Son of Saul

An overwhelming masterpiece which provides us with a different perspective of the Holocaust. This claustrophobic film takes us through an endless maze of rooms and hallways adjoining the gas chambers where the victims are lead after being assured that they will be taking a shower after which they will be fed and sent on to good paying jobs. A story which the weary Saul has heard many times. The film-unlike Schindler's List or The Pianist- is not easy on the audience. There are no heroes here; the members of the Sonnerkommando are merely trying to survive from day to day. Many are attempting to escape. The movie was shot on film using a square format rather then widescreen and many of the shots are from the back of Saul's head. A shallow depth of focus is used so that the horrors of the gas chamber are relegated to the periphery of the frame. The terrors of executions are emphasized by natural sounds, specifically of screaming, barking dogs, shouted orders, whispered comments and rifle shots. It is to be noted that there is no orchestral soundtrack. This is a movie that is hard to view but at the same time, one cannot turn away from the screen. All in all an amazing achievement given that Laszlo Nemes is a first-time director and that Geza Rohrig's ground breaking performance is not by a professional actor but by a New York based poet! Son of Saul is a multiple Cannes winner and is Oscar nominated for Best Foreign Film and is highly favored by those in the know to walk away with the statuette. Beware! This is not a date night movie but it is an unforgettable experience if you care to take the time to experience a modern masterpiece.