While the Holocaust movie genre has a tendency to fall into repetitive plot lines and cliché, this guide examines the five most elegantly filmed, must see Holocaust movies for anyone interested in the topic.
1) Schindler’s List: Yes, this one always tops of the list of all Holocaust movies, and for good reason. With a near perfect score on rottentomatoes.com, Schindler’s List lives up to the reputation of the director behind its making. Essentially a story about a “good” Nazi who sacrifices everything to protect his Jewish workers, Schindler’s List has become a staple in Holocaust movies. While not appropriate for children, and comparatively long to most movies, adults interested in the topic are sure to enjoy it. The foil between Goeth and Schindler is perhaps one of the most poetic parts of the movie; however, many argue that Schindler’s character development is minimal throughout the movie, while Goeth’s subtle developments casts a “grey” area between the characters. It is based on a true story, although many liberties are taken with Schindler’s character.
2) The Pianist: Similar to Schindler’s List in that there is an appearance of a “good” Nazi, The Pianist offers the perspective of the Holocaust from the Warsaw ghetto. Based on the true story of a 1930s Polish-Jewish Pianist, the movie documents the life of Wladyslaw Szpilman from the German invasion of Poland to liberation. This film is strongest in the area of symbolic film methods and character development. There is also a brilliant soundtrack that accompanies the film. A must see.
3) Fateless (Sorstalanság): A Hungarian film based off of Imre Kertész’s semi autobiographical novel, it might almost be classified in the art film genre. While a bit more tedious and less action packed than the two previously mentioned, one cannot help but leaving Fateless with a more grim impression of the Holocaust. The brutality of the Nazis is much more repetitive and bureaucratic than other movies-perhaps a subtle nod to Styron’s theory of “the banality of evil.” The ironic sense of hope from the character near the closing of the piece proves the opposite effect on the viewer.
4) The Boy in the Striped Pajamas: While the “Holocaust from the viewpoint of a child” has become borderline cliché in the genre, one may make an exception from this movie. From the perspective of the son of a fictional Auschwitz commandant, it demonstrates the ability for love and friendship to transcend societal boundaries-in this case, symbolically demonstrated by the fence around the camp. At the same time, the movie is a story about the inevitable destruction of innocence. Not appropriate for children, despite its cover.
5) The Devil’s Arithmetic: It is with great resentment I put this here, because this is undoubtedly one of the least historically accurate movies I’ve seen-period. Jews negotiating with Nazis? A surprise “we’re here!” Nazi invasion of Poland that deports the Jews to Auschwitz the next day-no ghettos? A gas chamber for one woman and her baby? No, that’s really, really inaccurate. However, at the same time this is probably the perfect movie for the 7-11 age group. Realistic enough to allow them to know the gist of the Holocaust, while shielding them from the more gruesome aspects of it, it is an ideal introductory movie. The protagonist, while older than she was in the book it is based off of, is someone children can relate to.
