TRIUMPH OF THE SPIRIT

US, 1989, 115 minutes, Colour.
Willem Dafoe, Wendy Gazelle, Edward James Olmos, Robert Loggia, Costas Mandaylor.
Directed by Robert M. Young.

Triumph of the Spirit is a holocaust story. It focuses on Greek Jews and their transportation to Poland, to Auschwitz. In fact, the film itself was filmed on location in Greece and at the camps at Auschwitz.

It is the story of Salamo Arousch, an Olympic boxer of 1936, and his struggle to survive in the concentration camp. The film gives a great deal of attention to day by day life in the camp, the physical details of the camp, the work, the suffering and the eccentricity of the authorities in using Arousch for his boxing skills to entertain the German staff.

Willem Dafoe gives a solemn performance as Arousch showing, his versatility from films such as Platoon, Last Temptation of Christ, Mississippi Burning. Robert Loggia is very good as his Father. Edward James Olmos is a gypsy Kapo in the camp.

The film was directed by Robert M Young (The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez, Extremities, Saving Grace, One Trick Pony).

1. The impact of the film? Humanity and suffering? The Holocaust?

2. The 80s perspective on the holocaust? The many movies portraying facets of it? Audience knowledge and response? Emotion? The importance of remembering? The warning about history and it happening again? The us of Greek locations? Poland, the concentration camps, the use of Auschwitz for locations? Authentic atmosphere? Musical score?

4. The title, it's meaning (and the contrast with Leni Reifenstahl's Triumph of the Will, the pro Hitler propaganda film)?

5. The film as a true story? Information given? The background of the Olympic Games? The concentration camps and their life? The end note?

6. The flashback structure from prison? Salamos' voiceover and tone? Memories of Greece, the sunlight, the home, the family, his brothers, Love for his Father, his love for Allegra? Details of Life, Synagogue, the wedding? the boxing and the championship? His winning? The arrival of the Nazis and the effect in Greece?

7. The rounding tip of the Jews? Salamo going to the cinema, the newsreels of Hitler? The farewell to Allegra? Her arrest? On the trains, the long trip, the deaths? The bewildered arrival? people being sent to left and right, not knowing their fate? Deaths? Workers? The audience knowing? The workers going to the camp, the strippIng, dilsenfecting the showers? The taking of possessions?

8. Salamo and his father, Avram and his friends? The entry into the camp, the humiliations, the taking of the possessions and the personal touches? The crowded bunks in the huts? Details of life, the lack of food? the hard labour? the parades? the early waking? Violence? The harsh orders, the authorities? The reality of life in the camp?

9. The women, the same treatment, pulling the heavy machines, the bunks, the food? Allana and her story about being pregnant, a labourer giving her food, the support? Allegra fighting and being whipped for Allana? The woman with no shoes? The truth and the examination of Allana, the brutality? The effect on Allegra? Their friendship?

10. The men and their checked for health and strength? People being detailed to death? Salamo relationship with his father, their working together? His father's age, his being chosen for death, the pathos of the farewell? Avram and the work detail in the ovens? The refusal to work and their being shot? The Kapos and their authority? Salamo and his fight, winning, the Kapo being shot?

11. The officers and the memories of the Olympics, their interest in Salamo, the boxing bouts, winning with no conditions? The audience watching? The bread being given for the victory? The various bouts, the concerts for the camp staff? Salamo's conscience and his boxing?

12. The gypsy as Kapo, tough, the orders, taking the bread at the winnings? His promises, not being able to help Salamo's father? performing for the audience? The scene with his wife and child and their imprisonment? The fate of the gypsies ? His shrewdness in keeping alive?

13 The desperation towards the end of the war, the bombings, Salamo and his running, seeking Allegra and looking at all the women, their brief moment together? their Pledge to each other? The officer and the disputes, the drinking, the suicide? Salamo being imprisoned, tortured? It seeming to be the end? his courage? the liberation? The Triumph of the Spirit and his final? speech?

14. The liberation, memories of the holocaust, the impact for the Jews, for the world and it's understanding of the Nazis, racial hatred, supremacy? The mystery of the Holocaust? The Triumph of the Spirit?