Holocaust Unit: Key Question "Life is Beautiful"

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?  An event causing great suffering, destruction, and distress, such as a serious accident, crime, or natural catastrophe also a conflict that is overpowered.
2. How is Life is Beautiful a tragedy?  It shows a couple and child living a happy life in italy as Jews, when they are taken and worked in a concentration camp which was part of a huge tradgedy, the Holocaust.
3. Could it also be a comedy?  Yes, the movie at points expressed hints of humour. Guido despite what is happening he can make things funny.
4. What is a villain? What is a hero? What is a victim? Give examples of each both from real life and from fiction. A villain in most movies or books is portrayed by a person wanting to cause damage or discomfort to others. Hero is the opposite of a villain, a Victim is the person or group being damaged by the villain.
5. Who are the villains, victims and heroes? Villains-Germans Vitims-Jew Heroes-Guido
6. What value do each of these characters play in the movie? The background of Guido and the events that occur are important to show Guidos personality, therefore giving the movie more depth.
7.  What role do they play in the plot? Guido is basis of the movie and him being an inspirational character creates high interest.
8.  What role do they play in connecting the movie to history? What role do they play in evoking a reaction from the audience? Villains/There evil and shown as cold hearted Heroes/ (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.)

1. Guido Heroes
2. Dora  Heroes
3. Doctor Hero/Villain/Victim
4. Nazi SS/Villain
5. Joshua, (Guido's son)/Victim