從電影《美麗人生》看父親形象父親形象；家庭；責任I.Introduction

WhatarethememoriestheSecondWorldWarleavestoyou?What’syourviewabouttheimageoffather?Everyonehashisownideas.TherearelotsoffilmsdescribingtheSecondWorldWar,manyofwhichemphasizeontheinhumanityofNazi.Allthosefilmsarefilledwithsanguinaryscenesandcrazyslaughter.

However,thereisaspecialonecalledLifeIsBeautiful.ItoncehasbeencriticizedforitsfailuretoconveytheenormityoftheHolocaust.Indeed,it’snotfocusonthelarge-scaledeathanddestructionwroughtbytheNazis.Serioustoanextent.LifeisBeautifulisnotSchindler'sList,theAmericanfilmthattooksuchahard,literallookattheHolocaust.Europeansarestillstrugglingtocometogripswiththehorrorsoftheconcentrationcamps.Consequently,mostgreatEuropeanfilmsabouttheHolocausttakeanindirectapproach.Inaddition,LifeisBeautiful

(anItalianfilm)reflectsItaly'speculiar,somewhatexpedientpositionduringtheSecondWorldWar.

LifeIsBeautifulfocusesononeman,andononefather,animperfectman,moreover,aperfectfather.InLifeIsBeautiful,asuccessfulimageforafatherispresentedbytheheroGuidoperfectly.

Fromancienttimestonowadays,fathersarehighmountainanddeepseaineverychild’sheart.Aperfectfathershouldnotonlypaymoreattentiontobuildingaharmoniousfamilywithfamilymembersbutalsobetherelianceandtheprotectivegodforhischild.

II.AnatomyoftheFilmLifeIsBeautiful

A.TheBackgroundoftheFilm

Thissimple-fable-like-storytakesplacein1939,atimewhenItalyhasfallenunderthegripofFascismandanti-Semitism

–atimewhensome8,000ItalianJewsofallagesandfromallwalksoflifewereremovedfromtheirlong-livedhomesanddeportedtoConcentrationcamps.ForatimewedonotknowthatGuido,anenergeticcountryboyfreshlymovedtothebigcityisJewish.Hearrivesintowninarunawaycarwithfailedbrakesandismistakenforavisitingdignitary.Therearehintsoftheimpendingconflict,butforthemostpart,thefirsthalfofthefilmisaboutagentleandcomicromance.Guido,ahotelwaiter,beginstowooabeautifulschoolteachernamedDora

.However,hehasaproblem

–Doraisgettingmarriedtosomeoneelse.So,hebecomestheundeclaredrivalofherfiancé,theFascisttownclerk.Guidoisanimaginativetalker

–tocallhimaliarwouldbeabitharsh,buthedoesspendmostofhistimespinningfancifultales.Uponfirstmeetinghisladylove,Guidoclaimstobeaprincewhowillsoonbere-seedingthelandonwhichsheliveswithwall-to-wallcamels.Hisenergeticnon-stoptalkoftengoesdeepintonightdeprivinghispoetfriendFerruccioofsleep.Atonepoint,GuidoshowsupattheschoolwhereDorateachesposingasagovernmentinspectoranddeliversawonderfullampooningofNazieugenicstoherstudentsdemonstratingtheexcellenceofhisbigearsandsuperbnavel.HiseasygoingtemperhelpshimtomakefriendswiththeGermandoctorwhoisaregularguestatthehotelandshareshisloveofriddles.Allofthisearlymaterial,thefirstlongactofthemovie,iscomedy

–muchofitsilentcomedyinvolvingthefateofamuch-traveledhatthathelpsGuidotomaintainhisdignity.Eventually,Guidotakesawayhisprincessandthefilm’ssecondhalftakesadramaticturn.

Severalyearspassoff-screen.GuidoandDoraaremarried,doteontheir5-year-oldsonJoshua,andGuidomaintainsasmallbookshop.ThewarnowisinfullswingandGuido,beingaJew,becomesafrequenttargetofharassment.OneafternoonDorareturnshometofindherhusbandandsonarebeingshippedtoaconcentrationcamp.Shebegstobeplacedonthetrainwithherfamily,andgetsherrequest.Unabletotellhisyoungsonthetruthabouttheirincarceration,Guidofallsbackonanimaginativelie.Hetellsthattheyarebeingsenttoaspecialsummercamp.Iftheyobeyalltherules,theycangatherpoints.Thefirstpersonincamptoamass1,000pointswinsatank

–notatoytankbutarealone,whichJoshuacandriveallovertown.GuidoactsasthetranslatorforaGermanwhoisbarkingordersattheinmates,freely

“translating”themintoItaliandesignedtoquiethisson’sfears.Whilefatherlaborsduringtheday,heliterallyhideshischildfromthecampguardsexplainingtherulesofthegamethathavetheboycrouchingonahighsleepingplatformandremainingabsolutelystill.Here,thefilmisstraddlingaprecariousline,butitplowsaheadlikeaseasonedtightropewalkerwithoutsomuchasastumble.

