THE BOOK THIEF
"If your eyes could speak what would they say?"
By Max in the Book Thief
Synopsis of the Book Thief
“The Book Thief” was directed by Brian Percival (best known for his directing of the British television series "Downtown Abbey")in Germany, Berlin as well as in the eastern city of Görlitz and the surrounding countryside. This movie was shot in 2013 and was then released in Australia on the 9th of January 2014. It is based on a 2005 New York Times best selling novel "The Book Thief" by Mark Zusak (an Australian of German-Austrian decent who is also known for his international bestseller "The Messenger") and examines Nazi Germany through a child's eyes. It is an English film with a couple of German and Hebrew words (which were always translated to English through the use of subtitles). It has a running time of 127 minutes and is rated PG-13 due to war violence and anti-semitism themes throughout the film. "The Book Thief" is narrated by Death (Roger Allam) and focuses on the journey of an illiterate young girl named Liesel Meminger (acted by a French-Canadian freshman, Sophie Nélisse) who was given up by her mother due to her Communist beliefs to live with a foster family. On the trip to the town death catches up to her brother and at his burial place Liesel steels a book which had been dropped on his grave titled "The Grave Digger". This is the turning point for Liesel's journey giving her strive to want to learn how to read. Her generous new father (played by Australian Geoffrey Rush), then begins to help Liesel learn how to read, which then helps her find her love for book to the point where she steals a smouldering copy of "The Invisible Man" by H.G Well during the towns Book Burning. Inspire the fact that Hans, continually forgave Liesel for all he misdoings, Rosa Huberman (Emily Watson), Hans wife was kept in the dark from it. Though, the film gains dramatic traction when a Jew (Max Vandenberg) gets hidden by the Huberman's due to a past promise that Hans made to protect him and him family. Liesel soon formed a close bond to Max (played by a charming, Ben Schnetzer) over their mutual love for book and reading. Though, once the Bürgermeinster's wife (Barbara Auer) allowed Liesel to read in her son's private library, Liesel had a burning passion to want to read and stayed in the house for a suspicious long time and when the Bürgermeinster discover her she was forced to leave and told to never come back. Though Liesel did not give up, and began to steal book from the library hence the title “Book Thief" which Rudy Steiner (acted by a captivating, Nico Liersch), best friend/crush from school gave to her. There were numerous obstacles that Liesel then faced throughout the movie leading to the tragic ending, where numerous of characters passed away. Leaving Liesel to live with the Bürgermeinster and his wife, though eventually reuniting with her best friend Max which helped Liesel find herself again and motivated her to become a writer and publish her stories for the world to read.
This quote represent Liesel's inner journey as it highlights how every book she read it would take her to place far from all the evil in the world.
This painting highlight the various different obstacle which Liesel had to face through her journey but also learning more about herself as day went on.
This image reflect Liesel's love for books as that is how she learned to talk as if her eyes could speak.
This quote represent Liesel's inner journey as it highlights how every book she read it would take her to place far from all the evil in the world.
Scene Diconstruction
Inner and physical challenges can result in the healthy development of an individual undertaking a journey, however, it is result of how these obstacles have been overcome and who has help the individual overcome these obstacles that will determine wheatear the individual is successful in it's journey. In the film The Book Thief, we delve into the journey of illiterate young girl, which eventually find her passion for books and years after becomes published writer. Throughout her journey, Liesel, encounter various inner obstacles which allow her to develop as an individual. One of these being her illiteracy, this is clearly noticed when Liesel is asked to write her name on the board, "Chalk. Board. Name", and is only able to write "XXX". As she did so many of her classmates laughed, though the close up of her writing on the board emphasises how she felt ashamed of not knowing how to write, and ready to give up, "I am running away", as she thinks she has no one to rely on or whom she can trust and ask from help from. It took time and patience from those supporting Liesel, to help her overcome this obstacle. This is reflected through, the sympathetic tone of Hans Huberman when he says, "I am not such a good reader myself, we will have to help each other out." Through this quote, we can see the glimmer of hope which Hans is trying to give Liesel in teaching her how to read, though most importantly we are able to see the effect of his support on the illiterate child and how her motivation (The grave Diggers Handbook) inspires her to want to learn how to read, helping her overcome this inner obstacle she has faced. As this challenge was slowly being overcome many others were encounters by Liesel. One of the ones which resulted in the positive development of Liesel was the unexpected arrival of Max, a German Jew on the run from the Nazi government. The secret arrival, challenges Liesel to be trusted by her new mother as she is sworn to secrecy, though the arrival of Max also allows Liesel to share their common love for books. This is effectively seen in the seen where Liesel tries to steal the book from Max as he is sleeping, with him only replying "You are a curious girl......." This melancholic tone, consolidates how Max's arrival was beneficial to Liesel journey as it gave Liesel someone to relate to as they were both hiding from Hitler, though it helped Liesel learn more about what was actually occurring in Germany and for her to develop a hatred towards the Führer of her country. Consequently, it is through her perseverance and passion for reading that LIesel was able to overcome various different inner obstacles which she faced, though the support from other played a major role in helping her achieve her goal to in learning how to read.
Concept of Journey in Scenes
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There are various different elements of a Journey in the Book Thief are:
Liesel develops a new understanding about self, others and/or the world around her as she creates bonds with various other characters but also when she discovers her love for books.
The type of journey which Liesel undertakes is an inner journey seen through her evolving relationship with Max but also because she greatly improves with her literacy and reading skills.
Liesel, throughout her journey had to face various obstacles and challanges, though one of the most important is when she had to overcome the grief of losing everyone she loved.
The movement to new place in Liesel's journey occurs when she arrives at Haven Street to the Huberman's house.
Liesel extends herself by pushing herself to learn how to read and also to improve her literacy.
The destination of Liesel's journey was leaning how to read and write but also publishing her works and overcoming her grief.
The motivation in Liesel's jounrey is finding the "Grave Diggers Handbook" on her brothers grave though not being able to read it.
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The consequences which Liesel had to face after her misdoings were that she had to begin to steal book from the Burgemeinsters house after she got dicovered.
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