Movies About Genocide

From Steven Spielberg, starring Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Kingsley, Caroline Goodall
Rated R

Schindler's List is a 1993 American historical drama film directed and co-produced by Steven Spielberg and written by Steven Zaillian. The film is based on the novel Schindler's Ark by Australian novelist Thomas Keneally. It stars Liam Neeson as businessman Oskar Schindler, who saved the lives of more than a thousand mostly Polish-Jewish refugees from the Holocaust by employing them in his factories during World War II. The film's cast also includes Ralph Fiennes as SS Officer Amon Göth, Ben Kingsley as Schindler's Jewish accountant Itzhak Stern, and a young Embeth Davidtz as Schindler's secretary, Helen Hirsch. The film follows Schindler's efforts to save his Jewish workers from the Nazi concentration camps, intercut with archival footage of the brutality of the camps themselves. The film's message of hope and redemption amid the horrors of the Holocaust has made it one of the most acclaimed films of all time, and has earned Spielberg Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay.

From Roberto Benigni, starring Roberto Benigni, Nicoletta Braschi, Giorgio Cantarini, Giustino Durano
Rated PG-13

Life is Beautiful is a 1997 Italian comedy-drama directed by Roberto Benigni and starring Benigni and his wife, Nicoletta Braschi. The film follows the story of a Jewish Italian bookseller, Guido (Benigni) who uses his vivid imagination and humor to protect his son from the horrors of a Nazi internment camp during World War II. Guido is separated from his family when the Nazis invade Italy and is sent to a concentration camp while his son and wife are sent to a nearby work camp. To protect his son from the horrors of the camp, Guido convinces him that their internment is just a game and that whoever lasts the longest without getting a star on their chest will win a tank. Throughout Guido's time in the camp, he tries to protect his son at all costs and keep his spirit alive through stories and laughter. In the end, his son is liberated and he reunites with his family, while Guido dies a hero. The film is a powerful and emotional look at the strength of family and the power of imagination.

From Roman Polanski, starring Adrien Brody, Thomas Kretschmann, Frank Finlay, Emilia Fox
Rated R

The Pianist is a biographical drama directed by Roman Polanski, based on the memoirs of Władysław Szpilman, a Polish-Jewish pianist. It tells the story of Szpilman living through the brutal Nazi occupation of Poland during World War II. After the Nazis invade, Szpilman and his family are forced into the Warsaw Ghetto. Through a combination of luck and his own resilience, he manages to survive the war and the horrific conditions of the ghetto. He is helped by a German officer, who finds out about his musical talent and allows him to continue his life as a pianist. Throughout his ordeal, Szpilman maintains his dignity and spirit, as well as his passion for music. The film won the Academy Award for Best Director and was nominated for several other awards.

From Stanley Kramer, starring Spencer Tracy, Burt Lancaster, Richard Widmark, Marlene Dietrich
Rated Approved

Judgment at Nuremberg is a 1961 courtroom drama directed by Stanley Kramer. Set in 1948, the film follows a court of American judges as they try four German judges for war crimes during World War II. The film is based on the actual trial of Nazi judges for their roles in the Holocaust and other war crimes. The film examines themes of justice, accountability, individual morality, and the rule of law. Through the trial, the film reveals the complexity of justice and war in a world of political and moral ambiguities. The film stars an all-star cast, including Spencer Tracy, Burt Lancaster, Marlene Dietrich, Montgomery Clift, Richard Widmark, and Judy Garland. It was nominated for 11 Academy Awards and won two in the categories of Best Supporting Actor (Maximilian Schell) and Best Writing Adapted Screenplay (Abby Mann).

From Oliver Hirschbiegel, starring Bruno Ganz, Alexandra Maria Lara, Ulrich Matthes, Juliane Köhler
Rated R

Downfall is a German-language historical war drama about the final days of Adolf Hitler's reign as ruler of Nazi Germany. It follows Hitler's inner circle during the Battle of Berlin in 1945 as the German forces are losing the war. The film examines the psychological impact of the Nazi regime on its leaders and citizens, as well as the moral responsibility of its citizens. The main characters are played by Bruno Ganz, Alexandra Maria Lara, Corinna Harfouch, Ulrich Matthes, and Juliane Koehler. The film is a powerful, often disturbing, portrait of a man and his regime in its dying days. It has been hailed as one of the best war films ever made.

