Is it fair to make art out of tragedy?

[rocka]

is it fair to make art out of tragedy? making films based on true events where thousands, maybe millions were killed...for example - the holocaust, the rwandan genocide and the 9/11 attacks. making films based on true events where thousands, maybe millions were killed...for example - the holocaust, the rwandan genocide and the 9/11 attacks.

[Lonnie]

I understand your point, but yes, I think its fair to make films out of tragedies, brings history to life, but there should be a decent timescale before recent tragedies are made into films, although I wouldn't have a clue as to what that would be.

[Pippa68]

I agree with Lonnie.

Watching movies about real events can be a good education ~ providing all the details are (to the best of the makers knowledge) are a realistic account of events.

Unfortunately poetic licence often comes into play, making people believe the whole film contains the truth.

[jojojoanne]

do either art or tragedy in essence exist without the other?

[figure]

They can be a history lesson if viewed in the right context eg.
Shindler's List; it is a documentary, and a very well made one.

[Pippa68]

Exactly, figure.

I didn't want my children to watch 'Titanic'!

[fletcher.5]

No it is not fair to make films of the past The people who do it, do it for financial gain.
If these people want to base their films on the past, by all means do so,but they romantiscise, or distorte the truth to fit their views & accomodate their audiences.
If you need to know the truth of the past, read a non conventional history book, or novels from the past.

[kwicky]

Just as state secrets are kept hidden for 30 years to save hurt to those involved there should be a minimum period of time before certain facts are released so that the innocent are protected.

[anotheoldgit]

Are you suggesting that true life documentaries should not be shown also? followed also by newsreel accounts of world wide tragedies..

Going down this path, could lead to full-scale censorship, and cover-ups.

[Oneeyedvic]

Interesting question especially as some of the Tabloids are leading on "Maddie the Movie" - though it has been denied:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7178397.stm

[JockSporran]

Much great art has been inspired by tragedy, whereas bad art or kitsch turns to escapism.

Schindler's List was a true masterpiece, unlike your typical TV movie.

[fletcher.5]

Pippa let your children watch the first & last 30 minutes of Titanic

[LeMarchand]

I think (if well made and non-exploitative) such films can actually increase the public knowledge of such events. For instance, I bet there were a hell of a lot of people who didn't know anything about Rwanda before "Hotel Rwanda" was released.

As for the "financial gain" aspect - I doubt that the folks who write non-fiction books are doing it purely for love. On Maddie - hasn't Ben Affleck already made the eerily similar (but delayed in this country and based on a long-released novel) "Gone Baby Gone"? ( http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0452623/ )