Marchingtobeshotbyastormtrooper,thefatherdoeshiscomicgoosestepforthelasttimeandgivesawinktohishidingson.Atthepriceofhislife,thefatherfightsforhisson,forcinghimtobelievethatallwhatishappeningisonlythegameandtheprizeisontheway.Andinfact,itis.Inthenextscene,atankofliberatingarmyrollsinandasoldierinvitesJoshuatotakearide.Passingthroughlinesofsurvivorshenoticeshismother.Asheishandedovertoher,heexclaimswithexuberantjoy,

“Wewon…athousandpoints…wearetakingthetankhome...wewon.”

LifeIsBeautifulistimeless,sublimeandmeaningful.ItwinsthreeOscarawardsandfournominated.Asanactor,RobertoBenignihastakenpurehonorandturneditintoawarmstorybetweenafatherandhisson.

B.TheComparisonofFathers’ImagesinDifferentFilms

1.TheSimilaritiesofFathers’Images

Therearetoomanyfilmsdescribingthestoriesbetweenfatherandhischild.Thosefathersaredifferent,butstillhavesomesimilarities,suchaslove.ThereisanotherfilmtellstheloveofafatherwhichnamedIAmSam.

TheheroSamDawsonisacleaneratStarbuckswiththementalageofayoungchild.Hiswife,aftergivingbirth,immediatelydesertsbothhimanddaughter,leavinghimtoraiseherbyhimself.

However,hisdaughterLucystartstosurpassSaminhermentalabilities.Samcan’tdealwiththeproblemssheasksanymore.Thissituationarousesasocialworker’sattention.HewantsfindanormalpersontoraiseLucy.SoSamturnstoasklawyerRitaforhelptogetthecustody.DuringthecontactingwithSam,RitaisdeeplymovedbySam’ssincerityandselflessnessloveforhisdaughter.1

GuidoandSamaredifferent,buttheyarealsosimilar,becauseoftheirgreatfather’slove.IntheFilmLifeIsBeautiful,inordertoprotectlittlesonandleaveabeautifulmemoryinhisyouthmind,GuidoimaginesthatHolocaustisagame,andthegrandprizeforthechampionisarealtank.ThisgamethatGuidoplayswithJoshuademonstratestotheaudiencethedepthofthelovethatafatherfeelsforhisson.GuidowantsJoshuanottobeafraid.Hewantstorelievehimofanyterrorhemightfeelasaresultoftheconcentrationcamp.Guidoloveshissonsomuchthatevengiveuphislifeforhim.Thegametheyplayrepresentshowmuchaparentlovesachild.

Guidoalwayskeepsoptimistic,nomatterwhathappened,whichisthesametoanotherhero---Sam,afatherwithamentalageofayoungchild.Althoughheismentallyhandicapped,hisloveforchildisnolessthanotherparents.WhenthedeemsterasksSamhowtoraisehisdaughter,hesays,

“Paul

(amemberofBeatles)oncewroteasongtoJohnLennon’schild,inthatsong,Johnsang

‘Iloveyou…Iloveyou...’againandagain.Ifwithoutthissentence,thesongismeaningless.”Sam’swordsshowthegreatandpowerfulloverichly.2ForSam,loveisthegreatestpowertoraiseLucy.AndhisloveiswhatLucyneedsmost.

BothGuidoandSamusetheirsimplewaystoexpresslovefortheirchildren.Maybetheydonoteducatetheirchildrensomuch,buttheygivethemalotintheirpracticalway.Thosetwofilmsshowtheaudiencesthatthehumanspirithasanincredibleabilitytoovercomeseeminglyinsurmountableoddsandthatlovereallydoesconquerallthings.

2.TheDifferencesofFathers’Images

Infilms,therearevariouskindsoffathers:BrainlesslikeTheLittleMermaid,BeautyandtheBeast;AbsurdlikeAngel’sAshes,Magnolia;EncouraginglikeFrequency;AffectinglikeKramerVSKramerandsoon.

