Life is Beautiful - Night

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          Life is Beautiful and Night differ in many ways. But the theme of both are the same. Both Night and Life is Beautiful show the audience the horrors of the Holocaust. But the way the creator shows the theme is entirely different. Night takes a very explicit approach, by showing specific events of brutality and inhumane situations. While Life is Beautiful takes a very implicit approach.

          Life is Beautiful is a story of a man desperately trying to protect the ones that he loves. Guido, the main character, goes through such lengths to keep his son from being corrupted. He is always trying to keep his son smiling. Witnessing all of these events unfold, you begin to understand how horrible the Holocaust was. While watching Guido's course of actions, you start to notice what he is trying to protect his son from. The audience then begins to sympathize with the protagonist, Guido. He's sacrificing so many things, hurting himself in the process so that his family could stay alive and happy.

          Night gives a much more explicit version of the Holocaust. It shows you explicit events filled with explicit horror creating an explicit understanding of the Holocaust. It's explicit.
         The protagonist, Elie Wiesel, is an actual survivor of the Holocaust. Night is a true story. That book holds back in no way. It shows exactly what Elie has seen, which creates a drastically negative effect through it's direct showing of horror.

         Both the film and the book do have parts in common. A specific event occurred that caught my eye. In Life is Beautiful, the topic of children going into the furnace was introduced in somewhat of a light-hearted manner. Honestly, I found it more of an act of desperation by Guido. Guido tried to desperately hide his son, Joshua, from becoming corrupt so he couldn't let Joshua know something so inhumane. This created somewhat of a humorous atmosphere because Guido forced the atmosphere to become somewhat lighthearted. He lied to his son, making him believe that what he's saying is ridiculous.

          Night also had the same topic as the movie. Though, it was much, much more direct with it's horror. It literally told us that children were being thrown into a pit of fire. That clearly conveys it's message to the audience. That the concentration camps were inhumane.
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