They say that history is written by the conquerors. In "A Woman In Berlin", one of the conquered reveals that she too, has a voice in history.
This short memoir documents 8 weeks in 1945 during and after the fall of Berlin to Allied forces. The author, Anonymous, documents in detail the conditions of Berlin's populace, the mass looting, and mass rape that occured. Even if we did not know Anonymous was an educated, well-traveled journalist, one can tell from her writing alone that she was intelligent as well as observant. While she insisted on staying anonymous for the publication of her book, her voice has become the voice of thousands of women. She is a survivor in every way, and remains hopeful to the end of her memoir. Even when her sweetheart rejects her diary and leaves her to join others who might be more sympathetic to him, she still remarks, "perhaps in the future we might be brought together again."
Recommended for history buffs and women everywhere.
Showing posts with label WWII. Show all posts
Showing posts with label WWII. Show all posts
Monday, October 30, 2006
Monday, October 23, 2006
Movie Review: Flags Of Our Fathers
I went to Flags Of Our Fathers this weekend, at the cushy new Del Amo 18 Cinema. I thoroughly enjoyed the movie, which I feel can base a lot of its "goodness" on Clint Eastwood's direction and score. Or rather we can just say that Clint is "'da Man" and leave it at that.
As a war film, Flags of Our Fathers doesn't glamorize or try to sell the idea of war as being good for the human race. While anti-war is a common theme in war films, Flags of Our Fathers also sympathizes with the Marine-on-the-ground, and reveres the good Marine who served in silence. Rarely does one see a movie that gives you both.
While there is one very funny practical joke that Mike Strank (played by Barry Pepper, of Saving Private Ryan fame - he makes a much better Marine) plays on a one unsuspecting fellow Marine, most of the humor comes from Ira Hayes (Adam Beach) irony and sarcasm at glorifying the simple job of doing what the flag-raisers were told, when "uncommon valor was a common virtue" at Iwo. I must also add that Adam Beach does a fantastic job as Ira Hayes, who was wracked with guilt that credit wasn't given to flag-raiser Harlon Block until after the bond drive and excitement over the flag-raising was over, and the fact a Marine he revered, Mike Strank, did not survive the battle.
A thumbs-up to Neal McDonough (who plays Captain Severence) as well. I've been a fan of his since seeing Band of Brothers.
Casting was wonderfully done, with actors looking like their real-life counterparts. I also really liked the cinematography in the film, with the color being almost washed out of the scenes from the battle.
While almost cliched, a creative shot that was particularly disturbing was a dessert (ice cream, baked alaska, meringue, ?) depicting the flag raisers being topped with a dark red strawberry sauce.
While some may say the film is hopelessly one-sided, I think the film does a great job within the scope of the story it tells - it's about the flag-raising and the aftermath thereof, and not the battle itself. Also, Clint Eastwood directed a second film, back-to-back with Flags of Our Fathers, regarding the Japanese version of the battle, entitled Letters from Iwo Jima (also Red Sun, Black Sand). You can see a combined Flags of Our Fathers/Letters from Iwo Jima trailer here. From the rumors, it looks like the movie will be in Japanese with English subtitles (Didn't I tell you that Eastwood was 'da Man?) and the source material is from letters the Japanese soldiers wrote home from Iwo. Expect that one next year.
As a war film, Flags of Our Fathers doesn't glamorize or try to sell the idea of war as being good for the human race. While anti-war is a common theme in war films, Flags of Our Fathers also sympathizes with the Marine-on-the-ground, and reveres the good Marine who served in silence. Rarely does one see a movie that gives you both.
While there is one very funny practical joke that Mike Strank (played by Barry Pepper, of Saving Private Ryan fame - he makes a much better Marine) plays on a one unsuspecting fellow Marine, most of the humor comes from Ira Hayes (Adam Beach) irony and sarcasm at glorifying the simple job of doing what the flag-raisers were told, when "uncommon valor was a common virtue" at Iwo. I must also add that Adam Beach does a fantastic job as Ira Hayes, who was wracked with guilt that credit wasn't given to flag-raiser Harlon Block until after the bond drive and excitement over the flag-raising was over, and the fact a Marine he revered, Mike Strank, did not survive the battle.
A thumbs-up to Neal McDonough (who plays Captain Severence) as well. I've been a fan of his since seeing Band of Brothers.
Casting was wonderfully done, with actors looking like their real-life counterparts. I also really liked the cinematography in the film, with the color being almost washed out of the scenes from the battle.
While almost cliched, a creative shot that was particularly disturbing was a dessert (ice cream, baked alaska, meringue, ?) depicting the flag raisers being topped with a dark red strawberry sauce.
While some may say the film is hopelessly one-sided, I think the film does a great job within the scope of the story it tells - it's about the flag-raising and the aftermath thereof, and not the battle itself. Also, Clint Eastwood directed a second film, back-to-back with Flags of Our Fathers, regarding the Japanese version of the battle, entitled Letters from Iwo Jima (also Red Sun, Black Sand). You can see a combined Flags of Our Fathers/Letters from Iwo Jima trailer here. From the rumors, it looks like the movie will be in Japanese with English subtitles (Didn't I tell you that Eastwood was 'da Man?) and the source material is from letters the Japanese soldiers wrote home from Iwo. Expect that one next year.
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