AstheAmericanfilmKramerVSKrameranexample.TheheroTedKramerisanofficeworkerinasmallcompany.Hehasabeautifulwifeandalovelyson.Butheworkssohardthatseldomhavetimetosparewithhisfamily.Finally,hiswifeJoannacan’tbearhimanymore,sodivorceswithhimandleavehimandtheirsonalone.Indeed,Tedisnotanemployablefather.Hedoesn’tknowhowtogetalonewithhissonBilly,evenhedoesn’tknowhowtobeafather.

However,LifeisBeautifulisspecial;Itpreferstoexpressoptimistic,andhopeful.Thereisnoblood,noslaughter,justdescribinghowafatherleadshischildtoabrightfuture.Notlikeotherpiteouspeople,thefather,Guidoispositiveandoptimistic.IntheConcentrationcamp,heusehiswiseandbravetoconvincehissonthatit’snothingmorethanafantasticgame.Meanwhile,romanticremainshisessentialdeviceallthetime.Heleavesafaithtohissonthatlifeisbeautiful;hebringslaughtertothekingdomoftearsandvitalitytothedomainofdeath.

TherearenolongeranyfatherslikeGuido,whoissooptimistic,andinstillshopesandlaughterinhislovedson,eveninthefaceofunparalleledhopelessness.Fromhim,weknowlifeisprecarious,lifeislivinghell,andsomehow,though,lifeisstillbeautiful.

III.TheQualitiesofAGoodFather

A.Father’sSocialImageandResponsibility

Asafather,firstandupmost,isaman,heshouldplayanimportantroleinthesocietywhichcanbecalledsocialresponsibility.

Asasocialman,heshouldfacemorepressure.Indeed,responsibilityisequaltopressure.Inourcountry,theimportantpositionsalmostbelongstomen,theyaretheleadersandrepresentativesofthecountry.Themoreimportantpositiontheyhave,themorepressuretheyundertake.

Asasocialman,heshouldalsopaymoreattentiontothedevelopmentandadvancementofthesociety.Notallthemenaretheleadersofthecountry,buteveryonehashisowncertainpositionandresponsibility.Soeveryoneshouldtryhisbesttocontributetothesociety,that’smen’sresponsibilities.

B.Father’sFamilyImageandResponsibility

Afather,asasocialman,playsanimportantroleinthesociety,buthisfamilyimageandresponsibilityismoreessential.

AgoodfathershouldpaymoreattentiontobuildingaharmoniousfamilywithfamilymembersandshouldbetheprotectiveGodforhischild,butshouldnotjustbesuccessfulincareer.

Meanwhile,ifamanwantstobeagoodfather,hemustbeagoodhusbandfirst.Heshouldbetherelianceandspiritualmainstayforhiswife,andgivesherthefeelingofsafetyandcredibility.Onlywhentheyloveeachotherandbuildaharmoniousfamilytogethercantheirchildgrowuphealthierandhappier.

Intraditionalthoughts,infamily,motherplaysthekeyroleinchild’seducation.Shebringsachildintotheworld,takescareofchildandeducateshim.However,fathercouldnotkeepawayfromeducation.Hehastounderstandthathisroleisnotonlyoutsidethehouseinordertoprovidefoodandthenecessitiesoflife,ratherhehasanimportantroletoplayinthehouseaswell,whichincludesteachingthechildren.Itisnottobetakenlightly.

ProfessorUsaamahal-Muzayni,alecturerintheCollegeofEducationintheIslamicUniversity,said:Thefatherhastofollowuponhischildren’sstudiesandmakeitanimportantpriority.3

What’smore,thefamouseducatorKarlWitteproducedabookTheEducationKarlWitte,inhisbook,heshowsushowheeducatehissonsuccessfully.Andit’sreportedthatmostoftheNobelPrizewinnersareinfluencedbytheirfathersdeeplysincetheirchildhood.4

Theimageofafatherisconsideredtobeimportantintheformationofthechildren’spersonality.Withaccompanyofthefather,thechildrenwillbecomebraverandtougher.

IV.ProblemsbetweenFathersandChildrenandSolutions

A.TheProblemsbetweenChildrenandFathers

1.TheGreatestSourceofFamilyConflict

–Anger

Manypeoplefinditdifficulttohandlethegreatestsourceoffamilyconflict

--anger.Especiallybetweenanadultchildandfather,angercanbearoadblockthatcausestheyoungerpersontodoubtthefather'sloveandcare.

“You'llnevergrowup,”afathermayyellatasonwhohasmadeamistakeatschool,work,orinanunfortunateinvestment.

