The Idea of an Essay, Volume 3

92 The Idea of an Essay: Volume 3 at times Rothemund can’t resist adding a halo to her crown. When she looks through the bars of her cell, the sunlight gives her face a transcendent glow” (Rainer). With all these critiques taken into account, it is evident that both reviewers left the film with differing mindsets. With his elaboration on the law and its role, Roger Ebert writes a more comprehensive and in depth review as opposed to Rainer’s. Ebert sees a theme in Sophie Scholl: The Final Days elaborates on it. Rainer is too concerned with the why and how of the film and its characters, causing him to miss the messages and themes at the heart of the film. In many instances, Sophie does explain why she is an activist. During many of her sessions with Mohr, she talks about the horrors she witnessed as a nurse, and that no matter what, she believes that all human life is sacred. That is why Sophie is willing to go to such lengths for her cause. And despite this, Rainer is still left unsatisfied. He would rather have the film tie up its loose ends and leave the viewer omniscient. Ebert, on the other hand, is able to see a theme in the film and be impacted by it. He does not have to know why or how Sophie believes what she does to be touched by a film. Filmmaking, and often life itself, leaves one in the unknown. As opposed to Rainer, Ebert is willing to be left in the dark and find what light he can. Works Cited Ebert, Roger. “Sophie Scholl: The Final Days.” RogerEbert.com. N.p., 30 Mar. 2006. Web. 29 Sept. 2014. <http://www.rogerebert. com/reviews/sophie-scholl-the-final-days-2006>. Rainer, Peter. “Sophie’s Choice: Confess to Nazis or Face Execution.” Rev. of Sophie Scholl: The Final Days. n.d.: n. pag. The Christian Science Monitor. 26 Feb. 2006. Web. 29 Sept. 2014. <http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0224/p11s02-almo.html >.