From Terry George, starring Don Cheadle, Sophie Okonedo, Joaquin Phoenix, Xolani Mali
Rated PG-13

Hotel Rwanda (2004) is a film directed by Terry George that tells the true story of Paul Rusesabagina, a hotel manager who used his courage and leadership to protect his family and over 1,200 refugees from the Hutu militia during the 1994 Rwandan genocide. The film focuses on the heroic actions of Paul, who uses his position in the hotel to provide shelter for the refugees and protect them from the militia. As the situation worsens, he negotiates with both sides to find a peaceful solution, while at the same time maintaining his composure and dignity. Ultimately, Paul succeeds in saving the lives of over 1,200 refugees and is recognized as a hero of the Rwandan genocide.

From Louis Malle, starring Gaspard Manesse, Raphael Fejtö, Francine Racette, Stanislas Carré de Malberg
Rated PG

Goodbye, Children is a 1987 French film directed by Louis Malle. Set in Nazi-occupied France during World War II, the story follows two boys at a Catholic boarding school who develop a friendship despite their different backgrounds. Julien is the son of a Nazi collaborator, while Jean is the son of a Jewish teacher. As the war progresses, the boys grapple with the increasingly difficult reality of anti-semitism, and are eventually forced to confront the consequences of their disparate loyalties when their friendship is put to the test. Through their personal struggles, the film exposes the devastating effects of prejudice and war.

From Roland Joffé, starring Sam Waterston, Haing S. Ngor, John Malkovich, Julian Sands
Rated R

The Killing Fields is a 1984 British biographical drama film about the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia and its effects on a group of people. It follows the story of two Cambodian journalists, one a foreign correspondent and the other a local working for Reuters, and their friendship that is destroyed by the genocidal actions of the Khmer Rouge. The film stars Sam Waterston, John Malkovich and Dr. Haing S. Ngor. The story highlights the horrors of the Cambodian genocide and the bravery of the people who survive it. It paints a vivid picture of the brutality of the Khmer Rouge and the courage of those who struggled to survive in its wake. The film received numerous awards and nominations, including three Academy Award nominations and won three BAFTAs.

From Mark Herman, starring Asa Butterfield, David Thewlis, Rupert Friend, Zac Mattoon O'Brien
Rated PG-13

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is a 2008 British-American Holocaust drama film set in World War II, based on John Boyne's 2006 novel of the same name. The film tells the story of Bruno, an 8-year-old German boy whose family relocates from Berlin to a place called "Out-With" (Auschwitz) in 1942. Despite warnings from his father, Bruno befriends a Jewish inmate in the camp, named Shmuel, and their friendship leads to a startling discovery. The film is told through the eyes of Bruno, whose naivete and innocence of the Holocaust leads to a heartbreaking conclusion.

From Paul Verhoeven, starring Carice van Houten, Sebastian Koch, Thom Hoffman, Halina Reijn
Rated R

Black Book is a 2006 Dutch-German war drama directed by Paul Verhoeven. The film follows a young Jewish woman in Nazi-occupied Netherlands who joins the Resistance in an effort to save her family and take revenge on those who have wronged her. The woman, Rachel Steinn (Carice van Houten), disguises herself as a member of the Gestapo and slowly works her way up in the ranks of the Nazi hierarchy, earning her the nickname "The Black Book" from her enemies. As she works her way up, she falls in love with a resistance fighter and makes a powerful enemy out of a high-ranking SS officer. Rachel soon finds herself in a dangerous and complex game of political intrigue, betrayal, and espionage, all while trying to stay one step ahead of the Gestapo.

From Directors: Jennifer Capraru, Roger Spottiswoode, starring Roy Dupuis, Owen Sejake, James Gallanders, Michel Ange Nzojibwami
Rated R

Shake Hands with the Devil is a 2007 Canadian-Irish film based on the autobiographical book of the same name by Lieutenant-General Roméo Dallaire. Directed by Canadian filmmaker Roger Spottiswoode, the film follows Dallaire as he serves as Force Commander of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR) during the Rwandan Genocide and his own battle with survivor's guilt. As the Hutu and Tutsi factions clash and hundreds of thousands of people are killed, Dallaire is forced to confront his own feelings and political realities as he works to protect as many civilians as possible. The film features Roy Dupuis as Dallaire, as well as a host of esteemed actors from both Canada and Rwanda, including James Gallanders and Fana Mokoena. Shake Hands with the Devil is a powerful and thought-provoking exploration of one of the most devastating events in modern history.

