Entries in Life

I've been reading a mystery novel by PD James (she is a great writer by the way) and yesterday ran across this passage where she has one of her detectives talk about serial killers saying,

"But they aren't mad are they? Not until they are caught. Until then they cope with life like most other people. Then we discover that they're monsters and decide, surprise, surprise, to classify them as mad. Makes it seem more comprehensible. We don't have to think of them as human anymore. We don't have to use the word 'evil.' Everyone feels better."

We rented Downfall a couple of months ago. I would concur with the movie review that you pointed to. It certainly did an excellent job making Hitler seem more "human" and believable. It was interesting to see the ways people maintained their deceptions and what they were willing to believe (or not believe) as their world came crashing in upon them.

I objected to "Life is Beautiful", not so much because of the humor but because of the deception. If I remember correctly (it of course has been many years) the main character weaves an elaborate story of deception which keeps a young boy (his son?) at peace. So when the "end" finally comes the boy has no clue about the actual horror that awaits him.

For that reason, I found the movie deeply disturbing and I think that I myself would probably tend to err on the side of truth rather than falsehood. (for example I am always disturbed by parents who want to 'protect' their children from the realities of death when a friend or family member dies.)