Destroying art seems to be a favorite pastime of tyrants. I remember seeing the photos of the 6th Century Bamiyan Buddhas, destroyed by the Taliban in 2001. History and culture, wiped from the face of the earth by dynamite and a repressive, grossly intolerant government.
When I was in Russia, I visited Tsarskoe Selo. The Catherine Palace there is one of the most breathtaking examples of over-the-top Russian architecture. At the time, they had photos from WWII on easels there showing the damage done by the Nazis – it was horrific. Thankfully, the Russians built walls around the sculptures in the gardens to keep the Nazis from destroying or taking them. I had never heard, however, about the American efforts to save the art across Europe.
Monuments Men, based on the book by Robert M. Edsel, is the story of American and British (and one French) men – ordinary, art men – who entered the military and went to Europe to track down the masterpieces and return them. I watched the movie on a whim last night and am watching it again as I type this. I have not read the book – though, after watching the movie, I sincerely want to – but I quite enjoyed the movie.
While the movie touches only slightly on some of the key aspects of WWII, such as the concentration camps and the resistance, by doing so, it shines a light on a different kind of collateral damage – the destruction of culture. Starring George Clooney, Matt Damon, Bill Murray, John Goodman, Cate Blanchett, and other fabulous actors, the movie mixes humorous lines and campy music with moments of gravity. Cate Blanchett is fantastic – you’ll love her from her first spit. Bill Murray is better than ever. Even George Clooney, whose voice I find annoying, is good.
I am left wondering how much of the story has been altered by Hollywood and I look forward to reading the book to find out. If you haven’t yet seen the movie, you can check out the webpage for more details, including a DVD and lesson plans for educators.
© 2014 – 2020, Sarah Maples LLC. All rights reserved.
No Comments