Calderon Shoshanna's Sweet Revenge

Without a doubt I believe the theme of Inglorious Basterds is revenge is sweet. The revenge theme could not be more prevalent in any scene with Shoshanna. Shoshanna survived the Jew Hunter’s massacre of her family, so she lives her everyday life in torment and revenge. She even had to change her name and start a life anew. The theme begins when the great German actor approaches Shoshanna to ask if he could screen his big film debut in her movie theater. The thought that he wants to screen something in her small movie theater says a lot. He really likes her, but every single time he approaches her, she turns the other way or reacts very rudely. She acts as if she is a great Jewish avenger. Every time she runs into a Nazi, there is a flashback of the Jew Hunter and all he did to her family. The revenge theme can especially be seen when Shoshanna’s great revenge plot is coming together. She is looking over the balcony of her movie theater to see all Nazis standing in her lobby. The great Reich party is in her movie theater, a Jewish woman’s movie theater. The irony in this idea is so mind-blowing that it keeps the audience on its toes. It is the perfect way for Shoshanna to get what she wants – kill all the Nazis. There is more irony in the fact that she is wearing a red dress, which is the same color of the Nazi flag. In this particular picture, Shoshanna is out of focus, so the focus is just on the Nazis – it is a bird’s eye view. In other words, the audience is looking down on how much power Shoshanna has in front of all the Nazis. It is also more of a public shot to show everyone. The focus is on the name of her movie theater in red and the Nazis flag on the left. The framing makes you first realize that to symbolize her Jewish movie theater and the Nazis coming together for Shoshanna’s sweet revenge. This is my favorite scene because it shows how much power Shoshanna finally has after going through so much torment her whole life. It is finally in her control.