monuments men

summary

In monuments men it is about a group of soldiers who love art and their job is to protect the artwork. They were all former art students and they have to overcome obstacles to become soldiers.  They all have to make major sacrifices 2 of them even will give there lives for the art.

 

Theme passion

Everyone in world war 2 was fighting because they had a passion. The monuments men were fighting because they loved art. They will stop at nothing to stop the art from being destroyed there passion is really fueled when Hitler says that he will destroy all the art if Germany falls.

 

Theme 2

Sacrifice

 

The men sacrifice a lot for the art. 2 of the men even give their life for the art. They also have to sacrifice there normal lives which many of them are artist so then they have to become soldiers and so they sacrifice there daily lives for the war. Their only goal is to save the art.

 

Theme 3Love

 

The movie has a lot of love in the movie a lot the men love the art that they fight for and even the president loves the art the men have a whole life they have children and wife’s but they will give there life for the art. They go into it saying that they will not give their lives for a pie of art but by the end two men have died trying to save the artwork.

 

Setting

 

It is set in mostly Germany. In Germany there is a lot of fear since it is set later in the war when it is pretty clear that Germany will lose so they have a lot of fear of what is to come but they are also kind of in a if we go down so does everything else which is why Hitler makes the act which says to destroy the art.

 

Would I recommend it to a friend

 

I would definitely recommend the movie to a friend because it has a good amount of action and drama and facts which helps to create an envirment which feels really real and helps me really feel like what world war 2 was like to be in even in Germany which is a view point you don’t normally get.

The Authorized Graphic Biography of Anne Frank

Biography of Anne Frank graphic novel
India Wrede

Theme one: Not everyone in Germany is bad.
When I at least think of Germany during the war all I think of is Nazis and Hitler. The people who protected everyone who was hiding in the annex could have chosen to give away their position at any time. But instead the made sure that everyone was safe for as long as they could.

Theme two: How awful the Nazis were.
This graphic novel gives you an overall perspective of what was going on. It had sections of what was happening durning WWii and the Nazis. Throughout the graphic novel it shows Hitlers rise to power so you see the Nazis taking over more and more. They did research on what it was like for Anne and her family and friends in the concentration camps. It showed how awful they were treated. For example, when they got out at a concentration camp they told me men to go into one line and the woman with small children to go into another. The woman with small children were told they had to take a shower and were put in the gas chambers. This graphic novel really gave you good information on what was happening in the concentration camps.

Theme three: Growing up and coming of age.
Anne was forced to grow up faster from having to deal with this tough situation. Throughout the graphic novel Anne does grow up. The story is set from before she was born to when she died so she matured through the book. She talks about kissing Peter and how her sister would never had done it. She writes about how she is maturing and how she is mature early. The story shows Anne growing up and the process of her going from a child to an adult.

According to the movie, what was the nature of life in London during WWII?
This graphic novel wasn’t set in London it was set in mostly Amsterdam. It gave you a perspective of what was really going on with the Nazis. It showed the Nazis rising to power and the Nazis taking away more rights for Jewish people.

What was your favorite scene? Why or why not?
I liked the whole first part of the book because of how happy everyone was. It was a little painful to read though because I knew what was going to happen to them at the end. I liked seeing Anne and her families life before the war.

Do you recommend the film to others? Why or why not? What did you like about the film? What did you not like about the film?
I would definitely recommend this graphic novel. It’s the Anne Frank authorized graphic biography. The author did research on her mother and fathers lives and what it was like after the war and in the concentration camp. It also has quotes from her diary. The illustrations are amazing. It gives you an overall perspective of what was going on during WWII.

The Sound of Music

The Sound of Music
India Wrede

Theme One: No matter what your class in society is you can still resist the Nazi’s.
Hitler was advancing on Austria. Lots of people we becoming Nazi’s there. Mr. Von Trapp was head of the Austrian navy. He was also very rich so the Nazi’s wanted him. You would assume that people would become Nazi’s to save themselves because it’s a lot safer to go along with it than loose everything. Captain Von Trapp had a lot to loose and he gave it all up to resist he Nazi’s.

Theme Two: People of all classes where affected by the war.
Lower classes are always effected by war. They have no choice. They are always forced into doing things. Captain Von Trapp had so much money that he had a choice. Usually you would assume that upper class aren’t really effected as much by the war. The Captain had a choice. He could have became a Nazi and kept his house and estate. He knew that if he joined other upper class people would follow him. His friend Max thought that because they were so rich that they wouldn’t even be effected that much by the war. Since Captain Von Trapp stuck to his morals he lost everything to stand up for what he believed in.

