Son of Saul (2015)

Original Title

Saul fia

Genres

Drama, War

Director

László Nemes

Country

Hungary

Cast

Géza Röhrig, Levente Molnár, Urs Rechn, Sándor Zsótér, Todd Charmont, Christian Harting, Kamil Dobrowolski, Attila Fritz, Tamás Polgár

Storyline

It follows two days in the life of Saul Auslander (Géza Röhrig), a Hungarian prisoner at Auschwitz who tries to save from the flames the body of a boy he takes for his son.

Labyrinth of Lies (2014)

Original Title

Im Labyrinth des Schweigens

Genre

Drama | History

Director

Giulio Ricciarelli

Country

Germany

Cast

Alexander Fehling, Johannes Krisch, Friederike Becht, Hansi Jochmann, Johann von Bülow, Gert Voss, Robert Hunger-Bühler, André Szymanski, Tim Williams

Storyline

In post-World War II Germany, most of Germans are sick of the war and prefer to push their guilt to the back of their mind. Thing are about to change when journalist Thomas Gnielka (Johannes Krisch) identifies a teacher in the playground as a former guard from Auschwitz, and young prosecutor Johann Radmann (Alexander Fehling) decides to investigate the case.

Opinion

The Nuremberg trials are famous, and the Eichmann trial in Jerusalem in known to most, but there's a moment in history unknown to most. A period of indifference and nescience when Germans themselves, especially, either wanted to forget or were completely unaware of what had happened during WWII.

Giulio Ricciarelli's debut film "Labyrinth of Lies" has the aesthetics of a film made for television but understands the complexity of its subject matter, and is an excellent thought-provoking film on a historical period when people looked forward with confidence, trying to forget.

German-Italian Ricciarelli, who co-wrote the screenplay with Elisabeth Bartel, well-exploited the knowledge gap between the audience and the protagonist, and managed to bring emotions in a film that if made by a German would have probably been too distant, cold and analytical.

Also, the film makes you think without judging. As the director said in an interview "a film can't put itself on a pedestal and judge. We all are human and we must understand that human beings are capable both of good and bad things. You can't judge people while sitting on a chair, when you do not know what you would have done in given situation".

The decision to not dwell on sad images of concentration camps, already familiar to the audience, but to pause on the shocked faces of those who listen to those heart-breaking stories for the first time is remarkable.

The screenplay, however, is quite flawed. While the monologues are usually very catching and filled with emotions, most of the conversations are bland, and don't deliver much. Quite unfortunate is also the decision to include a love story. Rather distracting, and predictable, it's also unnecessary as it's hard to connect to the relationship or the protagonist's love interest.

Alexander Fehling, known for his role in Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds" gives a very emotional performance as young prosecutor Johann Radmann, and brings to the screen to perfection the inner growth of the character. 

"No one thought. We just had to open our eyes."

Schindler's List (1993)

Genre

Biography | Drama | History

Director

Steven Spielberg

Country

USA

Cast

Liam Neeson, Ben Kingsley, Ralph Fiennes, Caroline Goodall, Jonathan Sagall, Embeth Davidtz, Malgorzata Gebel, Mark Ivanir, Beatrice Macola, Andrzej Seweryn, Friedrich von Thun, Jerzy Nowak, Norbert Weisser, Anna Mucha, Piotr Polk, Rami Heuberger, Ezra Dagan, Hans-Jörg Assmann, Hans-Michael Rehberg, Daniel Del Ponte, Oliwia Dabrowska

Storyline

In Poland during World War II, German businessman Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson) gradually becomes concerned for his Jewish workforce after witnessing their persecution by the Nazis.

Opinion

It's that day of the year when the horrors of the Holocaust are remembered, and among all the films on this topic, I couldn't do otherwise than to choose the best and most powerful film about the tragedy of Jewish people.

A devastating, magnificent and touching work of art, "Schindler's List" is the story of a courageous man trying to respond to the Nazi madness as well as a lesson to everybody.

Even though it is based on events that actually happened, the film could have easily been nothing more than just a historical drama. However, the film manages to stand out from the crowd thanks to the uniqueness of the story, but especially the way the story was told. It is the style of this work of art that gives the film that extra edge, and makes it capable of evoking profound emotions while not ruling out scenes that try in every way to bring the audience to tears.

For that very reason, the film offers a moment to reflect deeply about what one rich man - both of money and heart - can do to this world, a man who makes account of the evil that surrounds him and that belong to his world, and decides not to be a partner in crime, risking his own life.

Janusz Kaminski's black and white cinematography is spectacular. Some moments, such as the attack in the Krakow ghetto and some other moments in the camp, are extraordinarily captured, and when it comes to Auschwitz, a chimney is enough to portray that hell. Then there is purely scenic scene: a young girl who escapes the massacre of the ghetto but then seen dead among other corpses recognizable thanks to her red coat that clearly stands out in the black and white photography.

Liam Neeson gives the performance of his lifetime as Oskar Schindler, portrayed with irresistible charm and gradually changing as the film progresses. He is so incredible, you'll soon forget he is Neeson. Ralph Fiennes brilliantly portrays Amon Goeth, a true, heartless, sadistic monster - sadly this monster actually existed. Ben Kingsley also gives an excellent performance as Schindler's accountant, Itzhak Stern. 

Those accents though. I don't understand why Spielberg opted to have the character speak English with a German accent. A pathetic accent to be honest. 

"Whoever saves one life, saves the world entire."

Life Is Beautiful (1997)

Original Title

La vita è bella

Genre

Comedy | Drama

Director

Roberto Benigni

Country

Italy

Cast

Roberto Benigni, Nicoletta Braschi, Giorgio Cantarini, Giustino Durano, Horst Buchholz, Amerigo Fontani, Raffaella Lebbroni, Sergio Bustric, Lydia Alfonsi, Pietro De Silva, Marisa Paredes, Claudio Alfonsi, Alessandro Nardi, Giuliana Lojodice, Francesco Guzzo, Gina Rovere, Gil Baroni, Franco Mescolini

Plot

1930's in Fascist Italy. Guido Orefice (Roberto Benigni), a Jewish Italian bookshop owner, courts and marries Dora (Nicoletta Braschi), a woman from a nearby city. They have a son, Giosuè (Giorgio Cantarini) and live happily together until the German occupation of Italy.
In attempt to help his son survive the horrors of the Concentration Camp, Guido tells his son that the Holocaust is a game and the winner takes a tank.

Opinion

Never before I've seen a film that symbolizes its name and its message so good. Life Is Beautiful is an unforgettable film, not about the Holocaust, but about love, optimism and inner strength. It is about seeing the other side of things, the surreal and funny side.
Roberto Benigni, which in my opinion is the best Italian director, is capable of bringing to the screen a dramatic story, that not only makes you cry but also makes you laugh. It is amazing the way he talks with the child, and the peace and pain message he transmits is wonderful.
If you haven't already, I highly recommend you to watch this movie. If you have and you liked it, I may suggest you another great Benigni's film, The Tiger and the Snow.

Buy on Amazon.com | Buy/Rent on Amazon Instant Video

Quotes

Guido: Buongiorno, Principessa! 

Adult Giosuè: This is my story. This is the sacrifice my father made. This was his gift to me.

Guido: What kind of place is this? It's beautiful: Pigeons fly, women fall from the sky! I'm moving here!

Rating

10/10