The Book Theif
Today I'm basically going to blog about my all time favourite movie, and book ; The Book Theif.
Now if any of you have seen this movie you will know just how much of an absolute heart breaker it is. As I coincidently found out whilst on a plane to america. Yep there were tears.
Its a story based on the second world war, from a German child's perspective. What's interesting about this book and movie is that 'Death' narrates it, and talks about his victims in almost a romantic way, which really keeps you interested.
This girl was called Liesel Meminger and starts of very nervous with her new family, her mother was a communist and death had taken her little brother on the way there, so unfortunately, she really was alone. Liesel found a friend in Rudy, a little boy who lived down her street, Liesel couldn't read or write, so when she went to school she was picked on. Rudy stuck by her however and encouraged her to play with him outside of school- particularly football. Liesel and Rudy became best friends, that was until Max arrived.
Max was a jew, and Liesel's foster family had agreed to take him under their wing. When Max arrived, everything was very hush hush, and Liesel was finally settling in, her foster dad had began to teach her to read and write so her confidence was growing, as was her love for her new family. Max and Liesel got very close, but as Max had to stay in all the time, he could get quite bored. Often he would ask Liesel to describe the day, talk about the clouds and the weather. One day Lisesel was dropping off laundry for a rich family, and entered into their library, where she took a book. She would steal books from this library and take them to Max, and read them to him.
When Liesel's birthday came around, Max had made her a diary. As Max couldn't leave the house, all he really did was paint one of the stolen books white, so as she could write over the top. Non the less, Liesel loved it. As you can imagine, she had a lot going on in her mind, meaning she had a hell of a lot to write. She wrote about her mother, her brother, her new family, and Max, who had become an older brother to her. She took this book everywhere with her.
One day, when looking through the window of the library to the manor house, she dropped her bag and slipped in through the window, to steal, or to 'borrow' another book. Rudy who was non the wiser of Max, was following Liesel. He saw the diary in Liesel's bag and took his chance. He read everything about Liesel, about her family, and about Max.
When Liesel returned she was fuming that Rudy had read her private diary, she swore Rudy to secrecy, and of course, he did not tell. In the next few weeks Rudy would bend over backwards for Liesel, who he was madly in love with, and would take his chance to try to get a kiss of her.
After a scary incident of a Nazi investigation around Liesel's house, Max had made the decision to leave. He was too much of a big risk on their family and he rather himself than them. He took his chance at survival on the streets from then on.
A year or so passed without Max, which left Liesel very distressed, not to mention lonely.
Then, one night, death speaks to the audience. He announced that a set of bombs from the English had been dropped on to the wrong street, and how the English had made a mistake. A permanent mistake non the less. The street was their street. Liesel's foster families street. That night Liesel had fallen asleep in the basement, where Max used to sleep.
First of all, death talks about how he took Liesel's foster mother, and speaks about how he pulls her soul away from her snoring body. He says how much she had loved both her husband and Liesel. How it was so obvious for him to see through her hard nut 'tough love' exterior. He wondered if they knew.Then he speaks of Liesel's foster father. The most loving man anyone were to meet, kind, thoughtful, and caring. He wiggled his soul so willingly away from his tired body. He speaks of the mass Leisel's neighbours who's souls he took. None really that he had taken much notice of before.
Lastly, he speaks of Rudy. Rudy who's soul was so easy to take. Rudy who had worn his heart on his sleeve, and never known anything else. The most fun loving, trustworthy, brave little man you ever would meet.
One of the last scene features Liesel being found in the ruins, and being hauled up by some men. She ran over to the bodies that were laid out so neatly on the floor. Goose bumps rise all over your body as you see that she recognizes the faces of those dead. First her foster mother and then her beloved foster father, who she weeps on to and clutches. Then, in a world which seems like she's ultimately on her own... She sees Rudy. Lay so neatly on the floor. She sprints over to him and screams, she props up his head and places it on her lap as she realises that he too had been taken from her by death. and she kissed him. Kissed him like he had always wanted to be kissed by her.
Bit of a tough one to watch on a plane full of people ey?
The most important part of this beautiful story is that it was real. This had happened to real people with innocent hearts. And it really brings home to you what is important about life. If not a book or movie, a life lesson. I recommend everyone to, if not read the book, watch the movie. The most inspiring heart breaking, realistic one of them all.
