Film Reflection

Europa Europa Reflection

Europa Europa, the true story of Solomon Perel and his experiences undercover as a German soldier, shows the brutal reality of the harsh conditions faced by Jews during World War Two. One aspect of this film that was impressive was the accuracy in which certain Jewish customs were depicted, such as the service given at a bris during a newborn baby’s circumcision and the certain decor around Perel’s childhood home. While the portrayal of minorities dealing with adversity was significantly relatable, the film’s overall theme of hiding your identity does not send a positive message to it’s audience. Perel showed many signs of lacking pride in his Jewish faith by not only denying his true Jewish identity, but also by helping German soldiers identify other Jews. While Solomon possibly felt pressured to succumb to the soldiers and follow their orders, he simply became an unlikable character in my eyes, which made it difficult for me to remain interested in caring about the struggles he faced throughout the film. On the other hand, there were several aspects of the film I found to create positive messages to the audience, such as the trust between Perel and the closeted gay soldier Robert. Their ability to keep each other’s secrets shows that Solomon is in fact a faithful friend who understands the importance of survival and preserving identity The film did an excellent job conveying brutal realism, such as the scene where the German soldiers lined up captives and checked their genitalia to see if they were circumcised and therefore Jews. The film juxtaposes that realism with the subsequent scene of Adolph Hitler and Joseph Stalin dancing with little boys and girls in an orphanage, which is an obvious example of formalist filmmaking. Overall I found the film to be entertaining, but I found some messages to be questionable.