Movies About the Holocaust – What Movies About the Holocaust Can Tell Us
There are many movies about the Holocaust, such as "Sophie's Choice," "Schindler's List," "Life is Beautiful," and many others. While these films have a very important place, it's important for viewers to step back and examine them in the right light. As with any historic tragedy, filmmakers face a great challenge when covering the Holocaust. Films that are destined for movie theaters must be designed to entertain. This doesn't mean that they have to be upbeat or optimistic by any means, but it does mean that they have to be engaging and touching. To do this, some artistic liberties must be taken.
Many Holocaust films are not based on actual historical characters. Those that are, such as "Schindler's List," must still make some changes. The story needs to flow and fit into the allotted time. Viewers only have a couple hours to grasp everything that they need to know about the character, so some facts may be changed and historical events shuffled around to fit the allotted time frame. When you're viewing movies about the Holocaust, it's important that you keep these things in mind so you can watch through the appropriate lens of belief of disbelief. Not all events should be taken as complete fact.
This is not to say, however, that movies about the Holocaust have no historic value. Intriguing films play an important role in history by bringing the story of the Holocaust to viewers who may not learn about it any other way. Individuals who prefer to watch history rather than read about it, will get more satisfaction from a film or movie than from any book or report. Movies that take a bit of artistic allowance with the events are able to depict what life was like in cases where there were no actual video cameras around to provide an account.
If you're interested in glimpsing what life was like during the Holocaust, movies about this historical period will certainly give you a lot of food for thought. Keep in mind that movies made before the 90s tend to tone down the horrors of the period a good deal. Even today, films have to soften the realities of what happened. If you want a real look at what the Holocaust was like, there are many documentaries that contain actual footage of the concentration camps and Nazi activities. The truth is there for anyone interested in seeking it and seeing the Holocaust in the harsh light of reality.