Thoughts on The Pianist (2002)

After watching the horror movie, The Pianist Szpilman running around the warzone, bullets racing after him, and escaping from flamethrowers, I had an uneasy feeling in the stomach.

I want to forget, as if none of this ever happened. Unfortunately, this is not a shock film, but part of world history. It showcases the madness brought on by war - the soldiers behave barbarically.

* 'Soldiers' are a bad word in the context of peace. It was philosophically addressed in God Emperor of Dune that Males generally could never fully appreciate the value of human life, as they can NEVER get pregnant, or witness the birth of life within themselves... Females are a better choice as they have an intrinsic ability to build rapport among the civillian populace. *

To demonstrate the Nazis' blatant disregard for human life: (1) a young Nazi officer executes Jews as they lay pinned face down on the floor one by one. (2) Nazis interrupt a family's last dinner in the Warsaw Ghetto, and subsequently kills all of them, lifting a wheelchair-bound grandparent over a balcony, shooting them as they run down the street. (3) A sealed train filled with screaming Jews departs to hell... luckily enough, they didn't show any Mass burial/ gas chamber, or I'm going to get sick. THE HORROR.

Apparently the Jews, as a minority race, could do nothing to stop their treatment. They had put up little resistance, as it was all too late.

I wonder if Asians can relate to this Western film? In WWII, closer to home, we have the Sook Ching Op. (Changi beach, Jap firing squad and the Chinese), but the Nazi Genocide was simply blown out of proportions.

I often wondered what happened in my early childhood, to make me inspired by war and action films. Probably by the little green toy soldier figures, 'GI Joe' cartoons, some action films, and playing computer games that are so-called 'Real-time strategy' or Counterstrike... Forget it boys, war is a terrible thing. Propaganda such as caricature portraying the enemies as 'evil', monsters or less than human, makes them more 'killable' and just spurs you on to commit evil acts that would give you nightmares (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) for the rest of your life. I think I'd understand why some people oppose war so much, to the extent of refusing to enlist in NS. When you take your position as sniper, would you even flinch as you pull the trigger? The sound of gunfire is probably the most sick/cruel noise in the world.

Perhaps I am fortunate enough to be born in peaceful times, but how peaceful can it get, when half the world lives in the fear of terrorism? A second Bali bombing... Well, it's hard to explain these things.

There has to be more sensibilities in our age, about the diverse cultures around the world. Maybe the treatment of Jews during WWII warrant the need for human rights in the modern world. These are the lessons that should be brought home from history. Probably, I could increase my understanding of these by watching 'Band of Brothers'.