I happened to watch a film Germany, Year Zero. It came out in 1948 and is directed by Roberto Rossellini.The timeline is post World War II in Russia occupied East Germany.
This is one of the many war films that propagates anti-war theme, yet stands out by the unique plot that makes it different from the rest of its kind. The extreme extend of the adversity a war could cost humanity is discussed in greater depth in this intense and emotional drama. A little boy of 13, plays the lead character in the film and he goes by the name Edmund. For those who gets to you watch the film, refrain from reading the quoted region as there are spoilers. But considering the antiquity of the film, I wanted to log the specifics for the other readers. So the detailed story goes below.
As I mentioned earlier, the plot set in East Germany in the immediate year after the World War II. The times are extremely difficult where the Russian Soldiers hunt down the Nazi soldiers from the war. There is poverty, prostution and thieft everywhere, hence people sublet their living spaces to meet their needs. Everything from electricity, to gas are rationed on a per appartment basis.
The story runs around a little boy of 13 as the lead and his family that constitutes of his sick ailing father, an elder sister and an elder brother from Nazi army who is in hiding shares the house rented by the owning family. Due to the extreme conditions, the boy of thirteen is forced to work and there is pressure from his landlord to bring more money. The consequences, the boy grew some strange contacts. As he fights hard to provide his family’s needs, he comes in contact with his school teacher who taught him before the great war, who is also in hiding due to his Nazi affiliations.
His father becomes terminally ill, which adds to the family burden. The sick man is hospitalized after high recommendations from their doctor. When the boy seeks for monetary help from the school teacher, but the teacher tells the boy that it is best to let his father die in peace as it is best for the whole family, as they are already starving to keep his life intact. He also quotes, the world is designed in such a way that the weak perishes and the strong survives. This impacted the boy strongly. When he visits his father in the hospital, he hear his father saying he often wanted to end his own life thinking not to be a burden to the kids but somehow resists. This again conspires the boy’s head, and the bottle marked poison in the medication tray that the nurse catches the little boy’s attention. He steals the bottle from the tray and leaves home.
One day when the family is gathering for dinner, the ailing father who came back from hospital with better health, complained about the food saying he wish he stayed back in the hospital instead being a burden to the kids. The idea repeatedly hammers the boy’s head, that pushed him to an extend to poison his father’s tea that takes away his life. The police raided the place and took away the boy’s elder brother who is undocumented. The father passed away as the eldest son was in the police custody. The boy is guilt-stricken and chooses to stay where the father’s mortal remains are left while the siblings stays at their friend’s place. The guilt follows him as he tries hard to find solace.
He went on to visit his school teacher and confesses he killed his father, and it is because the teacher told him so. The teacher was frightened as this would put him to more trouble apart from his Nazi affiliation and tries to catch hold of the boy but he runs away. He goes hiding in the bombed dilapidated buildings, as his siblings look for him everywhere for his father’s funeral. The boy observes everything from hiding and commits suicide by jumping from the building.
I doubt if any one else has discussed the psychosocial adversity of the war to this extend. How could a war turn a nice 13 year old boy who was ready to carry the burden of his family and take responsibility for their Bread n Butter turns into a murderer, dares to kill his own ailing father. How a little boy turns sleepless and restless out of guilt only to end his own life.
Edmund the actor was natural and maturely carried the burden of owning the material thoroughly. Those who like it, I thought you may also like the other films made on similar anti-war theme with children in the lead are Come and See (1985), Jojo Rabit (2019), The boy in striped pyjamas (2008). I will update the list as I update myself.
Sharmili unplugged....... 