Este texto mostra como você pode conhecer a Segunda Guerra Mundial através de filmes. O texto foi escrito para o nível C1/C2.
Listening
Reading
The tapestry of World War II, as illustrated through cinema, begins with the ominous rise of dictators. "Rise of the Evil" (2003) captures Adolf Hitler's unnerving rise to power in Germany, setting a foreboding tone. Parallel to this, "Vincere" (2009) portrays Benito Mussolini's ascent in Italy, signaling the burgeoning force of fascism.
In the Soviet Union, "Stalin" (1992) reveals Joseph Stalin's climb to power, preluding the Eastern Front's future turmoil. Across the ocean, "Hyde Park on Hudson" (2012) shows President Franklin D. Roosevelt navigating the pre-war challenges in the USA.
"Into the Storm" (2009) shifts focus to Winston Churchill’s early leadership and his efforts to draw the United States into the war. Then, the narrative takes a dramatic turn with "Pearl Harbor," dramatizing the devastating 1941 attack that propels the USA into the war.
Post Pearl Harbor, "Saving Private Ryan" (1998) immediately plunges into the American military involvement, epitomized by the gritty reality of the D-Day invasion. The war's complexity deepens with "The Imitation Game" (2014), intertwining Alan Turing’s cryptographic breakthroughs with key battle events.
In "Darkest Hour" (2017) and "Dunkirk" (2017), we witness the desperation and resilience of the British forces, culminating in the harrowing evacuation from Dunkirk. "Midway" (2019) captures the Pacific theater's turning point, while "Stalingrad" (1993) portrays the grueling Eastern Front battle.
"A Bridge Too Far" (1977) recounts the ambitious Operation Market Garden, followed by "The Thin Red Line" (1998), depicting the ongoing Pacific struggle in Guadalcanal and Hacksaw Ridge (2006) in which a pacifist soldier saves dozens of soldiers showing a more human side of the war. The horrific human cost of war is brought to light in "Schindler's List" (1993) and "The Pianist" (2002), centering on the Holocaust and efforts to save lives. While "Valkyrie" (2008) shows a plan elaborated by German Generals to assassinate Hithler and put and end to the war.
The narrative shifts to France with "De Gaulle" (2020), highlighting Charles de Gaulle's leadership in the French resistance. The war’s endgame is set by "USS Indianapolis" (2016), chronicling the harrowing journey to deliver the atomic bomb, a story completed in "Oppenheimer" (2023), which delves into the bomb's creation and use.
The final chapter, "Downfall" (2004), presents a grim depiction of Hitler's last days and the fall of the Third Reich, closing one of history's most tumultuous periods.
This collection of films offers a panoramic view of World War II, weaving together the narratives of leaders, soldiers, and civilians who experienced this global upheaval.
Bonus
Some movies tell some afterwar stories:
"Judgment at Nuremberg" (1961): Focuses on the Nuremberg Trials, where Nazi judges and officials were tried for war crimes.
"The Reader" (2008): A drama that delves into the moral and legal aftermath of the Holocaust in post-war Germany.
"The Aftermath" (2019): Set in post-war Germany, this film explores the process of reconstruction and reconciliation after the conflict.
"The Zookeeper's Wife" (2017): Tells the true story of a couple who saved hundreds of Jews in Warsaw, showcasing both the wartime events and their aftermath.
"The Monuments Men" (2014): Focuses on the mission to recover art stolen by the Nazis, highlighting the importance of preserving culture and history after the conflict.
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