La vita é bella

I choose to speak about my review: “Life is beautiful“, because I love this film and the soundtrack too.

“La vita è bella”

 

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Often compared with a fable, “La vita è bella”: (“Life is beautiful”), is a legendary film which transmits joy in the atrocity of the life during the Second World War.

This film is an Italian drama comedy, directed by Roberto Benigni, in 1997.

Roberto Benigni, (by) himself defines his film as a fable, a philosophic tale.

Based by the extermination camp “Auschwitz-Birkenau”, Roberto Benigni tells Guido’s story in 1938.

It’s a man full of gaiety, who dreams of opening a library, in spite of the fascist system, in Italy.

He falls in love with Dora, a teacher. Five years later, they have a son: Giosue.

But at this moment, the racial laws come into force, and because Guido is a Jew, father and son are transported.

In love, Dora decides to follow them in to the Nazi death camp, where Guido wants to avoid the horror for his son.

So he creates a parade. For that, he convinces his son that German camp’s occupations are in reality a game, which the goal is to win a real tank. So he changes and translates the speech from German to Italian.

The first part of the film is a succession of funny scenes. But adventures in the second part, are very touching and moving.

Without reveal the end, even the events happening, we give a hint of a smile…

The soundtrack realized by Nicola Piovani, contributes a lot to create a tale universe.

There are several themes in the film:  a principal (more frequently), one when there are love scenes (Guido is alone with his wife Dora), and the one of the death (when they are transported in the death camp).

Moreover, we can notice that the camps’ name is never quote. That give a strong impression that we are in the fable. Roberto Benigni doesn’t name places, which are in the film.

Scenes are shoot in Arewzzo, in central Italy, located in Tuscany.

So, from the beginning we are immersed in a melodious and cheerful decor.

Love, gaiety and laughter are combined by side, whereas, on the other side there are atrocities. We can almost forget that there is the war. (We can almost forget it was the war)

The main actor spreads the “joie de vivre” all around him. He smiles from the beginning until the end, during the good or difficult moments, and knows transmit us the smile.

The topic is very sensitive and tricky; it was a big bet (deal) for the director to tell about the implication of Italians in the Jew genocide, like a fable.

You should see “La vita è bella”, because Roberto Benigni, knows how to mix romance, tragedy and laughter.

Indeed, it’s the first half where the audience can laugh at the innocent humor of the director, although, the second part of the film is very terrible.

Even if, it’s a drama, Roberto Benigni creates comics moments.

It’ s a good and emotional film, tanks to the director sensibility. This film represents the human spirit in great adversity the horror.

The title is a very good choice, because Roberto Benigni makes a black image of the human nature, but at the same time, he wants to tell us that the hope exists and this hope makes us live, even strong moments.

Morality of this film is that we never forget: Life is beautiful!

Nothing better that the soundtrack of “The life is beautiful”.

Oskar Schindler: a hero despite appearances

In my journalism classe I must write a review about what I want. So I choose to speak about this man: Oskar Schindler.

 

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Oskar Scindler wasn’t an ordinary hero…

He fought for his convictions, and crimes against humanity.

He was a person who liked driking and partying : a womanizer. It was a man who liked to enjoy his life : a bon vivant.

Schindler seemed like a common person, but he was definitly more… it was an unordinary man.

Since his childhood, Schindler’s personality was very revolutionary. As a kid, his parents had some difficulties to keep him as they wanted. More he was growing, worse it was. Schindler’s wedding was the first prove of his behaviour : he took the decision to marry the young Emily, who was a farmer’s daughter, despite the fact both sides of the young couple families were very upset. Actually, Schindler’s family was owners, rich and Catholic, in spite of Emily’s family who was the farmer part, Protestant, and not as rich as the Schindler’s hoped for their son. In face to his youth, he was already out of the society.

After the family factory bankruptcy, Schindler wanted to conquer the world, nothing scares him. He was the symbol of fearless, bravery and fortitude. From 1939, and the Polish invasion, he understood there were opportunities to make money, with former Jewish owners of Cracovia industries. The German businessman didn’t want to be a salary, he had a project to have his own company. In the 1940’s, thanks to the Jewish collaboration, he inaugurated the Rektor Company, which was specialized in kitchen equipments. Due to his audacity, and his relations with the Nazi party, the factory one of the most powerful and productive during the Second World War : almost 16 million Reichmarks of benefits.

He was extremly determinated, and knew how to take advantages of his strenghts to help the lowers.

As he had the ability to pull a few strings, he was aware to manipulate German Nazi to maintain his company. Moreover, as he wanted money, he took the cheapest labor which was the Jewish. Anyway, this man who had a lot of good feelings, desired to keep « his » Jewish healthy and alive. All the ways were fine to succeed. After many bribes to the German, he could protect them from extermination camps, and particularly from torture and death. Thanks to his friendship with Amon Goeth who was the director of Plaszow camp, where Schindler’s salaries were held, he recieved favors from the authorities. The best example to illustrate his influence was when the decomission of Plaszow camp happened. Normaly, all the Jewish had to leave the place, and they were supposed to be divided in two camps, Gross Roden for the men and Auschwitz for the women. The fact was that this idea was unacceptable for Schindler, so he took the decision, still with pay-off and manipulations to start a new company in Tchechoslovaquia to save his salaries.

