Son of Saul: A Nauseous Masterpiece

A raw point-of-view film from the eyes of a concentration camp inmate. Son of Saul takes a look at a gruesome past with unforgettable results as it numbs your bones in this exceptional directorial debut from László Nemes.

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​​An important film that drives viewers into the hells of the Holocaust. This Hungarian film reimagines the horrors that took place during that tragic massacre. Director László Nemes takes us into the eyes of Saul Auslander (Géza Röhrig), a Jewish prisoner at Auschwitz whose job is to burn dead bodies.

This film masterfully engulfs you because we only see what Saul sees as the rest of the background is blurred out for the majority of the film. This is not only skillfully crafted but well executed through the hands of Nemes. By blurring out the background, I believe that this was another way to show respect to the people who lost their lives during this horrific event.

The tension surges when Saul finds a boy who survived the gas chamber. After the boy dies, Saul makes the impossible goal to provide a Jewish burial for him. Is the boy Saul’s own son as he claims to be? Or is the boy a symbol for a greater loss? Son of Saul is not for the faint of heart, but it's a very important film on showing us why we cannot repeat the past with recent events. You don’t just watch this film, you live and breath it. Feeling every cry or scream move throughout your bones.

​Son of Saul is a rare film that you won’t be able to shake off ... ever. Receiving an Oscar nom for Best Foreign Film of the Year; Saul has my vote and will hopefully take home the crown. Son of Saul is one of the best films of 2015 and receives 5 out of 5 stars. It’s formally riveting and emotionally shattering as we are guided through Saul’s weary eyes. 

Son of Saul is rated R (Restricted). For disturbing violent content, and some graphic nudity.