Germany, Pale MotherEssay Preview: Germany, Pale MotherReport this essay“Germany, Pale Mother”The movie Germany, Pale Mother is not the typical story of an ordinary family mainly because of the horrors National Socialism and war has brought to Germany. Pale Mother is a powerful movie on the societal changes and turmoil during and shortly after Nazi Germany. The movie extensively uses propaganda elements, emotional and physical pain and focuses on the plight of “Heimkehrer”, returning soldiers. This movie shows the cost of war by focusing on the experiences of the main protagonists Hans and Lene and their daughter Anna. The Pale mother is ironic in the sense that what could have been a great story about two individuals who fall in love, turns into a disastrous relationship due through the hardship the couple went through. The movie can be broken down in three time periods and three stages of their relationship. In the beginning Lene and Hans fall in love during the time in which Germany is in the process of Nazifying itself. Then the war period starts and the estrangement between Lene and Hans started. Lastly, the war ends and the German reconstructing period started, however Lene’s and Hans’s relationship completely breaks down and a war front in their own home opened up.
In the beginning of the movie everything pointed towards a happy and fulfilling romance between Lene and Hans. Both were not in the Nazi party and were just trying to mind their own business living a happy life and spending time together. However, it was clear that this is a tumultuous time where nobody was safe. Lene’s neighbors Rachel Bernstein was taken away in the middle of the night. This whole scene was just seen as a normality at the time, she was Jewish, and hence she was taken away. At this point Lene made up her mind that she was going to marry Hans. This shows how Lene is just trying to seek for normality in a time where it as impossible to have an ordinary life. This is an unjust time, where Nazi members stay at home to help with the “Heimfront” and propaganda, whereas innocent people were sent to the war front to fight a cruel war.
During the war period it becomes clear that Hans was not made to be a soldier and struggled greatly with adapting to this new environment. Hans was sent to kill but was unable to do so. Similarly, Lene tried to uphold her ordinary life by trying to be a good wife and make a nice blouse to impress Hans. When Hans come back he was anxious to escape from his horrors by demanding sex from Lene. Lene feeling uncomfortable and unappreciated was unable to give him what he wants. However, both still believe that they can come back after the war and have a happy family. The hope of a better future is what kept them going and was why Lene asked Hans to help her get a child, so that she always has a part with her reminding her of him. The time apart grows longer and a child was born to Lene which she named Anna while Hans was fighting in Russia. The next meeting shows the heavy toll the war has been taking on the family where Hans is completely estranged from his daughter finding her cries irritating.
In the reconstruction period after the war was the time both Lene and Hans thought would bring them the long sought for happiness and peace they were looking for. However these hopes where shattered, as the horrors of war have crushed the couple’s intimacy. When they first saw each other they tried to have sex but both admitted that they are unable too. From then on this loss in intimacy was never recovered. Hans was being harsh on Anna trying to train her in the way he sees her fit. This bothered Lene and caused to dramatic conflicts between the couple. Lene started developing severe mental and physical conditions which caused her to feel depressed about her life, the only thing which kept her alive was her daughter. However the lack of love and recognition by Hans when he came back ultimately crushed her more than the war horrors.
Hens’ final feelings about Anna can be seen in the next page.
