Blog Entry 2
The
Brothers Grimm 2005 fantasy movie is an interesting one to watch. It contains
little fact as to what the real Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm’s lives were like and
many inaccuracies. This however comes as no surprise as the film is fantasy.
The film
depicts the brothers as con-men who kill the supernatural/magic and record
their travels. When caught by the French the brothers are forced to help save a
village that’s children are missing. Jacob is played by Heath Ledger and is
portrayed as meek, mild and a bookworm. Wilhelm is played by Matt Damon and is
portrayed as in charge, charismatic and confident. There ends up being an evil
witch taking the children and using them to bring her youth back. There is a love
interest for both brothers in the form of Angelika a villager who helps them
navigate the enchanted forest. The brothers overcome many obstacles but are
able to save each other, Angelika, the village and the children. The film ends
with the brothers reconsidering their line of work and eluding to them collecting
the tales in which they are known for. 
A couple of
facts can be found in the film; Wilhelm and Jacob were brothers, they collected
tales of magic, during the time they lived the French occupied Germany and the
brother’s disliked the French. From Chapter 1 in Zipes book a lot can be
learned about who they were as people. Jacob was the eldest born in 1785 in
Germany to Philipp Wilhelm Grimm and Dorothea nee Zimmer. Wilhelm was born a
year later. They grew up as sons of a lawyer and housewife with four siblings.
They were brought up in a very religious household and from an early age were
known as hard working intelligent boys. Their father’s death in 1796 left Jacob
as the head of the house and the brothers spent most of their life getting an
education, researching and teaching. From what is known about the brothers
personalities Jacob was the more reserved and studious one, never marrying and
always striving for a unified Germany. Wilhelm was more social getting married
in 1825 to Dortchen Wild.
These
personalities are somewhat similar to the movie however in the film they were
exaggerated and the brother in charge, Jacob, was changed to Wilhelm. The brothers
were never con-men and were very honest tireless workers. The plot of the film is
also complete fiction as well as the village in which they saved. Their
childhood depicted in the film briefly was of poverty and a small family. During
the brothers childhood until their father died they lived in a very nice house
and even had servants. They also had four siblings. Once their father died they
were still able to live relatively well due to the support of other family
members such as their aunt Henriette Zimmer and grandfather Johannes Hermann
Zimmer.
The
brothers Grimm helped mould society into what we know it as today and I think
it is important we know who they were and how they lived. The use of their
lives in this film is a fun way to spark peoples interest in the brothers as long
as they realise the large majority of the film is fiction.
Sources for
images:
Comments
Post a Comment