The rise of anti-Semitic opinions under Nazism made the survival of Europe's Jews difficult. It's a Beautiful Life directed by Roberto Benigni and Art Spiegelman's Maus present the Holocaust in different ways. It's a Wonderful Life uses comedy to show Guido's efforts to keep his son alive. While Maus uses Vladek's industrial skills to keep his family alive. Both stories show people's efforts to survive at all costs using whatever skill set they have. Both books on Holocaust survival show that no matter the situation, those affected will try to survive. While Maus is presented as a graphic novel and Life is Beautiful is presented as a film, both show the horrors of the Holocaust and the people's desire to protect their children from the terrible horrors of the camp. Both stories begin with men pursuing the woman of their dreams. Vladek had to find Anja because his ex-girlfriend was telling him terrible things about Vladek. Guido, for his part, had to steal Dora from an Italian government official. Vladek was a Polish Jew who had heard of ...