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Son of Saul (2015) |
In the horror of 1944 Auschwitz, a prisoner forced to burn the corpses
of his own people finds moral survival upon trying to salvage from the
flames the body of a boy he takes for his son.
Director: László Nemes
Writers: László Nemes, Clara Royer
Stars: Géza Röhrig, Levente Molnár, Urs Rechn |
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Storyline
Two days in the life of Saul Auslander, Hungarian prisoner working as a
member of the Sonderkommando at one of the Auschwitz Crematoriums who,
to bury the corpse of a boy he takes for his son, tries to carry out his
impossible deed: salvage the body and find a rabbi to bury it. While
the Sonderkommando is to be liquidated at any moment, Saul turns away of
the living and their plans of rebellion to save the remains of a son he
never took care of when he was still alive. Written by
LaoKoon
User Reviews
TIFF 2015 -- Son of Saul: Expect a little more than an education
Easily tagged as a
Holocaust film (but shouldn't necessarily be), 'Son of Saul' explores
the perspective of a Sonderkommando named Saul — a German Nazi death
camp prisoner who's job was to aid with the disposal of gas chamber
victims — who finds a dying boy from the chambers and attempts to give
him a proper burial who he claims to be his son, all during his time at
Auschwitz. The film is uniquely shot from an over-the-shoulder
perspective that keeps the viewer entirely focused on Saul, but still
with the motions and actions surrounding him very noticeable (thanks to
absolutely brilliant sound work in order to help achieve the eerie
feel). 'Saul' reaches certain pinnacles of significant discomfort during
scenes of execution — in the gas chambers and the burial pits — and a
stone-faced Saul can do nothing but be forced to listen or watch.
At points, the viewer feels claustrophobic when being ushered from the trucks in the middle of the night to one's fate. While the main story of Saul's attempt to give his "son" a proper Jewish burial is what drives him — already accepting his own fate — the film goes beyond the typical WWII Holocaust story where you might only hear of incidents. In this film, the viewer is thrust upon into the fray of Hell, constantly following Saul through several one-shot takes that leave you wondering what is waiting for him.
A word to the wise: this film prides itself on authenticity, realism, and truth; 'Son of Saul' is painfully poetic.
At points, the viewer feels claustrophobic when being ushered from the trucks in the middle of the night to one's fate. While the main story of Saul's attempt to give his "son" a proper Jewish burial is what drives him — already accepting his own fate — the film goes beyond the typical WWII Holocaust story where you might only hear of incidents. In this film, the viewer is thrust upon into the fray of Hell, constantly following Saul through several one-shot takes that leave you wondering what is waiting for him.
A word to the wise: this film prides itself on authenticity, realism, and truth; 'Son of Saul' is painfully poetic.
