Auschwitz (2011)
Company: Martini Entertainment / Olive Films
Starring: Uwe Boll, Steffen Mennekes, Arved Birnbaum
Plot: Product Description: Filmmaker Uwe Boll’s Auschwitz is
a daring docu-drama depicting the atrocities of the Holocaust set inside of the
most notorious of concentration camps. Combining archival footage, dramatic
reenactments and current on-camera interviews, the film attempts to provide the
viewer with an understanding of the “how” and “why” of such genocide. Bookended
with an introduction by the provocative director and interviews with a number
of high school teens quizzed on their knowledge of Auschwitz and the Holocaust,
Boll provides a sobering perspective on a powerful, compelling and tragic piece
of world history.
My Review and Thoughts:
This can be looked at in three different ways. One being a
Uwe Boll film, one being an exploration into a moment of history, or an
exploitation in violence. I had been wanting to see this film for many years.
This is the first time it's officially, had a release in America. Martini
Entertainment, a Division of Olive Films, has brought this to DVD for fans of Boll,
or fans of history through visual exploration. This is a different approach to
the history lesson of the Holocaust. Any movie lover will know that Boll is a
controversial director that never hides his violent imagery in films. Boll has
never watered down his films, and most of his films are exploitative in the
disturbing reality, just for the nature of being disturbing.
There are no heroes. No good guys. No savior. This is
nothing but slaughter, and the cattle is human. The setting is during the
holocaust. Something I feel as Boll states introducing this film, that
Hollywood, and film makers, always tend to wrap the horrible subject of the
Holocaust around a savior, or aspect of someone saving, or stepping into help.
Yes these heroes and saviors happened, but in most regards, and most moments of
the holocaust, there was no hero's, or saviors, millions died. This is an
unflinching brutality. And this is an eye opening experience. The darkest
reality of evil is to forget the truth of what happened, and to not teach the
real reality of the Holocaust and WW2. Now I don't mean that this is
historically sound, what I mean is, it's a film that shows the brutality, and
the simple matter of fact way, of cattle being led to slaughter, as if no big
deal, accept the cattle was human beings. This film showcases that. There is no
grand story, no brilliant acting, no award worthy cinema shots, it's just
Nazi's, Jews, and murder.
This is a mixed film, part Documentary, part real footage of
the concentration camps, and part fictional drama. This starts out with Boll
explaining why he did this. Then you witness some teenagers being interviewed
about the Holocaust. This reality is an eye opening experience in showcasing
just how unlearned many of the population is about WW2, and the Holocaust. The
graphic content that becomes this film is a back burner, because listening to
these kids is more shocking in how they explain, or talk about the Holocaust.
One might simply say these kids are stupid, but it's not their fault, it's the
grownups, and the school system, and the government that is stupid, and inhuman
in not teaching, and explaining, and making sure the holocaust is never
forgotten. Then you move onto a dramatized, moments of the Jews in
the Trains, then undressing, and led into the shower where you witness the
gassing. You also get moments of shootings, and Nazi’s going about their work
leading the people to the slaughter. It’s a simple film, part documentary, and
part dramatized mayhem, but it is a film that can stir emotions within the
watcher, and if it doesn’t, then you might want therapy.
I think what makes this film significant is the nonchalant
way the violence is depicted. The showers which was the gas chambers. The
shooting of children. There is a shot when an SS Guard played wonderfully by
actor Steffen Mennekes, and an SS Commander played wonderfully by actor Arved
Birnbaum, talking and drinking, and in the back ground, you can here screaming,
people being shot like it’s no big reality. Another shot of a Nazi which is
played by Uwe Boll himself, is eating a sandwich as he is making the Jews
undress and leading them into the gas chambers. There he stands against the
door, eating while the Jews are screaming, and pounding on the door as the gas
slowly kills them. You see people have the unlearned reality that the gas
killed quickly, it didn't. It could take over 10 minutes to fully kill certain
persons, and even longer.
Starring Steffen Mennekes who is and has been a stable in
Boll’s vast career of films. As of this writing he has been in 8 of Boll’s
films. Mennekes is a great actor and is able to create his characters in a
believable way. His characters no matter how weird or different they are, they
come across as real. He plays the Nazi SS Guard in Auschwitz with unflinching
realism and sadistic nonchalant reality. Also equally entertaining and
brilliant is Arved Birnbaum who plays the SS Commander. He too has been in many
of Boll’s films. He is an amazing performer and has been in many films that his
characters stand out. A constant performer that never falters.
Love him, or hate him, Boll is a film maker, and never lets
up in the extreme department. He knows how to push the buttons and display a
story in his style of film making. I really liked being able to finally see
this, and Olive Films did a great job bringing this out for the fans of Boll,
or those who are just curious. Its 73 minutes long. 73 minutes of brutality.
Written, produced and directed, and starring Boll. This is a film that many won’t
like, and many will find brutal.
Some will find compelling, and some will find eye opening.
As one watches you can tell many of the people they use for the Jews, or
victims are not actors, and the emotions of choking reactions, seem staged, or
fake at times. I think that is one of the down falls’ to this film, is the
cheesy moments at times. Specifically the shower shots. This moment is pivotal
in showcasing the brutality, but also moments that cause the viewer to be
turned off, not for the violence, but the acting.
As I have stated for diehard fans of Boll films, this is a
must see, and for those who want a different take on the holocaust, then this
is a must. I think the strongest parts of the film is the interviews with the
kids at the start, and at the end. We have to educate about history, for if we
forget, we are doomed to repeat, and genocide is still going on today across
the world.
Genocide, is in many forms, all across history, and even now
in parts of the world. Auschwitz is a film that warrants a viewing for the
reality that these teenage kids, persons, don’t know about the holocaust. There
are spots in the world you can mention Hitler, and they praise him, and to me,
that is unbelievable.
Audio/Video:
This was filmed in a darker toned setting and that reality
plays off by the excellent DVD by Olive Films. The sound is crisp and works as
you listen to the horrible reactions of the victims in the background as the
film unfolds on screen.
Screen: 1.78:1, Color
Languages: German
Subtitles: English
Overall:
I personally feel this is something that should be seen.
Olive Films took it upon themselves to bring this controversial film to DVD.
They aced it, and I feel it's worthy of a watch, and a buy, but I also warn,
that this is disturbing on many levels. I think it’s a different viewpoint on
this horrible moment in history. I think it is an eye opening experience even
with its flaws. I think this is a great exploratory conversation piece, and is
something that can be used in a group setting, or for a history buff in
showcasing the teenagers of the day being interviewed and how wrong, and
confused, and different beliefs, and truths are about.
INFO:
It will be released on May 26th 2015.
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