A few days ago, I wrote about my experience with the movie Mustang, Turkey’s submission for the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. I was a little disconcerted by the hearty laughter from the audience at our local Bytowne cinema at the battle of wits between a little girl and her mean (and probably violent) uncle. Even though the film’s director takes a hopeful and sometimes humorous approach to some tough material, I was way too nervous for this girl to laugh. I was reminded that night how differently two people can experience the same film.
Competing with Mustang for the Oscar is a film that even the Bytowne crowd can’t (and didn’t) find funny. Son of Saul is set in a Concentration Camp but is unlike any Holocaust movie I’ve ever seen.
There’s so much going on around Saul as he navigates his way through the camp in search of a rabbi who can help him give his son a proper Jewish burial. But we rarely see any of it. First-time feature director Laszlo Nemes used the Academy aspect ratio of 1.375:1, which I’d be lying if I claimed to understand exactly what it means but I gather that it produces an unusually narrow field of vision. The camera is usually either right in his face or right over his shoulder so we can see the camp only from his point of view. We have only the off-camera cries of anguish to remind us of the atrocities in the background. Through the eyes of Saul, there are no Oskar Schindlers, no Roberto Benignis to pretend for us that this is all a game.
This is some bleak material that is expertly shot by Nemes. With a technical prowess that occasionally reminded me of Alfonso Cuarón, I would have expected Son of Saul to move me more than it did. Mustang, for example, may not have the same flawless attention to detail but still managed to elicit an emotional response from me that I just couldn’t seem to manage with son of Saul. I was more impressed with the filmmaking than I was captivated by the story.
ASSHOLES WATCHING MOVIES 
Great review! I’d like to see this one as well, but of course it’s in no theater near me at the moment. I didn’t know it was shot differently, that can either be really good, or really constricting.
LikeLike
I think it works brilliantly here. I hope you get to see it soon.
LikeLike
This sounds very much like how I responded to Schindler’s List…it’s too clinical to make me react to it. This sounds very interesting though, and like a hard watch.
LikeLike
It’s funny because I cry every time I watch Schindler’s List. I cry so much that I actually feel better after watching it.
LikeLike
Sounds pretty good. I like war films and this one looks to be pretty unique.
LikeLike
The actual war scenes are really unique in their first-person perspective.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Interesting. I’m sure this film would still make me ill, though (even if it didn’t give you an emotional response). I can’t sit through any Holocaust material. It makes me physically ill. Usually just a migraine.
LikeLike
This one’s pretty harsh so you might want to steer clear.
LikeLike
Great review even though I have not seen this one yet 🙂 If one were to ask me what my favorite documentary or documentary short about the Holocaust is, my response would be Alain Resnais 1955 doucmentary short Night and Fog. If one were to ask me about feature films that center on Jewish characters during that period, my response would be Paul Verhoeven’s Black Book and Francesco Rosi’s The Truce. The latter has John Turturro. Anyway, keep up the great work as always 🙂
LikeLike
What an intriguing review! I will have to keep my eye out to see if it comes around Herr.
LikeLike
Wow, I’d love to see this, just to see another side, so to speak. Thanks
LikeLike
Pingback: Oscar Spotlight: Emmanuel Lubezki | ASSHOLES WATCHING MOVIES