Theme Three: From the movie you can assume there is Religious resistance to the Nazi’s.
The Von Trapps escape to where Maria used to live as a nun. The Nuns rise to help media escape. They even sabotage the Nazi’s cars to help them escape. When the Nazi’s try and get into the Convent they treat the nuns with no respect. The Nuns helped the Von Trapps escaped. So this shows that there is religious resistance to the Nazi’s.

According to the movie, what was the nature of life in London during WWII?
The movie was set in Austria. Austria was becoming more and more occupied by Nazi’s. By the end of the movie they had closed the border.

What was your favorite scene? Why or why not?
My favorite scene is when they all sing at the competition at the end. When they have to sing to distract everyone to escape. I like how it shows that they’ve grown together. And how Max goes along with everything because I thought he always seemed a little sleazy to me but I liked how he helped everyone.

Do you recommend the film to others? Why or why not? What did you like about the film? What did you not like about the film?
Yes, I would definitely recommend The Sound of Music to others. It’s a classic. Little kids can watch it and enjoy it or enjoy it as an adult.

Goodnight Mr. Tom

Goodnight Mr. Tom
India Wrede

Theme One: The different ways people deal with the loss of loved ones durning the war.
Mr. Tom dealt with his wife and sons death by shutting people out, until William. He wouldn’t play his organ until William’s birthday. It was him starting to accept the loss. Mr. Tom explains to William that even if someone dies they’ll always be with you. Mr. Tom helps William with the loss of his friend and sister. William learning to ride his friends bike symbolized him letting his friends memory live on with him. William accepts his mothers death. He loves Tom and Tom loves him. He calls him, “Dad” at the end and this symbolizes him moving on from his mothers death. When Tom excepts William calling him, “Dad” it symbolizes him letting go of the loss of his son and opening himself to Willy.

Theme Two: Tom saved Willy in order to not loose another person.
Mr. Tom had lost his wife and child. He said that he was away when they both died from being sick. There was nothing Tom could do to stop it. When Willy left and Tom hadn’t heard from him in a while he knew something must be wrong. He fought to make sure Willy stayed with him. Since this time her could do something about Willy staying or leaving he did in order not to loose another loved one. That’s why he went so far as to kidnap him out of the hospital because Tom knew that Willy wasn’t being treated right there.

Theme Three: Moving on with life during the war.
Even though London was getting bombed they didn’t let it take a huge tole on their lives. Most of the people in the town didn’t let the war shake them. Everyone accepted that it wouldn’t do anything to freak out about it. Even when the teacher thought her husband was lost she didn’t let it affect her taking care of her child or anything like that.

According to the movie, what was the nature of life in London during WWII?
Since the movie was set in the country there wasn’t much bombing. When Mr. Tom went to London there was a bombing and a house was bombed. So as far as I saw London looked pretty bad but not extremely awful.

What was your favorite scene? Why or why not?
I liked the scene Mr. Tom taught Willy to write for the first time. It show Tom opening up to Willy. Also Willy was really afraid of Tom at fist because his mother was so awful to him that he thought that he would get beaten daily. So this act of kindness from Tom showed Willy that not everyone is going to be horrible to him.

Do you recommend the film to others? Why or why not? What did you like about the film? What did you not like about the film?
Yes, I do recommend this film. It showed what London was like in WWII but not to an extreme. It was really sweet and it showed the affect of war on people but it wasn’t too sad.

Saboteur

Saboteur
India Wrede

Standing up for what you believe in
Every person ca help with the war

Theme one: Standing up for what you believe is right thing to do.
Barry was wrongly accused of murder and sabotage. His face was all over the news papers and the police were looking for him everywhere. Even though the police said he was dangerous people still trusted him. Barry escapes to a blind mans home. The blind man knows he has handcuffs on and assumes who he is (he has been all over the radio). The blind man could tell that Barry was innocent and that he was wrongly accused. Barry also escapes into a circus car. The people can see he’s an innocent man so they help him hide from the police.

Theme two: Every person can help with the war.
When barrow as tripping to escape the police help from anyone was useful. Without the help from everyone in the circus, the blind man, and Pat. Barry never would have been able to stay alive. Even a truck driver ended up being the decider between escaping and being caught for Barry. The truck driver barley knew Barry but he knew the police was after him but he decided to help Barry and he contributed to helping Barry.

