A German Afternoon.

So, after fidgeting through my aunt's shelves and closets, I found a couple of films that I considered interesting enough to watch throughout the month. Considering all the rain that keeps interrupting my afternoons that is, of course. Therefore, I found two that were particularly interesting, one was "The Lives of Others", a 2006 film that I had wanted to watch for about two years now, and "Out of the Ashes", due to my undeniable weakness to the Holocaust.

"Out of the Ashes"

A reconstruction of the Auschwitz concentration camp during the Holocaust, coming from the voice of the Jewish doctor Gisella Perl. Based on a series of flashbacks, triggered by this woman's struggle to recover and remake her life in America after the war. From her childhood, to her success in Berlin, to the war, to her begging for citizenship in New York, we see the character of Giselle Perl transform constantly, showing the growth and response that is to be expected from these events. Christine Lahti as a lead actress is definitely pleasant to watch. She carries through the character of Dr. Perl beautifully, and definitely draws the film to herself making up for the lackluster performances of her peers. Fortunately enough she counts with a well structured script, that allows her to portray her character with depth and meaning.

Story wise, it is a refreshing perspective when it comes to the theme of the Holocaust. We are exhausted to see how the war affected Jews in films with a linear structure, however, this one from the very beginning has a turn, reflecting not only the Holocaust itself and this character's story in it, but her adaptation and her ways to move on as well. "Out of the Ashes" is a film that, makes us think about why we do the things we do and at what costs. The things we would do to save ourselves, and to save those around us. It is a delightful story on a harsh subject, that can be both enjoyable and reflective, and that most importantly, shows us humanity at its core.

 "The Lives of Others"

Probably the highlight of my week, this Academy Award winning film has much to offer for most audiences. Located on socialist Berlin during 1984, in a society repressed and controlled from all angles, a national securtiy worker whose job is to spy on possible threats to the nation is assigned the case of a young author known for his liberal mind.

During his constant observation, and the current events that happen in the lives of those he spies on, we find out dirt on almost everyone, but most important is, the change that this character goes through and his decision to support the rebellion against the nation. Throughout the story, this agent gets involved as much as the author and others from the liberal movement in the attempt to denounce some of the faults of the nation publicly. Eventually, he loses everything, all but the hope that someday democracy will also fall in their land.

In this film every detail is taken care of and it has a little bit for everyone. Those who fight for society, revolutions, rebellions, and love. Love is the main catalyst in this story and eventually the one responsable for it´s end. Ultimatelly, this is a treasure for German cinema and cinema in general, one of the best films I have seen this year.

There's no remedy for what's left unfixed.

      'All I’m asking for is the truth.' – I said peacefully, but driven. She would not look at my face, but I could see the excruciating pain that my glance put her through, as if I was piercing her with my eyes. I could see her lost stare wondering through every corner of the room, searching for an escape, but I wasn’t about to let her. –'So. It’s only up to one explanation. Why?'– And it was. Since after all, facts that happened where known, the consequences as well, reputations were already ruined, but the causes were never comprehended.

      See, I’m not the type of person that lives on everyone else’s face. On the contrary, I live for myself and try to be involved the least on other people’s lives. But I do live in and for the truth, always have, and always will. Still, not everyone understands that. She did not. Definitely. Proven. So we sat there, silent lingered as seconds passed by. I realized I had to change the attitude in order to get what I wanted, however, I didn’t want her to get the wrong idea.

      'All I want is your version of what happened. To hear things from you. I need to know your side of the story. All I’m asking for is some closure.' – I said, and I could hear my voice soften as I said those last few words. Then, her eyes finally rose meeting mine, and in a way, I started to feel peace. Her mouth opened, and words started to flow, until everything was said. It was finally over.

      Suddenly, it was morning. I woke up, and I checked my cell, found her name, and some ridiculous thing published on the web. Then I realized, it wasn’t over, the end had not even begun, all that clearance was a dream. And I came to the realization that, if after so many pushes people don’t give in, they never will, and they’re not worth it. It takes two to make a fight, and it takes two to fix it as well. There’s no remedy for what’s left unfixed.

                                                                                                    Live and Learn.