ET 1: YOURSELF AS AUDIENCE

Night & Fog   by Alain Resnais   ( Wed, 24AUG, 2011)

   As I watched this film, I expected a movie based on war and it's short-comings. I expected something like the suffering that came with a war. But this was an entirely different experience. As the movie started, I predicted a lot of people were going to be involved. I felt a sense of guilt as they were loaded like animals into the tiny train carriages and later loaded into the concentration camp. I started to rock my chair back and fourth. I did this probably because of having the thought of being in such a cramp space with hundreds of others. This is probably because of my sense of claustrophobia. I needed to move.


   As I watched the film, I also watched how the people in the camps lived. I felt so fortunate to be free and to have choices in life. The people in the camp were forced to work to live. Some chose death instead of life within the camp walls. Could you imagine what that must've felt like? The thought of death being a better option. Hell may just be the best definition I can give for a place like that.

   As the film proceeded, there came a point that the corpses were used for various matters. I was extremely disgusted and amazed at the same time. To think that people would have the idea of using a human body for such a thing. I felt so ashamed and useless as a human being. Having the thought of being disposable. That feeling might be the most painful part of the film that I have witnessed. The thought of using human soap and human haired cloth was extremely uncomfortable. I almost wanted to leave the room, but the urge to know what happens next kept me in my seat. I looked around to see what my fellow friends reactions were and saw the same disgusted face I had. I then chuckled and thought to myself "We're going through this for a good grade". And turned to watch the film once again.

   As the film came close to the end, I thought to myself " Why didn't the people rebel? Why didn't anybody do anything about it?". The bodies of the victims were left with barely any flesh, just skin and bones. The way the allied units handled them with a bull-dozer made me feel angry that they have barely any respect to those who died in the camp. As the narrator announced that 9 million people were involved, I imagine the entire state of Selangor to be in one of those camps. 9 million innocent lives wasted just like that ? It's no wonder the Germans hate Hitler.

   As the movie ended, I was speechless. I could not even think of a question. In my mind I was just thinking "Oh Fuck ! That was horrible !" I felt freedom after watching that movie. I immediately walked to the car and could feel the beautiful windy air. I though of the inmates who would dream to feel this once again. I got into my car and rolled down the window and heard the birds chirping. I thought to myself, life is pretty damn amazing. The film made me realize how important life is and that we should value every moment of it. There is no time to be shy or arrogant. I felt so free and happy. I was almost near the exit when I realized I had a meeting to attend and responsibilities to attend to.


NigelTMY...