hitlerjunge Salomon", or "Europa,Europa", the character of Salomon is hiding from the Nazi's by, ironically, becoming a Nazi, as such, by masking himself as one. However, similar to the other youths in the "Hitlerjugendlichen", he seemingly wants to express himself and what he believes in, even if it is contrary to those beliefs of the Nazi Regime. By trying to repair his "Vorhaut" or foreskin, to hid the fact that he is Jewish, Salomon, as do the other youth in their own unique ways, try to adapt the Hitler Ways of the time, but utimately is forced by himself, more than that force of others around him, to be true to himself and admit his Jewish heritage. The notion of questioning one's place, within society, such as the Hitler Era of Germany, and as an individual, is something that allows a viewer of this movie to sympthaize with this Jew; more than just a numbered face in the masses of people.
Jakob der Lügner (1974)
Substitution of Someting Better than Reality
Exemplary Situations of life in a Jewish Ghetto, during the reign of Hitler's forces were very much present in "Jakob der Lügner". One such occurrence of how the Jews tried to deal with their new realities involved the substitution of thoughts about reality and the invading/controlling Nazi War machine in many of their lives, for other exciting and positive experiences, of which they tried to focus. Jakob tries to focus on such an experience, which occurred in his past, before he was forced to move to the Ghetto. He thinks of his former wife, and the happy times they spent together. Through his invention of the "radio broadcasts", he helps others living in the Ghetto to think of a reality, on which they can believe, due to its similarity with their wishes for their futures and even for their reality under Nazi control to be different than it was in reality.