Son of Saul (Hungarian Holocaust drama)

[Holmes]

I could not find a thread for this film. If there is one, I apologize. My mini-review:

In the final months before liberation by the Soviets, Hungarian Auschwitz inmate Saul (Geza Rohrig) is part of a special unit operating the gas chamber, extending his own fragile life by facilitating the murder of others. One day, a youthful corpse catches his eye, and he becomes possessed by the idea it is his son. He concocts a desperate plot to secure the body before it is cremated and provide a proper (clandestine) Jewish burial. This grim and quixotic journey endangers not only himself, but many of his closest peers in the camp, several of whom are preparing a Hail-Mary rebellion against their Nazi captors. Son of Saul is an ambitious, exhausting, and rigorous drama. It leaves almost no space for the type of sentimentality many abhor in Holocaust cinema by adhering to a close approximation of first-person subjectivity. Nearly every shot finds a wary Saul in focus while the nightmare in front of or behind him is obfuscated, represented mostly via intricate and thunderous sound design. There is no omniscient sermon nor are there the clichés we may expect, such as a conflicted-noble German, and Saul himself is more of a presence—a nervous energy, a gaunt figure in motion—than a traditional protagonist. The result's physical and intellectual impact outweighs its emotional resonance, but this is fine. It is a harsh, yet rewarding recreation of the concentration-camp experience as endured by one bruised man trying to fulfill a sacred duty in the face of vast evil.

A-

[jacobsever]

Missed it during it's 1 week run at the local art theater. Will have to wait for a VOD/Blu release.

[lolwut]

I really want to see this.

[Talleyrand]

Incredible.

[Will.]

Review is up. This is about as locked in as is possible for an Oscar. Can't wait to see it.

[Dubstar]

At my screening of this in early December (35mm print) (where the director was in attendance for a post film Q&A) - there was a woman directly behind me that really did not like the movie and she made sure every one near her, hear her - I had wished in hindsight I had had the courage to ask exactly what ruffled her feathers; (incidentally over heard another woman at a different movie say to her friend during 'Saul' s trailer express disdain as well)

I personally was very impressed by this movie

[Captain Cook]

Really eager to see this! I am waiting for a Plain Archive announcement.

[jacobsever]

Looks like it's coming back to Denver on February 12th. Another 2 weeks to wait. I'm beyond excited.

[format916]

if youre looking for an art house style holocaust film, this is it. i found the filming style to be pretty tedious at times. i think it would make for a great short.

[atlantajoseph]

Saw this last night -- this is a film that I wasn't able to completely process while I was watching it, but it has really gotten under my skin since viewing and I cannot stop thinking about it. I feel compelled to see this again soon.

Time is going to treat this one well, and for any person seriously interested in human nature, humanity, and/or cinema this is essential.

[jacobsever]

Originally Posted by format916

i found the filming style to be pretty tedious at times.

I agree. I thought it was super original and I really enjoyed it for a while. But eventually I was thinking "please just pull out a bit".