“You'rejustlikeyourmother

--irresponsible!”adivorcedfathermayhoottohisgrowndaughter.Theseaccusationscutdeepintotheheartofachildofanyage,andangeristhenaturalresponsetoput-downsandunfairjudgments.5

Hostileangerisalmostalwaysharmful.Whenanangrychildattackshisorherdad,itforcesthefathertodefendhimself.

Ontheotherhand,coldindifferenceonlyprolongsandaddstotheconflict.Neitherretortbringsresolution,northerelationshipremainsmiredinanger.Infact,mostproblemsbetweenfatherandadultchildcomefromgetting

"stuck"inunresolvedanger.

2.CommunicateObstacle

Nowadays,moreandmorechildren’sbecomingindifferentandrebellious,andnotwillingtocommunicatewithparents,especiallywithastickfather.Thisveryproblembetweenfathersandchildrenexistsmanyyears.

Somefatherthinkthatraisingtheirchildrenisachievedbygivingthemfood,drink,clothingandshelter.Someothersthinktheyhavespendmuchmoneyinsupportingtheirchildren,theresponsibilityfortrainingchildrenhavebeenpassedtotheschoolsandteachers,sotheyseldomcareaboutthem.Mostfathersusetheirownwaystoraisechildren,nomatterwhethertheywillacceptitornot.However,childrenisindeedthechildren,nomatterhowmanyexcusesintheirheartstohatethosekindofteachingmode,theycouldn’tfindanyexcusetodefytheirfathers.Therefore,mostofchildrenchoosetokeepsilent,beindifferent,berebelliousandnotwantingtocommunicatewithparentsanymore.

3.FatherAbsence

InChinesetraditionalculture,womenareundertakingtheeducatingofchildren;menareconsideredtosupportthewholefamily,sotheyarefarawayfromthechildren’sfamilyeducation,andseldomcareabouttheirstudies.Mostfathers,aftertheyoutofwork,andbackhome,theymaylayonthesofa,readingnewspaperorwatchingTV.Oncetheytakepartinchildren’seducation,theywillusesomemethodswhicharenotadvisable,suchastrainingchildrenbythestick,scolding.

Thereisanotherphenomenonthatincreasesindivorceandout-of-wedlockchildbearinghasdramaticallyalteredthefamilylifeofchildren.Tofurthercomplicatematters,asubstantialnumberofchildrenareexposedtomultiplemaritaldisruptionsandnofatherfigures.Butwithoutaccompanyoffather,childrenwillbecometimidandself-contemptuous.Evensomeanalystsarguethatgrowingupwithoutfatheristheprimarycauseofmanyofthecountry'smostserioussocialproblems,includinghighschooldropout,teenpregnancy,anddelinquency.

Afamilywithoutfatherwillaffectschild’smentalandphysicalhealthbadly.Thechildrenwholosefathers’lovearemainlyunconfidentandweak.Infamilies,boysoftenastheirfathersmodels,andgraduallybecomeresponsible,mostgirlshopetogainfathers’lovebecauseoftheywanttogetfeelingofsafety.Althoughmother’slovecanmakechildrensoft,father’slovecanmakeonebecomesturdily.

Accordingtoatestingabout

“fatherpresent”and

“fatherabsence”,wecanconcludethatthechildrenwithoutfathers’accompanyarelessingeniousthanothers.Theylackofcuriosityandthespritofexploring.

Fatherabsencenotonlymeansthereisnofatherinafamilybutalsomeansafatherwhoseldomhastimetogetalongwithhischild.

B.SolutionstotheProblems

It’sabigtroubleforfatherstosolvethoseproblemsabove.ButfromthemovieLifeIsBeautiful,thefatherscanlearnsomeusefulmethodsfromtheheroGuido.AseveryoneknowsthatJewishpeoplearethewisestpeopleintheworld.Therearenearly20%NobelPrizewinnersareJewishpeople,themostfamousoneisAlbertEinstein.Whytheyaresogenius?Therootcauseisthattheyemphasisoneducationgreatly.SotheJewishpeoplehavetheirspecialwaystoeducatetheirchildrenwhichcanbeanexampleforfathers.Asafather,whowantstogetalongwithhischildwell,heshouldatleastfollowthesemethods.

1．BeingAnOptimisticandHumorousFather

Anoptimisticfatherwillnotalwaysbeangrywithothers,evenwhenhischildhavemademistakes,hewillconsiderthatisnormalandneverblamehischild.Anoptimisticfatherwillaffecthischildallthemoment;thereisonlysunshineintheirlifebutnottheshadowofanger.Ifthereisnoangerandblamebetweenfatherandchild,theywillkeepabetterrelationship.

