Revisiting the Holocaust in film

Having recently seen The Boy In The Striped Pajamas, the question, 'Seen any good films lately?' led to a conversation about representing the Holocaust in film.

My friend recalled enjoying Roberto Benigni's Life Is Beautiful. She appreciated that Benigni's character used his creativity to manipulate his son's imagination to buoy his son's spirit and deflect some of the horror that surrounded him.

I reflected on the fact that many people objected to the light-hearted handling of the Nazi nightmares visited upon its victims. The prospect of distracting his son from as much evil and cruelty as would surely envelope his life seemed totally preposterous, I have heard it argued.

I know many people who hardly consider seeing a film portrayal of the Holocaust. Among the objections - that It demeans the suffering of millions or that the horror is too much to contemplate. Similarly, this 'lite' retelling of the story was considered in that way not worthy of its subject.

It occurred to me that perhaps Benigni's original design by his gentle humor was not to fool his character's son but, in a way that many of his audience could cope with, to offer another opportunity to consider and reflect upon that, the ultimate manifestation of evil in the Twentieth Century.

In that way, I see films like Life Is Beautiful, The Boy In The Striped Pajamas, Schindler's List and others as prayers, reminding me of the rabbi's preamble preceding a mourner's Kaddish, that those who have passed before us shall not be forgotten.