Movies About Holocaust

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

"Schindler's List" is an epic historical drama directed by Steven Spielberg and released in 1993. The film stars Liam Neeson and Ben Kingsley and is based on the novel Schindler's Ark by Thomas Keneally. Set during the Holocaust, the film tells the story of German businessman Oskar Schindler (Neeson), who saved the lives of more than a thousand mostly Polish-Jewish refugees from the Nazi concentration camps. Through his acts of kindness and bravery, Schindler earns the enmity of the Nazi leadership but is eventually able to use his influence to save the lives of his Jewish workers. The film is an emotionally devastating account of the Holocaust and its impact on the lives of its victims.

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

Life Is Beautiful is an Italian comedy-drama film directed by Roberto Benigni and released in 1997. The film tells the story of a Jewish Italian bookshop owner, Guido Orefice (played by Benigni), who uses his imagination and sense of humor to protect his son, Giosuè (Giorgio Cantarini), from the horrors of a Nazi concentration camp. Despite the horrific circumstances, Guido is determined to create a game with Giosuè to make the camp less frightening. The film follows the pair through their time in the camp, showing that love and humor can help overcome even the most unbearable conditions. The film was a critical and commercial success, winning numerous awards including the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

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

The Pianist is a 2002 historical drama directed by Roman Polanski, based upon the autobiographical book by Jewish-Polish musician Władysław Szpilman. The film tells the story of Szpilman's struggles as a Jewish-Polish pianist in Nazi-occupied Warsaw during World War II. It follows Szpilman as he is forced into the Warsaw Ghetto and later, as he struggles to survive in the ruins of the city after its destruction. Along his journey, Szpilman encounters a variety of characters, including a German officer who ultimately helps him survive the war. The film explores themes of suffering, resilience, and hope in the face of extreme adversity. It ultimately closes with a powerful reminder of the human capacity to overcome even the most unspeakable evils.

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

Judgment at Nuremberg is a 1961 courtroom drama film directed by Stanley Kramer. The film focuses on the post-World War II trial of four German judges accused of crimes against humanity during the Nazi regime. Led by chief justice Dan Haywood (Spencer Tracy), an international military tribunal is convened to determine the fate of the defendants. During the trial, the court must grapple with the moral implications of holding individuals accountable for the atrocities of a regime they were expected to uphold. As the trial progresses, it becomes clear that the defendants were simply following orders and had no choice in their actions. The film explores the themes of guilt, responsibility, and justice, while also exploring the implications of the Holocaust. The film features an all-star cast, including Burt Lancaster, Montgomery Clift, Richard Widmark, Marlene Dietrich, Maximilian Schell, Judy Garland, and Werner Klemperer. The film was a critical and commercial success, receiving 11 Academy Award nominations and winning two, including Best Supporting Actor for Maximilian Schell.

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 Holocaust drama film set during World War II. It tells the story of the unlikely friendship between two eight-year-old boys, Bruno, the son of a Nazi commandant, and Shmuel, a Jewish inmate of a nearby concentration camp. Through their friendship, both boys come to understand the horror of the Nazi's persecution of the Jews. When Bruno decides to secretly visit Shmuel in the camp, the situation leads to a heartbreaking climax. The film examines the consequences of prejudice, hate, and the consequences of blindly following orders. Ultimately, it is a powerful story about innocence and the loss of innocence in a world of cruelty.

From Sidney Lumet, starring Rod Steiger, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Brock Peters, Jaime Sánchez
Rated Approved

The Pawnbroker is a 1964 drama film directed by Sidney Lumet and starring Rod Steiger. The story follows a Jewish survivor of the Holocaust, Sol Nazerman (Steiger), who runs a pawn shop in Harlem, New York City. Despite his attempts to push away the world, Nazerman becomes increasingly connected to the people around him, including Jesus Ortiz (Brock Peters), a young employee who attempts to befriend him, and Mercedes (Theresa Saldana), a young Puerto Rican woman who is being physically abused by her husband. As Nazerman learns more about his customers, he begins to reexamine his own past and come to terms with the tragedy that haunts him. The film also explores the theme of racism in American society and the struggles of Holocaust survivors to find meaning in a world that can be hostile and indifferent.