Hopefully, after few months, Berlin agreed. It was a victory for Schindler fierceness. After some troubles, all Schindler’s Jewish arrived in Tchechoslovaquia alive. In 1945, Schindler was ruined after all the bribes that he gave.  The last example to show that he believed in his convictions, was when, the last day of the war, he blackmailed the German army to permit that they wouldn’t have killed the Jewish salaries, that he already saved, in his factory. His influence was very important to maintain Jewish safe and far from the German oppression.

Few years ago, in 1993, Steven Spielberg decided to give a tribute to Oskar Schindler. After months of investigations and researches, to understand what was the German businessman personnality, he started the Schindler’s list shooting.

Why did he choose him : as the famous American director is Jewish, he felt very implicated in Holocauste history. Besides, he created a foundation for Holocauste memory preservation.  After that he rode the Schindler’s list book, which was writting by one of the « Schindler’s Jewish », he understood the necessity to tell to the whole world that hero story. It means, that even 50 years after the end of the war and the attempt from the nazi to exterminate Jewish people only for racial reasons, it was still important to Spielberg to show how the war transforms people. The point in this movie is to give hope in exposing a man who was able to do concessions to save live.

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Oskar Schindler was a symbol in the Second World War. Thanks to his devotion, he saved thousands people, and permit the continuation of many generations.

To illustrate this article nothing better than the soundtrack of the Schindler’s list, it’s a violin, and it’s very moving. When I listen this music I try to see images of the film, so I try to imagine one time the life at this moment…atrocious !

Christ Church Cathedral

The Cathedral is connected to Viking’s museum. The passage which met up the Church is so beautiful, there are nice stone steps, stained-glass.

In the world, the Christ Church Cathedral is perhaps less unknowing that Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, but for me it’s more beautiful. It is older than Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, but we can associate the both, because its exist since centuries.

First, when I arrive I see stained-glass windows.

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Colors are so wonderful and there is a delicacy in drawing. The most pretty is when the daylight passes through it. It’s magic, we can imagine many things.

What I like a lot in churches, and particularly into Christ Church, is the floor.

Mosaic is full of colors and drawing are very special. I love the brick red, it’s warm and diversity of forms.

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I appreciate too the roman architecture like into the Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, but It’s more lovely into the Christ Church.

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The church is very bright thanks to ceilings which are white and huge.

The Christ Church is known too due to its chorals.

So for me the most representative song is the song of “Les choristes” interpreted by children, it’s very moving and it expresses my emotion when I am in the Cathedral.

Saint Patrick’s Cathedral

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Funded in 1191, the Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, is the most famous of Dublin.

It is today the National Cathedral of the Church of Ireland (a church of the Anglican communion) and also serves as a popular tourist attraction in Ireland.

The most foreigner people know Saint patrick.

The architecture is ghotic. Ceilings and stained-glass windows are very high and there are lots of arches.

What I really like is the floor. The work of the mosaic is amazing. There are many colors and forms.

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Choirs are very popular and beautiful. Men and women are blend, and lead by a maestro. When I listen them, the emotion submerges me.

Wine Bar

Being a speciality of my country, I like so much the wine, and particularly red and white wine.

We discovered this week end the Olesya’s Wine Bar. It’s located on Exchequer Street, in South City Centre.

We can taste european, mediterranean food and tapas from eastern european.

You choose your cheese, vegetable or delicatessen plate.

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To accompany these excellent dishes, there are lots of kinds of wines from all the world.

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I don’t pick a Bordeaux wine because I know very well flavors. So I select an South African Wine: Merlot (2009).

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It was amazing. The taste explodes directly in mouth, and then it evaporates. The  smell of this wine is very particular, because it’s strong, whereas in mouth it’s very light.

It’s very interesting to compare different flavors which can exist. The wine can be fruity, floral, smooth, tannic, fresh… Each wine detains its own aroma.

The atmosphere is very pleasant. You share a good moment withe your family or friends while you can listen background sweet and jazzy music. Furthermore it’s sieved and this, makes the atmosphere very warm and friendly.

Decoration is simple but tasteful, with huge mirrors, lights hang on ceiling, bar on background.

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So if you want enjoy a good moment with a wine’s glass, you must go there !

For waiting this moment you can close your eyes and imagine with this music…

LIDL: the groceries road trip

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Each week, we have to go to a food shopping expedition. Actually, the nearest and cheapest, food shop is thirty minutes walk from Griffith College.

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It’s like a road trip, we have to take the suitcase and the back bag to be sure to have enough space to put all the groceries. It’s easier to transport the food and all the products that we need.

We can see that it’s very difficult to choose products when we are in the Lidl. Especially when we are both together because we have to be agree for what we need and what we enjoy the most. But fortunately my room mate is easy to leave with !

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After that we passed to the cashier, it’s an adventure to stow all the products in the suitcase !

I choose to put the Warner Bros Cartoons generic song because of the fast of the melody. It remains me the atmosphere of groceries road trip, always fast and effective.

The weather in Dublin…

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More frequently we can see those pictures and temperatures in the screen…

The climate in Dublin is very hard for people who come from south of France… When we see a ray of sunlight it’s magic for us.

For me, the weather influences a lot on the mood… It’s difficult to do things when the weather is really bad, when it’s snowing or raining… It’s boring.

And the most unpleasant is the very cold wind which comes from the North.

The most time it’s an adventure to go to the centre…

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Even an umbrella doesn’t resist…

Yann Tiersen’s song thought me to the rain, because the piano is like a rain which falls on the floor.