too many films about Nazi's
How many films do we have to watch about the Nazi's and concentration camps. There is one every year.
sharemmobini,
Perhaps it might occur to you that nobody "has" to watch them. One might as well ask why there are so many superhero films in a year, or whatever.
The superhero films don't serve a political purpose. These films do.
Maybe I should rephrase my statement:
how many films about this subject should be made?
Why dont we see big budget films, like this film, about the killings of innocent women and children in Gaza and West bank TODAY?
History is very important but it is not an excuse to forget what is happening today in our world in the consequence.
'How many films about this subject should be made?
Why dont we see big budget films, like this film, about the killings of innocent women and children in Gaza and West bank TODAY?'
How about a film about the killings of innocent women and children in Darfur today?
Well, it wasn't about Darfur, but how about HOTEL RWANDA? Or THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND? Or back a few years: THE KILLING FIELDS?
In the first place, this is a film that people have been trying to get made for a very long time, from a 1982 play that has been presented many times since and won a lot of awards. It's also a play about a subject that most people know at least a little about, and I think it is likelier to resonate with someone who has a minimal idea of the Holocaust. That is still a subject of major interest in the world, with many books written about it each year. It is still the most egregious incident of its kind, and took place in a world much closer to First World educated people today, than other, more recent atrocities. As most people know, it's easier to get people to empathise with those most like them, culturally and racially, and maybe even learn something (if it's not a liberal delusion that people actually do learn from history). It led up to the Second World War, which still has great meaning, especially to the older generation. One might say -- though I don't agree, myself -- that it was the Holocaust that made those newer atrocities thinkable, by those who perpetrated them.
In the second place, nothing prevents people from making films about those newer atrocities. It's not a zero-sum game. If the funding can be put together -- probably the most difficult part -- and good scripts can be written, then maybe they can be. But people make the films that interest them. Governments sometimes fund films they think people should be interested in, but someone always calls that sort of thing "propaganda," a dirty word. So if people are interested in making these films, then they will make them. Maybe they need encouragement, but complaining that films about the Nazis somehow crowd out films that might be made which are more "relevant" to current events, is to mistake the artistic process for private propaganda. The Nazi period carries with it a huge raft of metaphor and idea, which is important in making a film people will see and come away from thinking.
In the third place, the play is a work of art, and presumably the film is also. It isn't appropriate to criticize any work of art because it isn't about something other than its subject. Ask any artist.
'Maybe they need encouragement, but complaining that films about the Nazis somehow crowd out films that might be made which are more "relevant" to current events, is to mistake the artistic process for private propaganda. The Nazi period carries with it a huge raft of metaphor and idea, which is important in making a film people will see and come away from thinking.'
I totally agree with you. I was arguing with the other person, who said that more current events like the plight of the Palestinians should be addressed. I suggested what about the plight of the people in Darfur because in my opinion they are treated much worse than the Palestinians. I get upset when every time a movie about Jews being the victims is always criticized with people saying what about the way the Israeles (Jews in other words) treat the Palestinians - isn't it worse etc.
I think that one reason the principals were so interested in getting this film made is that there are larger lessons to be learned than just the details of how the Holocaust came about.
"Good" aims to examine the human failings that allowed the Nazis to achieve such power and commit such horrors--the same failings that result in failure to defend the nomadic peoples in Darfur.
That is, there are aspects of each situation--weapons used, ethnic traits, climate--that may differ, but how is it that acts that in retrospect can be plainly seen as EVIL are able to slip past people who would protest that they would never participate in something so dreadful, because they themselves are
good?
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Define big budget. How much money do you think was spent on this film?
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You have to be open to suffering a little
There is not enough nazi movies. You can never have too many.
share"How many films do we have to watch about the Nazi's and concentration camps. There is one every year."
How appropriate that this was post was on Sept. 11th. Valkyrie, Good, The Boy in the striped Pyjamas, Defiance....if anything, there are too few films.
NEVER FORGET. World War II was the most destructive time in mankind's history. Abominations, Genocides and terrible unspeakable things occurred. We are ethically compelled to revist these, especially now.
I only hope that we dont become too desensitized from this.
Good point, so on that basis, let's hope to see the same number of movies about the on-going poor living conditions of Palestinians and how they are being oppressed TODAY.
shareThe Palestinians are being oppressed because they brought it on THEM. Like the German people, the Palestinians are allowing Hammas (the Nazi-like government) to attack an established government. You cannot say "ALL Germans were Nazis" because some stood by and did nothing and say "only a few Palestinians are attacking Israel."
Until ALL Palestinians stop encouraging, some by overt action, others by inaction, entities like Hammas, they won't be freed.
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"UN into giving them a nation, that belonged to another people, based on bronze age mythology)"
And by religion, belonged to Jews...
"+ more of their land was taken from them in the Arab-Israeli war in the early 70's (West Bank and East Jeruslum)"
...Since some terrorists in Palestine are attacking Israel, who have to defend themselves...
"they have had to deal with constant blockades"
...Since some terrorists in Palestine are attacking Israel, who have to defend themselves...
"checkpoint in every cornor" [should be "corner."]
...Since some terrorists in Palestine are attacking Israel, who have to defend themselves...
"having their homes bulldozed etc etc."
Ditto, etc, etc.
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"bronze age mythology"
Mythology is no more valid argument than religion! Mythology is that: a myth! It may have happened but probably not.
Do not give me the "religion is not proof of ownership. Mythology is proof." That is pure hypocrisy. If both can establish ties to the region, they should stop fighting. But Arabs cannot accept the fact that Israelites do have a right to the area as well.
(1) The Holocaust didn't only target Jews.
(2) The injustices of history do not provide a free pass for the injustices (and prejudices) of today.
(3) The injustices of today do not nullify the necessity of understanding how the injustices of history occurred, regardless of which group is/was the victim and is/was the oppressor. In time they all amount to the same.
The really pathetic thing here is that an argument is being presented to suggest that as Israelis are aggressors now we shouldn't be sympathising with, or even acknowledging, their status of victims in the past.
That argument is just plain stupid and lazy.
More than anything it was that kind of blinkered, prejudiced, small-minded "they don't deserve my sympathy" kind of reasoning that gave Hitler power in the first place.
(1) I'm stunned that so many people don't realize that it wasn't just Jews who WERE targeted. Homosexuals - an issue which is still being fought over - Prop 8 in California, and christians who are still trying to push gays back into the closet because they're afraid allowing gay marriage will somehow screw up straight marriage (like marriage isn't already screwed up). Gypsies - France just expelled around 100 gypsies. Jehovah's Witnesses. The mentally ill. The physically disabled.
shareI think it's stunning -- but not unexpected -- that so many people know so little about any aspect of history. As Santayana said, "Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it."
Lots of folks quote that, but I wonder how many of them actually realize what it means in their personal existences?
An education is supposed to teach us these things, but most of my friends' kids (I don't have any myself) who have graduate degrees seem as clueless about history as any high school dropout. Worrisome.
"Israel has stolen land"
Wrong.
They were given it.
However, regardless, how the country was created is not relevant to solving the crisis of today.
We can't just expect millions of Jews to pack their bags and leave their homes. Nor can we expect the same of the Palestinians.
And?
Israelis are voting for a government that starves and drops bombs on civilians. Unless they stop doing that, terrorist acts will keep happening.
So how do you work forwards from that?
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EXACTLY!
Ronpaulfestival.org Tampa, FL August 24-26, Happy 77 Ron!