Director: Bruce Beresford

Fact-based recounting of a group of
women who are imprisoned on the island
of Sumatra by the Japanese during World
War II and used music as a relief to their
misery.
Themes Presented
Friendship
 Brutality of war
 Courage
 Hope

Friendship

Throughout the movie most of the
women in the camp stick together and
risk their lives for each other. It is seen in
the scene where one of the women
sneaks out of the camp to trade so she
can get medicine for the women in the
camp.
Brutality of War
The Brutality of war is shown throughout
the whole movie as the Japanese have the
women stand in the sun. They make them
shower in the open. They make beat them
and let them die.
 It is shown within the scene where they
burn one of the women alive and make
the other women and children stand and
watch. The Japanese stand and watch
calmly with no emotion.

Courage
Courage is shown through the women
when they form their group.
 Even though they aren’t allowed to have
any meetings they still manage to bring
together the women and perform.
 It is also shown when the woman sneaks
out of the camp to get a trade for the
other women. (This also shows
friendship)

Hope
Hope is represented through the women
when they come together and sing. They
also perform to the people at the camp.
 This is also shown in the shoehorn sonata
when the women sing as it gives them the
feeling of hope.

How is it presented?
Scene: Woman burned alive.
Theme: Brutality of war.
Close up of the women’s faces.
 horror
Long Shot.
 Allows a view of bigger
picture and full impact of the
situation.
Long shot and close up of the
Japanese men:
 They are Calm showing that
what they are doing has no
effect on them.
Full body close up of the Woman as she burns.
 Shows the brutality
 Horror expressed on her face
 desperation
How it links to distinctively visual
Through the camera angles/shots and the
expressions on the faces of the women.
 The sound effects of the screams as the
woman is burnt.
 The music that is played (spooky music/
sounds)