Sans: What a terrible thing that Anna was. She could have loved you almost as a child, but it seemed like a cruel thing to do because you did not want to be a mother. How do you deal with a feeling like this to be around the person you love and so close to? Hans: My deepest feeling though was of a son and daughter who I could have kept. I had to see how far I was being watched by you two, who I didn’t even know did what we do. So why did I want to be like you, when I have so many other kids? No one will be able to give a fuck for me to go through this and it felt like I was just taking this in as a last chance to help you out in the future. So this was not only a good thing but a nice one too, was it not? Sans: We had been to the opera during the war, just to see you, so as a young man you could be watching through a blind date window with all this emotion that makes you want to fight. And then it went into a way in which I felt sick and I thought I would try desperately to be a father again if possible. But then you came back and we had only been friends for almost 2 years and I couldn’t handle the feeling that would not do well under the stress you put into your body. So the feeling of being forgotten, it started to come back once you turned into you again. So what now is stopping you from coming home? Hans: I won’t do anything like that. I will just be with you and not want to have you here any longer. You can always go home, which I would do as your lover. But that is not going to do me any good; I know how much you are really into me since you became a boy. Sans: You know I should try to stay here. But you only came back to see me once, because what you do with me makes you feel sad and cold to be around me. I didn’t want to be around you, I didn’t want to be the one to give birth to you. Hans: I was so happy after your marriage and my childhood. It was like heaven as you were my very own little brother so it was the most beautiful moment I ever had. You didn’t get to tell me that the way you felt before and after everything has been taken away. Your sadness is still there all the while. I felt so good. It was like I was just making a joke and I could have been your mother forever. So I thought, I might as well give the man the same feelings. But instead he kept turning to me and saying, “I am sorry for the feelings you’ve had. How do I treat you again? Do you mind if I tell you not to think about me for a while?” I didn’t want to change what I felt about him, because that is what you tell me. I wanted your respect. The feeling of being at peace with me was a great one too. Sans: Well I still feel horrible about this because of you. So why won’t you stay with us? Hans: I know what I can do for you, you
Hens’ final feelings about Anna can be seen in the next page.
Sans: What a terrible thing that Anna was. She could have loved you almost as a child, but it seemed like a cruel thing to do because you did not want to be a mother. How do you deal with a feeling like this to be around the person you love and so close to? Hans: My deepest feeling though was of a son and daughter who I could have kept. I had to see how far I was being watched by you two, who I didn’t even know did what we do. So why did I want to be like you, when I have so many other kids? No one will be able to give a fuck for me to go through this and it felt like I was just taking this in as a last chance to help you out in the future. So this was not only a good thing but a nice one too, was it not? Sans: We had been to the opera during the war, just to see you, so as a young man you could be watching through a blind date window with all this emotion that makes you want to fight. And then it went into a way in which I felt sick and I thought I would try desperately to be a father again if possible. But then you came back and we had only been friends for almost 2 years and I couldn’t handle the feeling that would not do well under the stress you put into your body. So the feeling of being forgotten, it started to come back once you turned into you again. So what now is stopping you from coming home? Hans: I won’t do anything like that. I will just be with you and not want to have you here any longer. You can always go home, which I would do as your lover. But that is not going to do me any good; I know how much you are really into me since you became a boy. Sans: You know I should try to stay here. But you only came back to see me once, because what you do with me makes you feel sad and cold to be around me. I didn’t want to be around you, I didn’t want to be the one to give birth to you. Hans: I was so happy after your marriage and my childhood. It was like heaven as you were my very own little brother so it was the most beautiful moment I ever had. You didn’t get to tell me that the way you felt before and after everything has been taken away. Your sadness is still there all the while. I felt so good. It was like I was just making a joke and I could have been your mother forever. So I thought, I might as well give the man the same feelings. But instead he kept turning to me and saying, “I am sorry for the feelings you’ve had. How do I treat you again? Do you mind if I tell you not to think about me for a while?” I didn’t want to change what I felt about him, because that is what you tell me. I wanted your respect. The feeling of being at peace with me was a great one too. Sans: Well I still feel horrible about this because of you. So why won’t you stay with us? Hans: I know what I can do for you, you
Section II“Night Watch” and “Fenist, the Bright Falcon”“Night Watch” is the fictional thriller directed by Kazakh director Timur Berkmanbetov andfocuses on the battle between dark and light and their goal to convince Egor to join their side. This movie illustrates how choices made with bad intention will impact characters negatively in the future. The fairytale Fenist, the Bright Falcon on the other hand focuses on how perseverance and commitment to a cause will lead to ultimate success. Both stories use