English

Reading Log #2
Text title: The Zookeeper's Wife
Text type: Visual text
Author/Director: Niki Caro

'The Zookeeper's Wife' is a drama/history film directed by Niki Caro. The film is about a doctor named Dr. Jan Zabinski, and his wife Antonina who are the keepers of the Warsaw zoo in Poland. This zoo was one of the largest and most prolific zoos in 1930s Europe. On September 1, 1939, Antonina and her son Ryszard are shocked to witness the great amount of bombs being dropped before their very eyes. They later discover that their country is being invaded by the German forces. Jews living in Poland are instantly put into the Ghetto,  Jan and Antonina both putting their lives at complete risk, hide Jews in their house to avoid them from being put into the ghetto. Dr Heck was a man working with Nazi's and claimed he owned the zoo, Jan and Antonina. Heck, being the owner of Berlin zoo and ''Hitler's zoologist'' suggests moving the surviving animals to the Berlin zoo until the war in Poland is over.

The bombs dropped over Warsaw had a horrific impact on the Warsaw Zoo, leaving the majority of animals dead, and a lot of damage. Being part of the Polish resistance, Jan used this opportunity to secretly smuggle Jews in and out of the Warsaw Ghetto. We see this when he and his son Ryszard drive into the Ghetto, claiming that they're collecting food scraps for the surviving pigs at the zoo. While he makes his way into the ghetto trying to rescue a group of Jews, Jan comes across a young girl named Urszla who had just been raped by two Nazi guards. He saw how emotional this young girl was and what state she was in. Basically covered in blood and shaking in fear. Jan immediately insists that Urzsla leave the ghetto with he and his son. Under the front seat where Ryszard is sitting, Urzsla is put beneath his feet hiding under a jacket and is told to try and stay calm. As for the group of Jews, they're put beneath a large amount of food scraps at the back of the truck. Jan succeeds as Nazi's do not see them hiding beneath the scraps or Urszla in the front.

I personally believe that Jan and Antonina are both inspirational people because they saw first hand the injustice, the suppression, the oppression and took action in line with their morals, and were able to formulate change. I feel as if Antonina had an equal contribution in the overall situation. Antonina would take Jews down into the basement where they would sleep and were told not to make a sound when people were to arrive. She would play the piano as a signal for them when it was safe to come out and have dinner. She managed to earn the trust of Nazi's which would've been extremely difficult and uncomfortable in some ways for her, because little did they know, the Zabinski's were saving people that they hate. As for Jan I mentioned earlier in the text he would smuggle Jews in and out of the ghetto. This film gave me a motivational insight as to how far good people would go to put their lives on the line to save those in danger. I was disgusted how people were being treated in the ghetto. The fact that they were pulled out of their own homes and thrown into this place was horrible.

Jan shows extreme bravery in a certain part of the film when he participates in the Warsaw Uprising which was an operation by the Polish resistance to unbind Warsaw from German occupation. This results into Jan getting shot in the neck and captured by Nazi's. Worried sick about her husband, Antonina visits Dr Heck (who is mentioned in the first paragraph) and asks if he knows where her husband is being held. Upon Antonina's arrival Dr Heck begins to get suspicious as he heard her son Ryszard say earlier "Hitler ist kaputt" this could mean many things. Such as being crazy, to be broken or be dead. Dr Heck being a Hitler supporter, instantly questions Antonina as to why he heard her son saying this. He then finds out Antonina is hiding Jews in her house and she rushes back in time to warn them that Dr Heck and armed forces are on their way. They escape and make it away in time before Dr Heck arrives. He runs downstairs to where the Jews were being kept and discovers drawings on the walls of yellow stars. In retaliation, Dr Heck holds a gun to Ryszards head right in front of his mother.

In conclusion, this film really did touch me. I was blown away because Antonina and Jan were willing to take on such a high-risk role. 'The Zookeepers Wife' is a heartbreaking, but also truly inspiring film. The Zabinskis knew that what they were doing would've cost their lives. After seeing the sacrifices that were made to try and keep the lives of others alive is what truly inspired me. Overall, the Zabinskis managed to save 300 lives during the invasion of Warsaw. This film did get me thinking about The Diary of Anne Frank, because of how similar the personalities were. Anne showed great bravery during her hiding, as for Jan and Antonina also showing bravery by hiding Jews in their home.

English

Reading log #1
Text title: The diary of Anne Frank

This diary was written by Anne herself in 1942 and was later made into a well known book in 1947 named "The Diary of a Young Girl." Born in Frankfurt,Germany in 1929.  Anne was a typical school student. She was very bright and eager to learn. Anne attended Montessori school in Amsterdam, but in the year of 1941 things quickly change and Nazi's demanded that Jews and non-Jews cannot attend the same school. After the summer holidays, Anne starts going to the Jewish High School. Growing up, Anne wanted to be an actress but unfortunately it wasn't possible for her at the time.  Being Jewish, Anne could not enter the movie theaters. She was forbidden to do many things. Having received a diary from her father Otto on her 13th birthday, Anne developed a passion for reading/writing. I remember reading about Anne's mother Edith, and how she felt too afraid to leave their house to attend church one morning, which I find very upsetting. Edith thought she'd be putting her life at risk if she were to leave. On July 5, 1942, Anne's older sister Margot received a letter which required her to report to a Nazi camp. Having received this, the Franks immediately pack their things and escape to where they would hide in a sealed-off upper room at Otto's company building. A day before Anne received her report card from school is when the Franks escape. Having to leave your home, where you were raised to escape and go into hiding is something that I can't even describe. I can't imagine how Anne was feeling during this horrifying time.

As we all know, Hitler intensely disliked the Jewish ethnicity and did portray them in many negative ways. Reading this book, I do believe that Anne was the complete opposite. I was amazed as to how strong and brave Anne was throughout the hiding, her family had to be extremely quite during their hiding just in case anyone were to hear them. Also, she was told not to open her curtains because people would see her. Not being able to go outside did upset Anne. Anne said that she was terrified that their hiding spot would be discovered and they'll be shot.  I think not being able to speak very much did result into Anne continuously writing in her diary, maybe she felt that writing was the only way she could express how she was really feeling at the time. I can relate to this too because sometimes I write when I feel like I can't express my feelings. Anne would always start her diary as "Dear kitty", she thinks of her diary as a friend, which is understandable because she wouldn't really have friends during this time. She decides to name this friend 'kitty'. Anne mentions a boy named Peter Van Pels a lot throughout her diary, who is the son of Otto's business partner. She refers to Peter as "a lazy, obnoxious dope" as much of a disappointment Peter did sound like, Anne still cared for him very much.

Sadly, on the 4th of August in 1944 Anne and her family are discovered by Nazi's and are deported to Westerbork transit camp, and then on to Auschwitz. It is possible that someone may have betrayed the Franks. Anne's father, Otto Frank was the only person from their hiding to survive in the concentration camps. After reading this book, it made me feel grateful. Grateful for the changes that have been made in the world today and for the world that we have. Anne was just a teenage girl who did not deserve anything she went through. Anne died with her sister Margot in March 1945. Even though she was going through such a rough time she still managed to be such a cheerful and happy girl, which really inspired me.

There are a lot of powerful and important messages in this book, one being that you shouldn't treat others differently just because of their race/religion and to treat people with respect no matter who they are or where they come from. If Anne has taught me anything throughout reading this, it's that you should appreciate what you have and to cherish your moments with friends or loved ones. Because you never know when it'll all suddenly come to an end.