Theme three: The need for power can be what drives people to to to such great lengths for things.
Tobin, part of a Nazi sympathizer spy group was very rich. He had a comfortable life on a ranch. He seemed pretty happy and he didn’t want to do anything to mess it up. He thought it would be best to join the Nazis because he could keep his comfortable life style and maybe even gain more money and power. He said in the film that he wanted power and that he was after power. The need for power was one of the main factors that drove him to become a Nazi spay.

According to the movie, what was the nature of life in London during WWII?
The film was set in the U.S. People where coming together to support the war. The film was made in 1942 so the movie had messages that they wanted to portray during war times. Also to never be off your guard, that the enmity can always be near.

What was your favorite scene? Why or why not?
My favorite scene was when the blind man was playing the piano. It was clear that he found so much joy in playing it. I play the piano too so it was fun for me to see that.

Do you recommend the film to others? Why or why not? What did you like about the film? What did you not like about the film?
I would definitely recommend this film. Even though it’s in black and white and kinda old it was still really good. Not that I don’t like old movies but they aren’t usually my first choice. But there was suspense and action. The only thing I didn’t like was that the actors sometimes talked so fast I couldn’t understand them and at times it was a little hard to follow.

The Diary Of Anne Frank (Film)

The Diary of Anne Frank (film) is based on the book written by Anne Frank. It was her diary while her family and other people were hiding in the attic of her father’s office from the Nazis during WWII. They were hidden there for almost two years leading somewhat normal lives. They were found by Nazi police and all taken to concentration camps. Most of them died (including Anne). Her father survived the war and had her diary published. He died in 1980.

Theme 1: Coming of age

When the family moves into the attic (The Secret Annex) Anne is 13 years old. At the beginning of the film she talks about how her life is completely normal. She has friends, a loving family, and male admirers. She also talks about how she is no longer a child and wishes to be treated like an adult. When the family moves into the Secret Annex they begin to adjust to the changes. Throughout the story, Anne begins to talk about things like beginning to like boys, her developing body, urges to touch herself, and her period. She even asks her older sister, Margot, for one of her bras. In one scene she is standing in front of a mirror cupping her breasts in her hands. She is also crying. She also starts to argue with her parents more and more like many teenagers.

Theme 2: People take things for granted

When Anne gives Peter, the son of Anne’s father’s friend, a tour of the Annex she says that it makes her upset that she hasn’t been outside in so long. This shows how something seemingly normal can mean a lot. Later in the movie, a basket of strawberries is delivered to the Annex by a friend and the mood of the film goes up drastically. The music gets cheerier and the people get happier. Later, Anne begs to be able to light a candle for her room.mall lights are banned at night, but she begs because they hear people screaming and being rounded up in the streets.

Theme 3: Gender discrimination

During the film, Anne is constantly teased and fussed at about being a writer. The other family staying in the Annex are the main ones that tell her that reading and writing is bad. The mother says that she will never find love and be able to be a wife if she reads and writes. She says that writing is for men. The father says that no man wants an intellectual wife. No man wants an antisocial wife.

What was the nature of life in London in the movie?

The movie was set in Amsterdam during the time of the Nazis and at the start of the Holocaust. The Jews were very scared for their safety and everyone knew that bad times were ahead. Many Jews went missing and into hiding. At the start of the movie, Anne talks about how Jews aren’t aloud to eat in public places, go to parks, go to the movies, go to the pool, and many other things.

What was your favorite scene in the movie?

My favorite scene in the movie was when Anne was talking to Peter about why everyone hates Jews. She asks him what is wrong with being Jewish and why everyone hates them. She asks what the Jews did to be so bad. Peter responds by saying, “Your hair looks pretty today.” That is the moment that Anne realizes that Peter does not understand her and that the only thing that really does is her journal.

Would you recommend the movie to others?

Yes, I would. The movie is very informative and gives a more visual option than the book. The movie gives younger viewers a chance to see someone their age going through a really bad time. So many movies and books about WWII are through the eyes of adults.

Dow. Abb. Season Two Episode Four

Downton Abbey (Season Two, Episode Four) was set during WWI, but Greg gave me permission to watch it. Downton Abbey has become flooded with wounded soldiers staying there, and Matthew has gone missing in the war.

Theme One: Looking down on people

In this episode, one nurse says that she feels like she doesn’t get the respect that she deserves for working at Downton. She says that if she doesn’t get respect she will go to another place where she is valued. Later, the nurse talks to someone else. She thinks that people shouldn’t tell her how to do the job that she was trained for just because they are rich. She says that just because her employer is a countess, it doesn’t mean that she knows how to do her job. Also, people that live in Downton Abbey refer to the staff as if they are not humans.

