Son of Saul (2015)
(Saul fia)
Country: HUN
Technical: col/1.37:1 107m
Director: László Nemes
Cast: Géza Röhrig, Levente Molnár, Urs Rechn
Synopsis:
A Sonderkommando (special prisoner detail for disposal of 'pieces' at Auschwitz and other death camps) witnesses the survival and subsequent despatch of a boy, and conceives the idea of burying the body according to Jewish rites with a rabbi in attendance. Not even the imminent prospect of a camp uprising, or his shared responsibility in preparing for it, can shake him from his intent.
Review:
Shot for almost its entire running time in medium close-up and shallow focus, sparing us the grizzlier details and placing us firmly within the world view of its protagonist, this remarkable first feature deals unflinchingly with the unspeakable implications of the work these prisoners were forced to undertake before being promptly executed (no doubt to guard against transmission of eye-witness knowledge outside their numbers). It circumvents the problems encountered by other films such as Schindler's List by eschewing all promise of hope and denying us musical commentary, allowing the events to speak for themselves, the leading actor's face only once breaking its mask-like expression of traumatic shock.
(Saul fia)
Country: HUN
Technical: col/1.37:1 107m
Director: László Nemes
Cast: Géza Röhrig, Levente Molnár, Urs Rechn
Synopsis:
A Sonderkommando (special prisoner detail for disposal of 'pieces' at Auschwitz and other death camps) witnesses the survival and subsequent despatch of a boy, and conceives the idea of burying the body according to Jewish rites with a rabbi in attendance. Not even the imminent prospect of a camp uprising, or his shared responsibility in preparing for it, can shake him from his intent.
Review:
Shot for almost its entire running time in medium close-up and shallow focus, sparing us the grizzlier details and placing us firmly within the world view of its protagonist, this remarkable first feature deals unflinchingly with the unspeakable implications of the work these prisoners were forced to undertake before being promptly executed (no doubt to guard against transmission of eye-witness knowledge outside their numbers). It circumvents the problems encountered by other films such as Schindler's List by eschewing all promise of hope and denying us musical commentary, allowing the events to speak for themselves, the leading actor's face only once breaking its mask-like expression of traumatic shock.
(Saul fia)
Country: HUN
Technical: col/1.37:1 107m
Director: László Nemes
Cast: Géza Röhrig, Levente Molnár, Urs Rechn
Synopsis:
A Sonderkommando (special prisoner detail for disposal of 'pieces' at Auschwitz and other death camps) witnesses the survival and subsequent despatch of a boy, and conceives the idea of burying the body according to Jewish rites with a rabbi in attendance. Not even the imminent prospect of a camp uprising, or his shared responsibility in preparing for it, can shake him from his intent.
Review:
Shot for almost its entire running time in medium close-up and shallow focus, sparing us the grizzlier details and placing us firmly within the world view of its protagonist, this remarkable first feature deals unflinchingly with the unspeakable implications of the work these prisoners were forced to undertake before being promptly executed (no doubt to guard against transmission of eye-witness knowledge outside their numbers). It circumvents the problems encountered by other films such as Schindler's List by eschewing all promise of hope and denying us musical commentary, allowing the events to speak for themselves, the leading actor's face only once breaking its mask-like expression of traumatic shock.