Both Maus, written by Art Spiegelman, and Life is Beautiful, directed by Roberto Benigni have two very different representations of the Holocaust and their main characters both have points of other forces than allowing them and their families to stay afloat during the Holocaust. Vladek and Guido use their individual strengths to survive the prison camps and help their loved ones survive as well. Both Vladek and Guido have families they must keep track of while living in the harsh environment of the concentration camps. Guido's ability to be comical and think quickly allows him and his son to survive. Vladek's resourcefulness and quick learning allow him and his wife to survive. Vladek and Guido are not alone in the prison camps, but have also trapped their wives and children. In 1939, a Jewish-Italian named Guido Orefice travels to Italy to open a bookstore. While there, he works as a waiter in a hotel restaurant owned by his uncle. Guido then meets a woman called Dora. Guido naturally falls in love with her, calling her “princess” and telling her: “You can't imagine how much I want to make love to you. But I will never tell anyone, especially you. They would have to torture me to make me say this." They eventually have a son, Giosue, and on his fifth birthday they are captured and taken to a concentration camp. Vladek lived in Poland and was trying to make his way in the textile industry. Vladek's love life wasn't up to scratch. He was dating a Lucia Greenberg, who was young and attractive, but very needy. In December 1935 he regularly visited his family in Sosnowiec. During the visit, his cousin introduces him to the rich and delicate Anja Zylberberg, who will be Art's future mother. She and Vlade... in the center of the card... Dea and Yidl manage to keep him protected. Vladek finds out that Anja is inside. He writes letters and then gives them to Mancie, another tinsmith, and she smuggles them out and gives them to Anja, along with some extra food. Vladek is sent to Birkenau, where he volunteers as a shoemaker. Vladek has been able to get right to work fixing soles and heels since he watched shoemakers as a child. A Gestapo arrives and orders Vladek to fix his boot, because he needs someone with better skills. He gives a specialist a daily ration of bread and watches him prepare it for him. Vladek is rewarded with a giant sausage for this reason. Both Maus and Life is Beautiful have similarities in their characters and their depictions of the Nazi death camps and the Holocaust in general, although one of the biggest flaws ends up being the death of one of the characters. , or Guido.