Theme Two: Community

in the beginning of the episode, a ragged looking man shows up at one of the maid’s homes on the estate. He says that he used to work at a farm, but he lost his job. He asks the maid for food, and at first she says no. After awhile, she says yes and spares some food. The next day the man comes back with a friend, and after that she is running a full on soup kitchen. This shows how people understand bad times, and being surrounded by wealth and money it is awakening to see someone in need.

Theme Three: Multi-Class relationships

Sybil and one of the family’s chauffeurs have a somewhat romantic relationship. When Sybil’s sister finds out, she advises against it because he is not on the family’s financial level. The chauffeur insist in telling Sybil that she loves him but she isn’t sure. He asks her to run away with her and her sister is shocked. She says that it would be shameful to marry and start a family with one of the servants.

What was the nature of life in London according to the show?

Downton Abbey shows how times were tough for everyone. Even the wealthy families had problems like family going missing in the war. Other people had problems like no work or going hungry. Not everyone had money troubles, but everybody struggled in some way. Also, everyone was doing their part for the war effort. It could be feeding the hungry, opening your home to wounded soldiers, or fighting in the war.

What was your favorite scene?

My favorite scene in the episode was when the Crawley sisters sang to the soldiers to keep the spirits up. I liked this scene because it started off as just her singing, but it escalated and everyone was singing. It showed a sense of community and how everyone was together during the war.

Dow. Abb. Season Two Episode Three

Downton Abbey is set during WWI, but Greg gave me permission to use it. In Downton Abbey (Season Two, Episode Three) wounded soldiers arrive at Downton, and everyone is preparing for their arrival.

Theme One: Greed

When one nurse suggests that they turn the library into a recreational room for the soldiers, one person says, “Where are we to sit?” When the nurse says that they cans it in the small library, her facial expression says that she doesn’t want to share. Also, the family will only allow soldiers that are nearly well into the dining room at meals, because they don’t won’t to share with the wounded. Another character refuses to share the dining room with the soldiers.

Theme Two: Survivor’s guilt

One butler says, “Sometimes I feel like I’m the only one that knows what’s going on over there.” He is referring to the battles overseas. He says that the maids just sit around ironing clothes and choosing what’s for dinner while they’re over there getting blown to bits. He says how scared the soldiers are, and what they are being forced to do. He is guilty that he is safe while so many people are risking their lives for their country.

Theme Three: Pride

When the chauffeur applies for the British army he is turned down because of a heart murmur. He says that the only thing he is good at is humiliating the British army. This shows how he has pride for his country, and he is disappointment that he is not good enough to be a part of the effort. Also, Sybil says that she needs to protect her pride by helping out any way she can.

What was the nature of life in London according to the show?

Everyone was doing their part to help with the war. War was a community effort and people worked together, and did their part. People fought in the war and became nurses at hospitals, and took in wounded soldiers. Soldiers fighting are also very scared. One butler talks about what they are going through and what they are being forced to do.

What was your favorite scene?

My favorite scene in this episode was when the maids and butlers were having dinner. It was a short scene, but it showed the variation between how the family dines and how the servants dine. The plates and silverware were much less fancy, and the food itself looked not as good. The room in which they ate in was much less grand, and the table was much smaller. I also liked the scene when the soldiers arrived at Downton.

Would you recommend the show to others?

Yes, I would. The storyline is interesting and there is a lot of good drama. It keeps me entertained while being informative about family struggles during war time. I don’t know is I would recommend the show to small children. The plot can get scandalous and I have no idea if it would keep them entertained.

Downton Abbey Season Two Episode one

Downton Abbey is set during WWI, but Greg gave me permission to use it. In Downton Abbey (Season Two, Episode One) WWI has started and everyone is trying to play their part. It could be raising money or fighting in the war. Sybil begins to think that she is not doing her part for the war and starts working.

Theme One: Guilt of not being helpful

When Sybil learns that someone that she cares for has died in the war, she is upset that she is not helping as much as she wants to. She says, “I am wasting my life, while they are sacrificing theirs.” The family says that she is doing her part by selling programs and making money for the war, but she wants to do more. She is offered a job as an auxiliary nurse, but the family does not know if she is ready for that responsibility. She has never swept, cleaned, made her bed, or worked a day in her life. Sybil feels guilt and upset that people are dying for this effort while she sits comfortably and receiving bad news. She is also laughed at and joked about by the maids when she tries to help in the kitchen because she does not know how to fill a kettle, make tea, or just work.

