Films about the start of the Holocaust depict the early stages of the genocide, capturing the rising tensions, discrimination, and persecution of Jewish people and other marginalized groups in Nazi-occupied Europe. These films often explore the gradual implementation of anti-Semitic laws, the establishment of ghettos, and the beginning of mass deportations to concentration camps.
“Schindler's List”, 1993
Director: Steven Spielberg
Directed by Steven Spielberg, this iconic film follows the true story of Oskar Schindler, a German businessman who saved the lives of more than a thousand Jewish refugees during the Holocaust by employing them in his factories.
Starring: Liam Neeson, Ben Kingsley, Ralph Fiennes, Caroline Goodall, Embeth Davidtz, Jonathan Sagall, Malgoscha Gebel, Shmuel Levy, Mark Ivanir, Béatrice Macola, Andrzej Seweryn, Friedrich von Thun, Krzysztof Luft, Harry Nehring, Norbert Weisser, Adi Nitzan, Michael Schneider, Miri Fabian, Anna Mucha, Albert Misak, Michael Gordon, Aldona Grochal, Jacek Wójcicki, Beata Paluch, Piotr Polk, Ezra Dagan, Beata Deskur, Rami Heuberger, Leopold Kozlowski, Jerzy Nowak, Uri Avrahami, Adam Siemion, Magdalena Dandourian, Pawel Delag, Shabtai Konorti, Oliwia Dabrowska, Henryk Bista, Tadeusz Bradecki, Wojciech Klata, Elina Löwensohn, Ewa Kolasinska, Bettina Kupfer, Grzegorz Kwas, Vili Matula, Stanislaw Koczanowicz, Hans-Jörg Assmann, Geno Lechner, August Schmölzer, Ludger Pistor, Beata Rybotycka;
Production year: 1993;
Genre: drama, biography, history, war;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 195 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 9;
More information about the film “Schindler's List” on the website imdb.com
“The Pianist”, 2002
Director: Roman Polanski
Directed by Roman Polanski, this film is based on the memoir of Władysław Szpilman, a Polish-Jewish pianist who survived the Holocaust in the Warsaw Ghetto. It portrays the early stages of the Holocaust in Poland and the gradual escalation of Nazi persecution.
Starring: Adrien Brody, Emilia Fox, Daniel Caltagirone, Ed Stoppard, Maureen Lipman, Frank Finlay, Jessica Kate Meyer, Julia Rayner, Thomas Kretschmann, Michał Żebrowski, Wanja Mues, Richard Ridings, Nomi Sharron, Anthony Milner, Lucy Skeaping, Roddy Skeaping, Ben Harlan, Thomas Lawinky, Joachim Paul Assböck, Roy Smiles, Paul Bradley, Andrzej Blumenfeld, Darian Wawer, Zbigniew Zamachowski, Lejb Fogelman, Detlev von Wangenheim, Popeck, Zofia Czerwinska, Emilio Fernandez, Udo Kroschwald, Uwe Rathsam, Joanna Brodzik, Katarzyna Bargielowska, Maja Ostaszewska, John Bennett, Cyril Shaps, Wojciech Smolarz, Lech Mackiewicz, Ruth Platt, Frank-Michael Köbe, Torsten Flach, Peter Rappenglück, Ronan Vibert, Christoph Pieczynski, Katarzyna Figura, Valentine Pelka, Andrew Tiernan, Tom Strauss, Cezary Kosinski, Grzegorz Artman;
Production year: 2002;
Genre: drama, war, biography, music;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 149 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,5;
More information about the film “The Pianist” on the website imdb.com
“The Boy in the Striped Pajamas”, 2008
Director: Mark Herman
Directed by Mark Herman, this film tells the story of an 8-year-old boy whose father is a Nazi officer. Set during the early years of the Holocaust, the film explores the innocence of childhood contrasted with the horrors of the concentration camp.
Starring: Asa Butterfield, Jack Scanlon, David Thewlis, Vera Farmiga, Amber Beattie, Sheila Hancock, Richard Johnson, Cara Horgan, David Hayman, Rupert Friend, Jim Norton, Zac Mattoon O'Brien, Domonkos Németh, Henry Kingsman, Zsuzsa Holl, László Áron, Charlie Baker, Iván Verebély, Béla Fesztbaum, Attila Egyed, László Nádasi, László Quitt, Mihály Szabados, Zsolt Sáfár Kovács, Gábor Harsai, Orsolya Júlia Papp;
Production year: 2008;
Genre: drama, war;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 94 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,7;
More information about the film “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas” on the website imdb.com
“Europa Europa”, 1990
Director: Agnieszka Holland
Directed by Agnieszka Holland, this film is based on the true story of Solomon Perel, a Jewish boy who survives the Holocaust by posing as an Aryan German. It portrays the early years of the Holocaust and the struggle for survival in Nazi-occupied territories.
Starring: Solomon Perel, Marco Hofschneider, René Hofschneider, Piotr Kozlowski, Klaus Abramowsky, Michèle Gleizer, Marta Sandrowicz, Nathalie Schmidt, Delphine Forest, Andrzej Mastalerz, Julie Delpy, André Wilms, Ashley Wanninger, Halina Labonarska, Martin Maria Blau, Anna Seniuk, Hanns Zischler, Ryszard Pietruski, Aleksy Awdiejew, Artur Barciś, Tadeusz Wojtych, Kama Kowalewska, Zbigniew Bielski, Jaroslaw Gruda, Bohdan Ejmont, Włodzimierz Musiał, Aleksander Bednarz, Wlodzimierz Press, Stanislaw Zatloka, Klaus Kowatsch, Holger Kunkel, Bernhard Howe, Jorg Schnass, Norbert Schwarz, Erich Schwarz, Wolfgang Bathke, Marcin Bielawski, Marek Brand, Arkadiusz Brukner, Dariusz Buchowiecki, Alfred Freudenheim, Jaroslaw Gajewski, Herman Larcher, Marcin Latallo, Gienadij Lesniewski, Nicolas Lormeau, Michel Malko, Cezary Morawski, Maxime Mardoukhaev;
Production year: 1990;
Genre: drama, war, history;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 112 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,6;
More information about the film “Europa Europa” on the website imdb.com
These films provide a glimpse into the harrowing beginnings of the Holocaust, shedding light on the human experiences amidst the horror and tragedy of that time.
In exploring films that depict the harrowing beginnings of the Holocaust, we are confronted with a profound and haunting portrayal of human suffering, resilience, and the catastrophic consequences of hatred. These films serve not only as a reminder of the atrocities committed but also as a call to reflection and remembrance, urging us to confront the darkness of our past to prevent its recurrence. Through poignant storytelling and powerful performances, they illuminate the complexities of human morality in times of crisis, ensuring that the memories of those who suffered are preserved and honored. Ultimately, these cinematic works challenge viewers to engage with history critically, fostering empathy and understanding in an increasingly divided world.
