I realise I ended up being a little lax with this post as many things were thrown my way when I began writing this. It was however very interesting to watch two very different films set during the Second World War in such quick succession. I would suggest that these two films are polar opposites of how to use war as the main theme for popular entertainment. So last time I gave a reasonably scathing review of Monuments Men, and I hope you will agree for good reasons. Today I would like to take you to the other end of the spectrum where we find The Book Thief. What this film does is bring you into the story with the characters and makes you feel everything they do. Perhaps a brief synopsis is needed.
Adapted from the book by Markus Zusak, The Book Thief starts in January 1939, shortly before Germany declares war on England, where a young girl (Liesel) and her brother are sent to live with in couple in Molching because their mother can no longer look after them. Interestingly the film is narrated by death and we see him take the life of Liesel's brother on the train on the way to Molching. At the beginning we find out that Liesel cannot read, and we see her develop a love of literature as the film progresses. Through this story, Liesel encounters different tropes of the Second World War. The persecution of the jews, the propaganda enforced in Germany and the effects of the War on civilians amongst others.
Reviews of The Book Thief have been rather underwhelming, as one Guardian review says 'it tries to blend heartwarming moral observation with ill-fitting metaphysical contrivance', whilst another writes 'It's a worryingly lenient and obtuse approach to history and historical evil, which are smothered in feelgood tragi-sentimental slush'. I would suggest that we need to remember first and foremost that this is meant as a piece of fiction as much as it is using the backdrop of the Second World War in Germany. Therefore the writer and the filmmakers have the opportunity to add resolution at the end of the film whilst adding tragedy throughout. It has also been compared unfavourably to two very influential stories/films regarding the Second World War - Schindler's List and The Diary of Anne Frank. Both masterpieces, it is difficult to better such incredible work and the effects they have on the emotions of the readers/viewers. I would say however that The Book Thief can be seen to work on a similar level in which we are made to feel highs and lows throughout the story and there is still some light at the end of the tunnel from such a horrific time in recent history, but perhaps the story doesn't feel as real to follow as its predecessors.
I would like to continue to compare it to Monuments Men. So why is it that we are compelled to feel so many emotions throughout this film that the viewer couldn't engage with in Monuments Men? MM feels very much like a lighthearted account of an obscure part of the War in which the effects on the populations under German rule at that time are particularly skirted over for this linear plot line. In The Book Thief, we are exposed to various parts of the effects of the Nazi regime on average people. We see the Hitler Youth, the persecution of the Jews, the censorship of knowledge and how the people reacted to these changes. Additionally, the filmmakers have created an atmosphere that almost physically puts you in the setting of this small German town, as you can feel the fear as the bombs are falling as they hide in the bomb shelters. The history itself does not feel as whimsical as it did in MM, it appears to be more researched, following the timeline very effectively throughout. Overall, we cannot amount this work to the likes of Anne Frank or Schindler, but as the public is becoming conscious one again of the World Wars, this film is playing on this public consciousness to bring in viewers and does so in a way that keeps them constantly on edge and feeling for the characters throughout.