Theme Two: Subservience

Ethel is a new maid at Downton, and she is not adjusting well to being a servant. When she is told to do a chore, she becomes rude. When the other cooks and maids are talking about what they are feeding to the family, Ethel thinks that she will be eating with the family. She says, “I’ve always wanted to try one of those.” All of the other maids laugh and say that they do not eat what the family eats. The other maids tell Ethel that they eat lamb stew.

Theme Three: Family Shame

When some members of the family find out that Sybil was trying to get cooking lessons and work around the house they couldn’t believe it. They were ashamed that someone in their family was sinking down to the level of a maid. They were ashamed that she was working at all. Sybil wasn’t ashamed about not having any skills what so ever. She tried her hardest and got lessons from the cooks.

What was the nature of life in London according to the show?

Life in London during the war had many down sides. Even though the family didn’t have to worry about money, they had family going to war and they had to play their part. They had to have fundraisers to make money and everyone was wanting to fight. Sybil wanted to help by actually doing work by helping out around the house.

What was your favorite scene?

My favorite scene in the show was at the beginning. It was a quick montage of wartime battle. People being shot, corpses, and men being carried away. I liked this scene because it showed the realness of the war and how bad battle is. It also caught my attention and drew me into the storyline.

Would you recommend this?

Yes, I would. The storyline is interesting and there is a lot of good drama. It keeps me entertained while being informative about family struggles during war time. I don’t know is I would recommend the show to small children. The plot can get scandalous and I have no idea if it would keep them entertained.

The Boy In The Striped Pajamas

The Boy in The Striped Pajamas is a 2008 historical dram film directed by Mark Herman. It was adapted from the book of the same name by John Boyne. In it, an eight year old boy named Bruno moves from his home in Berlin, to the countryside. His father is a leader in the Nazi army. One day, he sees a “farm” from his window. The farm actually turns out to be a Jewish work camp. When he befriends a Jewish boy in the camp, he starts to realize the true nature of his father’s work.

Theme 1: How innocence can help us through bad times
Bruno is an eight year old boy and his life was normal before moving to the countryside. He plays with his friends, toys, and has a rivalry with his older sister. When he see the “farm” from his bedroom window, he asks his mother, Elsa, about it. She tells him to stay away from the “farmers” because they are strange. The farm is actually a concentration camp, and the farmers are the Jews. By not knowing what the concentration camp actually was, Bruno’s innocence was preserved.

Theme 2: Everyone needs someone to talk to during bad times

Shmuel (the Jewish boy) is in the concentration camp and he says that he doesn’t have any friends there. He talks about how lonely he always is. When he meets Bruno, Shmuel starts to become happier and more upbeat. Bruno’s life is also lonely because he left all of his friends behind when he moved. His days always consist of tutoring and playing by himself. When he meets Shmuel, he isn’t lonely anymore and he has someone to talk to. Even though their problems were drastically different, they both needed someone.

Theme 3: Conformity

Bruno’s sister, Gretel, is a twelve years old. She is like most girls until she meets one of her father’s soldiers. Before she met him, she played with other girls and dolls. She starts to like him so she joins the Hitler youth group and puts her dolls away. In one scene she is shown hiding her dolls, and covering her walls in pictures of Hitler and propaganda posters. She conforms to the norm to get closer to this soldier that she likes. Gretel completely changes herself.

According to the movie, what was the nature of life in London?

The movie was set in Germany, and Bruno’s father is a high ranking person in the Nazi army. At first Elsa is supportive of her husband’s work, but as the war starts affecting her family more and more she becomes less supportive. This shows how people in Germany wanted to support the war effort, but it could be very dangerous.

What was your favorite scene?

My favorite scene in the movie was when Bruno and Shmuel go into the concentration camp together. Shmuel’s father has gone missing and Bruno has agreed to help him look for him. Shmuel has an extra pair of “pajamas” for Bruno and Bruno was able to get in by digging a hole under the fence. Bruno and Shmuel start their search for the father in the sleeping huts. A pair of Nazi soldiers start to round everyone in the huts up and line them up. At this point I had figured out what was about to happen. The soldiers marched Shmuel, Bruno, and the others to a large, brick building. They instruct everyone to take their jumpsuits off and go into the chamber. The crowd begins to worry, but one man says, “It’s just a shower! It’s just a shower.” The audience knows that it is not just a shower. It is a gas chamber. Both boys and everyone else can be assumed dead.

I liked this scene because the audience knew something that the characters didn’t. This scene also showed how cruel Nazis were to the Jews in the camp. Even children were not excused from death.

Would you recommend this film to others?

I would recommend this film to people depending on who they are. I don’t usually get emotional over movies, but I found myself needing to process the ending of the movie. I would not recommend this movie as something to watch with a younger sibling or relative.