From Michael Caton-Jones, starring John Hurt, Hugh Dancy, Dominique Horwitz, Louis Mahoney
Rated R

Shooting Dogs, a 2005 British drama directed by Michael Caton-Jones, tells the story of a Catholic school in Rwanda during the 1994 genocide. The school is a safe haven for many of the Tutsi refugees, but they are brutally targeted by the Hutu militia. Father Christopher, a British priest, and Joe Connor, a teacher, attempt to protect the refugees, but the militia storm the school. In the ensuing chaos, many of the refugees, including Joe's students, are killed. Joe and Christopher are eventually rescued by UN forces, but the experience leaves them traumatized and unable to forget the horrors of the genocide.

From Stephen Daldry, starring Kate Winslet, Ralph Fiennes, Bruno Ganz, Jeanette Hain
Rated R

The Reader is a 2008 drama film directed by Stephen Daldry, based on the novel of the same name by Bernhard Schlink. It stars Kate Winslet and Ralph Fiennes and is set in post-World War II Germany. The story follows Michael Berg, a law student in the late 1950s who has a brief, passionate affair with a woman named Hanna Schmitz, who is twice his age. Years later, Michael discovers that Hanna was one of a group of guards who served as Nazi war criminals at Auschwitz. He is both shocked and fascinated by her past, and as he learns more and more, he begins to question his own morality and values. The film received both praise and criticism for its depiction of Nazi war crimes, as well as its frank examination of the complexities of the German people in the aftermath of World War II. In 2009, it was nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actress for Winslet.

From Brian Percival, starring Sophie Nélisse, Geoffrey Rush, Emily Watson, Ben Schnetzer
Rated PG-13

The Book Thief is a 2013 period drama film directed by Brian Percival and based on the 2005 novel of the same name by Markus Zusak. It follows the story of Liesel Meminger (Sophie Nélisse), a young girl that is sent to live with foster parents in Nazi Germany, who teaches herself to read and finds solace through books during World War II. Along the way, she befriends her foster father, Hans (Geoffrey Rush), and a Jewish refugee from the neighboring house, Max (Ben Schnetzer). Liesel’s courage and grace under the direst of circumstances is tested as she learns about the power of words, the beauty of literature, and the strength that comes from sharing it with others in times of darkness.

From Stefan Ruzowitzky, starring Karl Markovics, August Diehl, Devid Striesow, Martin Brambach
Rated R

The Counterfeiters is a 2007 drama film directed by Stefan Ruzowitzky and based on the true story of Operation Bernhard. It follows the story of Jewish master forger Salomon Sorowitsch, who is recruited by the Nazis to create fake foreign currency in a concentration camp. The film follows Sorowitsch and his fellow counterfeiters as they attempt to complete their mission while trying to survive the harsh conditions of the camp. Through the course of the film, Sorowitsch struggles with his moral dilemma of helping the Nazis while also protecting his fellow prisoners. Ultimately, Sorowitsch must decide between completing the mission or sabotaging it and risking his own life in the process. The Counterfeiters won the 2007 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

From Atom Egoyan, starring Christopher Plummer, Kim Roberts, Amanda Smith, Martin Landau
Rated R

From Ferzan Özpetek, starring Giovanna Mezzogiorno, Massimo Girotti, Raoul Bova, Filippo Nigro
Rated R

From Angelina Jolie, starring Sareum Srey Moch, Phoeung Kompheak, Sveng Socheata, Mun Kimhak
Rated TV-MA

From Margarethe von Trotta, starring Barbara Sukowa, Axel Milberg, Janet McTeer, Julia Jentsch
Rated Not Rated

From John Madden, starring Helen Mirren, Sam Worthington, Tom Wilkinson, Jessica Chastain
Rated R

From Mick Jackson, starring Rachel Weisz, Tom Wilkinson, Timothy Spall, Andrew Scott
Rated PG-13

From Paolo Sorrentino, starring Sean Penn, Frances McDormand, Judd Hirsch, Eve Hewson
Rated R

From Atom Egoyan, starring Charles Aznavour, Brent Carver, Eric Bogosian, Simon Abkarian
Rated R

From Fatih Akin, starring Tahar Rahim, Simon Abkarian, Makram Khoury, Hindi Zahra
Rated Not Rated