What’smore,ahumorousfathercanbringhischildhappierandlaughter.JustlikeGuido,healwaysmakeshissonlaughinthedailylife,evenintheConcentrationcamp,becauseheknowstheimportanceoflaughterintheirlife.Nomatterhowterribletheconditionis,healwaysfindshiswaystomakehissonhappy.Hemakesfunofhimself,purifyinghissoul,alleviatingpainandsufferings,entertainingmindandbody,pursuingdignityoflife.Allhedoingisjustforhisson,sothathissoncanstillliveahappyandcarefreelife.

2.BeingAReasonableFather

Asafatherinmodernsociety,thewayofteachingchildreniscertainlydifferentfromthatoftheoldergeneration.Nowadays,peoplegenerallyregardthatoneshouldbearinmindbeliefslike

"respect",

"humanrights",

"equality"and

"freedom"whencommunicatingwiththechildren.Therefore,

"beatingandscolding"and

"corporalpunishment"arealreadyoutofaccordwiththetimes.Thesewaysofteachingcannotgainsupport,normakethechildrenaccepttheteaching,andmayevencausehatredandconfrontation,thusaffectingtherelationshipwithchildren.Thefathercantrytoanalyzetheproblemandprincipleswiththechildrentoformgoodcommunication,andtosaveenough

"privatespace"forthemundermutualtrustandrespect.

Inordertocreateadeepparent-childrelationshipwiththechildren,Guidohaslearnedakindwayofcommunication.Inthisway,hissonJoshuafeelsthatfatheriseasytogetcloseto.AndGuidoalsolearnstolistentotheneedsandthoughtsofJoshua.Tocultivateaparent-childrelationship,itisreallynecessarytohaveenoughtimetogettogetherinordertounderstandtheneedsofchildren.Trymoreencouragementandadmiration,andlesscorrectingandlecturing,sothatthechildrenwillliketogetclosetoandcommunicatewiththefather.

3.BeingAWiseFather

Jewishpeopleappreciatetheideathatwisdomismoreimportantthanknowledge,theyconsiderthatifsomeonekeepsonlearningallkindsofknowledgewhiledoesnotdigestit,itisjustlikesomeoneowningmanybookswhilenotusingthem,bothofthemarewasting.SoJewsbelievethatwisdomshouldbeused,especiallyinfamilyeducation.

Guidoknowstheimportanceoftheintelligence,anditaffectslittleJoshuastepbystep.Inthemovie,whenJoshuaaskswhyJewsanddogsaren’tallowedintoapastryshop,Guidoshieldshimfromtruth,explainingthatpeoplecanmakewhateverrulestheywant.ThenJoshuaanswersnaivelythattheirbookstorewillnotletsavagesandspiderin.Andwhen,onJoshua’sbirthday,theyareseizedbysoldiersalongwithotherJewsandinstructedtoboardatrain,GuidotellsJoshuathatitisallpartofhisbirthdaysurprise,sothatJoshuaiswillingtogo.Whentheyarebroughttoaconcentrationcamp,Guidotellshimthat’sagame,andthegoalistobethefirsttoamass1,000points.WhenlittleJoshuaistiredandwantstogiveuptheso-called

“competition”,Guidojustusesseveralcleversentencestotellhimstaytherevoluntarilyandhappily.SofatherscanlearnsomethingvaluefromGuido’swisewayofeducatingchildren.

4.BeingAGoodExampleforChildren

Aseveryoneknows,thepowerofexampleisgreat.TheJewishpeoplealwayssetagoodmodelfortheirchildrentofollowwhentheyteach.Theythinkthatparentsandfamilymembersarethedirectmodelsfortheirchildren,sotheypaymuchattentiontogettingonwellwitheachother.Therelationshipbetweenthehusbandandwifesetsthestageforchildrentobehaveinfamily.Mutualrespectbetweenachild'sparentsisimportantwhetherornottheparentsaremarriedtooneanother.Childrenwillmimictheirparents'behavior.Howyoutreatyourchild'smotherwillinfluencethewayinwhichthechildwillviewhisorherownrolewhentheybecomeparents.Donotbeafraidtostandupforyourownviewsasaparent.Theyareequallyasimportantandvaluableasthoseofthechild'smotherwhomayormaynotspendmoretimewiththechild.Inthemovie,GuidoshowshisdeeplovetoDora,evenintheconcentrationcamp;Guidotr