Beauty emulates from every turn of expression, personal detail, and of course, the harsh reality crashing against the woes of traditional American film. Ivan’s Childhood, directed by Andrei Tarkovsky, emphasizes the dark seduction of hatred and savagery of war. While moments of pure emotion may find its way into small corners of the film, the raging destruction continues, both in the mind and world. Using abstract character symbolism, historical references, and success versus failure, Ivan’s Childhood highlights the acrimony of childhood innocence, and the metaphorical view points from both adolescents and adulthood, showing, “War overpowers all, mentally, spiritually, and physically.”
A child protagonist is hard to place in a serious movie …show more content…
Slow moving and cautious, you can’t help but hold your breath. This is a similar attraction for American films. The hero will be in peril or most dire of circumstance and the audience will anticipate the awaiting the pinnacle of that particular scene. The difference though is the resolve. While many generic American films end climatically, they will more than likely include, Mosasaurus suddenly appearing to take down indominus rex to win the battle, Darth Vader turning good again, or-of course-Captain America pulling the Helicopter back onto the platform. Ideally, we prefer this resolution because it creates both a stimulating moment and satisfactory ending. This concept of success and failure finds its way into Ivan’s Childhood. Holding onto the murderous acts in his life, Ivan can’t help but fight against his ‘Guardians’ in order to ensure revenge on the German Army. You want Ivan to succeed. You want Kholin and Galtsev to succeed, but alas reality prevents such happenings. The German Army prevails and the audience is terrified to find Ivan and Kholin both killed at the end. Death seems to have a symbolic meaning in this film through Ivan’s dreams and interpretations. The consistency of his passed mother, the young girl, or the prisoners who were murdered, entails the fact that War and Death are joined
A child protagonist is hard to place in a serious movie …show more content…
Slow moving and cautious, you can’t help but hold your breath. This is a similar attraction for American films. The hero will be in peril or most dire of circumstance and the audience will anticipate the awaiting the pinnacle of that particular scene. The difference though is the resolve. While many generic American films end climatically, they will more than likely include, Mosasaurus suddenly appearing to take down indominus rex to win the battle, Darth Vader turning good again, or-of course-Captain America pulling the Helicopter back onto the platform. Ideally, we prefer this resolution because it creates both a stimulating moment and satisfactory ending. This concept of success and failure finds its way into Ivan’s Childhood. Holding onto the murderous acts in his life, Ivan can’t help but fight against his ‘Guardians’ in order to ensure revenge on the German Army. You want Ivan to succeed. You want Kholin and Galtsev to succeed, but alas reality prevents such happenings. The German Army prevails and the audience is terrified to find Ivan and Kholin both killed at the end. Death seems to have a symbolic meaning in this film through Ivan’s dreams and interpretations. The consistency of his passed mother, the young girl, or the prisoners who were murdered, entails the fact that War and Death are joined