Saul Fia is the debut film of László Nemes. It stars Géza Röhrig as Ausländer Saul and won the Oscar for the Best Foreign Language Film in 2016. It has also received numerous critical acclaims among other prestigious awards.
In all regards, Saul Fia("Son of Saul") was a difficult movie to watch. After about five minutes, it was evident that the story in large parts, will be containing the close-up footage of the protagonist's face.
Another thing, that made it difficult was the subject of the movie. It is about one of the Sonderkommandos in a Nazi concentration camp. Many films based on Holocaust. focus on victims and the dynamics between prisoners and the German military. This movie focuses on prisoners too. But, there is a catch. Ausländer Saul, like all Sonderkommando, has been given the task to lead Jews into gas chamber, take care of their dead bodies and sort the dead's possessions; till he himself is executed. Just for a moment, sit back and think how cruel that idea is.
Before continuing further, it becomes necessary to get atleast an idea regarding what he might be going through. Concentration camps were absolutely inhuman in all regards. If you have read Viktor Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning, you have a pretty decent idea about the horrific things Jews were subjected too. Jews were treated as pests and the solution devised against them was Zyklon B(the pesticide used in gas chambers; Germans made sure that they get their poetic humor right). Further, a captive who only sees two things around himself - death and routine - quickly begins to lose rationality. He clings to things which might seem as odd or downright unnecessary, to an outsider. After all, isn't that what makes us humans? We always cling to something.
Ausländer Saul wants to bury a boy. The boy survives the gas chamber, but dies on an operating table instead. Saul, who has been watching all of this unfold, takes an interest in the child. He begins to see the boy as his son. Throughout the movie, he takes extreme measures to give his 'son' a proper Jewish burial. He smuggles out the dead body(as all dead went to ovens or pits to be burnt) and searches for a Rabbi. Meanwhile, we see the concentration camp from his perspective. I think, I noticed the Lucifer Effect among the Jewish 'officers' appointed by the Germans. Another thing that made me sad was how Jews were promised jobs and food, if they take their 'shower'.
Finally, the last thing that made the movie difficult was the realistic portrayal. Watching that amount of smoke, fire and blood troubles your core. But your mind makes a connection - what were the emotions of those who went to camps, but never returned?
I will give this movie, ten out of ten stars. It is nothing less than a masterpiece. How will you rate it?
In all regards, Saul Fia("Son of Saul") was a difficult movie to watch. After about five minutes, it was evident that the story in large parts, will be containing the close-up footage of the protagonist's face.
Another thing, that made it difficult was the subject of the movie. It is about one of the Sonderkommandos in a Nazi concentration camp. Many films based on Holocaust. focus on victims and the dynamics between prisoners and the German military. This movie focuses on prisoners too. But, there is a catch. Ausländer Saul, like all Sonderkommando, has been given the task to lead Jews into gas chamber, take care of their dead bodies and sort the dead's possessions; till he himself is executed. Just for a moment, sit back and think how cruel that idea is.
Before continuing further, it becomes necessary to get atleast an idea regarding what he might be going through. Concentration camps were absolutely inhuman in all regards. If you have read Viktor Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning, you have a pretty decent idea about the horrific things Jews were subjected too. Jews were treated as pests and the solution devised against them was Zyklon B(the pesticide used in gas chambers; Germans made sure that they get their poetic humor right). Further, a captive who only sees two things around himself - death and routine - quickly begins to lose rationality. He clings to things which might seem as odd or downright unnecessary, to an outsider. After all, isn't that what makes us humans? We always cling to something.
Finally, the last thing that made the movie difficult was the realistic portrayal. Watching that amount of smoke, fire and blood troubles your core. But your mind makes a connection - what were the emotions of those who went to camps, but never returned?
I will give this movie, ten out of ten stars. It is nothing less than a masterpiece. How will you rate it?
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