From Radu Mihaileanu, starring Lionel Abelanski, Rufus, Clément Harari, Michel Muller
Rated R

Train of Life is a 1998 French-Romanian-Israeli comedy-drama film directed by Radu Mihaileanu. The film follows a group of Jews in a small Romanian village during World War II who, faced with the threat of extermination by the Nazis, decide to build a fake train in order to flee to Palestine. Led by the village rabbi, the villagers create a train and disguise themselves as Nazis in order to pass through the borders unnoticed. Along the way, they pick up passengers from other Jewish villages, and the train evolves into a symbol of hope for the Jewish people. The film is a bittersweet story of survival, courage, and the power of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

From Agnieszka Holland, starring Solomon Perel, Marco Hofschneider, René Hofschneider, André Wilms
Rated R

Europa Europa (1990) is a World War II drama directed by Agnieszka Holland. The film follows the story of Solomon Perel, a young German-Jewish boy who survives the Holocaust by posing as an ethnic German. After being separated from his family, Solomon survives a series of harrowing near-death experiences, ultimately managing to make his way to safety in Germany. Along the way, he must continually adjust his identity to fit the changing political and social conditions, at times even joining the Hitler Youth. In the end, he reunites with his family, but his experiences have forever changed him.

From Jan Hrebejk, starring Bolek Polívka, Csongor Kassai, Jaroslav Dusek, Anna Sisková
Rated PG-13

Divided We Fall is a Czech comedy-drama set during the Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia in World War II. It follows the story of Josef and Marie Cizek, a young married couple living in an occupied town. Josef is a gentle and kind man, while Marie is a strong-willed and determined woman. They befriend an escaped Jewish man, David, who is on the run from the Gestapo. The couple conceals David in their home and slowly begins to accept him as family. As the war progresses, they must carefully navigate the dangers posed by their Nazi oppressors while continuing to protect their newfound friend. With a mixture of humor and tragedy, Divided We Fall paints a powerful portrait of the human capacity for resilience, friendship, and loyalty in the face of adversity.

From Alan J. Pakula, starring Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, Peter MacNicol, Rita Karin
Rated R

Sophie's Choice is a 1982 drama film directed by Alan J. Pakula and based on the 1979 novel of the same name by William Styron. Set in post-World War II Brooklyn, the film stars Meryl Streep as Sophie Zawistowski, a Polish immigrant who is trying to build a new life for herself and her two children. She meets a young writer, Nathan Landau (Kevin Kline), and falls in love, but their romance is complicated by the secrets of her past. Sophie is ultimately forced to make an unbearable choice between her two children, a choice that will haunt her for the rest of her life. With powerful performances, compelling characters, and a heartbreaking story, the film explores the lasting impact of trauma and the power of love.

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

The Counterfeiters is a 2007 German-language drama film written and directed by Stefan Ruzowitzky. Set in World War II, it follows the story of a Jewish man, Salomon "Sally" Sorowitsch, who is an expert counterfeiter, who is enlisted by the Nazis to produce fake money for the Third Reich. After being brought to Sachsenhausen concentration camp, Sally and a team of Jewish prisoners are sent to an isolated island to work on the counterfeit money. As the project unfolds, Sally and his team must contend with the moral implications of their actions as well as the pressure from their Nazi guards to produce higher and higher quality forgeries. As Sally struggles to keep his team alive and maintain his sanity, he must make difficult choices about how far he is willing to go to survive.

From István Szabó, starring Ralph Fiennes, Rosemary Harris, Rachel Weisz, Jennifer Ehle
Rated R

Sunshine is a 1999 drama directed by István Szabó. Set in Hungary during the first half of the 20th century, the film follows the fate of three generations of the Sonnenschein family, a Jewish family which converted to Christianity in order to survive the tumultuous times. The film follows the family's patriarch, Ignatz (Ralph Fiennes), who, despite his conversion, still faces anti-Semitism, and his children, Ivan (William Hurt), Adam (Rosemary Harris) and Vali (Molly Parker). Each of the siblings grapple with their family's legacy, their sense of identity and their struggle to find meaning in the world. Through all their trials, the family remains bonded by their unconditional love and support.

From George Stevens, starring Millie Perkins, Shelley Winters, Joseph Schildkraut, Richard Beymer
Rated Approved

From Costa-Gavras, starring Ulrich Tukur, Mathieu Kassovitz, Ulrich Mühe, Michel Duchaussoy
Rated Not Rated

From Edward Zwick, starring Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber, Jamie Bell, Alexa Davalos
Rated R

From Lajos Koltai, starring Marcell Nagy, Béla Dóra, Bálint Péntek, Áron Dimény
Rated R

From Tim Blake Nelson, starring David Arquette, Velizar Binev, David Chandler, Michael Stuhlbarg
Rated R

From Volker Schlöndorff, starring Ulrich Matthes, August Diehl, Hilmar Thate, Bibiana Beglau
Rated Not Rated

From Margarethe von Trotta, starring Katja Riemann, Maria Schrader, Svea Lohde, Jutta Lampe
Rated PG-13

From John Daly, starring Martin Landau, Kenny Doughty, Caroline Carver, Judy Parfitt
Rated PG-13