Detail- What type of Significance within Significance to the

shit is used? Describe the film- What does viewer- What

what we can see. the detail indicate thoughts does it
about what is make us think about?
happening? What How does it make us
does the detail tell us feel?
about what is
happening?
Establishing shot- This shot shows us The thoughts that are
The director has used that the town is not provoked are that life
an establishing shot yet affected by the still is beautiful. The
to show the audience war or Nazi Germany. feelings that are
that the scene is set If it had been under evoked are of
in a time of peace. control, then we happiness.
The shot includes would most likely see
Guido, Dora and a range of swastikas
Joshua riding through around the town
the town square. square.
This shot is a mid This shot is The thoughts that are
shot. The mid shot significant to the film provoked are that
shows Joshua reading because it shows us Joshua and Guido are
the sign in a cake the time period. The discriminated against
shop. The sign says time period is because of their
“No Dogs or Jews between 1936 and religion. The emotion
allowed.” 1939. This shot is that is evoked is of
also significant initial disgust; firstly
because it shows the at the level of
audience the prejudice towards
inhumanity during Jewish people, and
this time period, also that they are
comparing Dogs and compared to Dogs.
Jews. We find out
form this shot that
Guido and Joshua are
both Jews, because
they are not allowed
in the shop.
This shot introduces This shot is The thoughts that are
us to the character of significant to the film provoked for the
Dora. It is a low angle as it shows us Dora’s audience is that we
mid shot. The beauty. The are fascinated by
character is carrying significance of the Dora’s beauty. We
a picture frame down low angle shot is that also know that she is
the stairs. Dora is we find out that she family orientated
dressed in a red is an important because she is
dress. character. The fact involved in
that she is wearing a household chores.
red dress, shows the The feeling that is
audience that there evoked is one of
 is something positive happiness because
about Dora. The Guido has
colour red is seen as something/someone
a positive that he desires. This
connotation through sets up the theme of
the film. hope. His hope and
desire to win Dora
over.
This is a long shot. In the shop we are This shot provokes
The shot shows us able to see how the audience to
Guido’s bookshop poorly Jews were question the
and the graffiti on treated during the treatment of Jews. It
the window of the time period. We also also shows us the
bookshop. The see that there is a normality of the
graffiti says: “Jewish lack of law situation because the
shop.” enforcement for passer by on the
crimes against Jewish bicycle is taking little
people. This shot also or no interest in
shows us how Guido’s situation.
inhumane the Jews The audience is
were treated even shocked by this shot.
before the
concentration camps
were established.
This is a mid-shot. Within the film, this is The thoughts that
The shot shows Dora a point of view shot this shot provokes
in the concentration from Guido’s are whether or not
camp after the males perspective. The fact Dora should even be
and females have that she is wearing a at the concentration
been separated. She red dress symbolises camp. We know that
is looking back at his hope that one day she is a non-Jew but
Guido wondering if they will be reunited. came to the camp to
she has made a huge In this shot Dora is be reunited with her
mistake. Dora is the only one facing family. The feelings
wearing a red dress, the camera. This that are evoked are
but is surrounded by shows that the emotions of sadness
other women significance of Dora’s because the
wearing darker character is far audience is well
dreary colours. greater than those aware of the history
around her. This is where there is only a
supported further by small chance that
the fact that Dora is they will someday be
still wearing a red reunited.
dress but the rest of
the women are
wearing greens and
greys.

The Colour Red

Often colours are associated with certain connotations. In the film,
the colour red is associated with the theme of hope. This hope is
built through the colour red. Often the colour red shows love and
happiness. In this case, the red is associated with Dora. Dora is
Guido’s love, and someone who gives him happiness.

Understanding the link between Red-Love-Hope is essential. Guido is

hopeful that he will win Dora’s heart. And near the end of the film,
Guido’s desire just to see Dora again is the essence of his hope.

Historical Background

The setting of the second half of the film is in a concentration camp.

The concentration camps were set up to imprison Jews,
homosexuals, prisoners of war gypsies and people with disabilities.

The concentration camps were scattered throughout Poland and

Austria. Prisoners were sent from Nazi controlled areas. The
prisoners were sent by train, and there were “special stations” along
the way. In the film, Guido convinces Joshua that because it was his
birthday they were going on the train with his great uncle. When the
prisoners arrive at the camp, they were split firstly by gender and
then by age. Immediately those who were unfit for work were sent
to the gas chambers.

Male sand females who did survive the initial cull were put to work
in factories around the camp. These people had to survive on
limited rations. In the film, Guido gives Joshua his rations when
Joshua was hiding. This shows a bond between the two characters
and Guido’s desire for his son to survive. Many prisoners lacked the
basic needs to survive and therefore suffered from malnutrition and
were killed because they were unable to work.