Even though he and his wife initially take in Liesel for a government allowance, he quickly sees that she is heartbroken (over the loss of her family) and does everything he can to make her feel loved and welcome. It maintains that such simple actions change everything. And centrally, the film portends that even in the worst of times, there are good people who will give of themselves to help others. This story of average German citizens suffering under the heel of a vicious Nazi boot produces many positives messages. And as Liesel gets to know the Jewish man, she realizes that protecting him is really the only choice.įor there are some things you protect at any cost―life, friendship, love, honor and, yes, words. Max’s father had once saved Hans’ life, and so Papa was honor-bound to help the young, sickly refugee when he showed up in the dead of night, never mind the danger. Of course, soon enough, the dank basement was needed for another purpose. Papa Hans then created a homemade dictionary―painted right on the walls of the basement―where Liesel could write down all the new words she encountered. But the local bürgermeister’s wife, Frau Hermann, let Liesel secretly read the books in her late son’s personal library during weekly laundry deliveries. And she even gained access to a small library, a rather rare thing since book burnings are the order of the day. She made a good friend in Rudy, the boy next door. (Even though Liesel was pretty sure he knew more than he was saying.) He even struck a bargain with her: They would help each other learn to read. The kind Hans did help Liesel feel welcome. And little girls who like to read books aren’t faring very well. Her younger brother had just died and her Communist mother was rumored to be running for her life. When she first showed up at Hans and Rosa Hubermann’s front doorstep, she was but an illiterate 11-year-old with little hope. When Liesel stops to think about it, it’s amazing how far she’s come with life and books in just the last few years. She would read to him every day as he struggled to stay alive and make it through his sickness in that damp basement. There’s something about books, with all their stories and lessons, that maintain and buoy Liesel’s spirit. That’s what Max, the young Jewish man the Hubermanns keep hidden in the basement, tells Liesel one day.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |