Finding Visual Techniques - Life is Beautiful

key words/focus:
camera angle (low, high, eye-level), vectors, lighting, composition

(4:20) How are camera angles used when Joshua says 'Thank you' (not in German)? Which angles are used to view each of the characters? What does each of these angle signify?

(4:45) What shot distance and angle is used to show Guido's concern for Joshua when the German waiter leaves the room? Describe the composition)

(4:46) How is shot of Guido contrasted to the shot of the German waiter walking away to tell someone what has just happened? Describe the composition and compare it to the previous shot of a concerned Guido.

(5:02-05) How is the shot of the German's contrasted to that of Guido teaching the children to say 'Thank You'?

HW: How are visual techniques utilised to evoke empathy from the audience and clearly delineate (indicate) who are the heros, villains, and victims in this scene?

Words Matter!

Donald Duck in 'Der Fueherer's Face'

1. How are the Germans (and Japanese) portrayed in the opening sequence? How is irony created?
2. How is propaganda and the effect of propaganda portrayed with the introduction of Donald Duck?
3. How is irony continued into the breakfast scene?
4. How is Naxi Germany portrayed in the opening shot at 3:30?
5. What is ironic about the song lyrics regarding work and what is happening in the scene?
6. What does the conveyor belt portray regarding the lifestyle of Germans?
7. Why do you think that there aren't actually any people that force Donald to work? We only see the ends of bayonets and a speaker.
8. What is ironic about the vacation?
9. In the dream sequence, how are the Germans portrayed? Why?
10. What do the pajamas when we see Donald in his bed tell us?
11. What is the Statue of Liberty used to convey?
12. How is Hilter portrayed at the end of the film? What is it about his face that is important?
13. Why is this a representation of propaganda? Why is it actually ironic considering the way the Nazi's are portrayed?
14. Who are the villains, victims, and heroes?
15. How are the portrayed?
16. What can you conclude about how these characters are portrayed knowing that this was produced in 1943 USA? (write a short essay including a discussion of the director's use of film techniques.)

Heroes and Villains in Life is Beautiful

This is an important scene in the film when Guido and Giosue are introduced to the concentration camp.

1. Describe what is happening in this scene.
2. Who are the heroes and villains in this scene? Why are they heroes and villains?
3. For the hero/es and villain/s, describe techniques used in this shot which highlight their opposing role and how they connect with the audience.

HW: How do the characters in 'Life is Beautiful' represent an engaging and unique presentation of the Holocaust experience?

Holocaust Unit: Key Question and 'Life is Beautiful'

Key Question:

How are victims, villains and heroes of tragedy and trauma valued and given a voice?

We need to apply this key question to Life is Beautiful:

1. What is a tragedy?
2. How is Life is Beautiful a tragedy? 
3. Could it also be a comedy?
4. What is a villain? What is a hero? What is a victim? Give examples of each both from real life and from fiction.
5. Who are the villains, victims and heroes?
6. What value do each of these characters play in the movie? What role do they play in the plot? What role do they play in connecting the movie to history? What role do they play in evoking a reaction from the audience? (List the important characters in the movie and label them as either villains or heroes. Then, in dot points, list the important role they play in regards to plot, history, and to the audience.)