When creating a film about the Holocaust, one of the most horrible events in the history of mankind, filmmakers are forced to tread a fine line. A comprehensive study of the events involved and characters portrayed is necessary to avoid giving off an inaccurate view of the tragedy depicted. There have been filmmakers that haven’t used this system, of course, but thankfully a good percentage of them choose to put in the extra work that is required to preserve historical accuracy.
Films created about the inescapable calamity that was the Holocaust can usually be expected to be serious contenders at awards shows, as filmmakers have a higher degree of perfectionism when dealing with sensitive topics, yielding better results overall. Today we’re looking at films that not only treated the cataclysmic events of the Holocaust as they happened but were also generally masterful, excelling in production-based qualities such as writing and cinematography. Here are the 10 best Holocaust films of all time.
The Pawnbroker (1964)
The 1964 drama The Pawnbroker, directed by prolific cineast Sidney Lumet and based on the 1961 book of the same name, follows Sol (Rod Steiger), a pawnbroker who experienced the evils of the Holocaust firsthand, with his wife and children losing their lives at a concentration camp.
As a result of the unbearable tragedies he witnessed, he has become alienated from society and rejects those around him, numbed to emotion and unable to express love. This was the first film in the U.S. to deal with the Holocaust from the perspective of a survivor, and it received critical acclaim at the time of its release, becoming a culturally significant masterpiece and launching the A-list career of star Rod Steiger.
Europa Europa (1990)
The 1990 film Europa Europa is based on the autobiography I Was Hitler Youth Saloman and relates the true story of Solomon Perel, a Jewish boy who escaped the savagery of the Holocaust by masquerading as an ethnic German.
Over the course of the film, he ends up becoming an involuntary war hero - for the Germans! - and a member of the Hitler Youth, finding it increasingly difficult to conceal his Jewish heritage. The film received a string of commendatory reviews from critics for its emotion-infused story and performances, receiving an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay.
Ida (2013)
Ida, a film partially based on real-life events, deals with the effects of Stalinism and the Holocaust on Poland, and the repercussions that would come as a result of these terrifying events. It is set in the 1960s and tells the story of Ida (Agata Trzebuchowska), a woman training to be a Catholic nun, who was orphaned as a child and has never met her family.
When she is forced to visit her morally irresponsible aunt Wanda, her last surviving relative, Ida learns that she herself came from a Jewish family and goes on a “road trip” of sorts to rediscover her ancestral history. The film received nearly unanimously auspicious reviews from critics, with many praising the film’s story and tone, and it went on to become the first Polish film to win Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards.
Son of Saul (2015)
In Son of Saul, a Hungarian historical drama, Saul Ausländer (Geza Rohrig) is an Auschwitz inmate forced to aid in the disposal of bodies retrieved from gas chamber units. When he witnesses the brutal suffocation of a boy revealed to have survived the gassing, Saul believes the boy to be his own son and desires a proper Jewish burial for the young victim - but he cannot find a rabbi to perform the necessary ritual.
This heartbreaking film showcases the horrors and hopelessness of the concentration camps in an accessible way, and it received incredibly positive reviews from critics, being voted the 12th best film of the 21st century by critics for The Guardian and winning several awards, including an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
Sophie’s Choice (1982)
In 1982’s Sophie’s Choice, based on the book of the same name, Stingo is a young writer working on his first-ever novel. When he meets Holocaust survivor Sophie (Meryl Streep) and her disturbed lover Nathan, he forms a healthy relationship with them both - but as he realizes just how disturbing Sophie’s experiences truly were and how severely unbalanced her significant other is, his friendly concern turns to fear and worry.
The film was heavily extolled by critics, and has, in the years since it was first released, become something of a cult classic. It was successful at several awards ceremonies, being nominated for five Oscars and winning one, Best Actress, for Streep.
Judgment at Nuremberg (1961)
In this 1961 courtroom drama, set at a somewhat historically inaccurate version of one of the twelve Nuremberg trials, four German judges stand to be held accountable for the charge of crimes against humanity for their involvement in Nazi criminal activity.
The film was incredibly well-received after its release, being praised for its portrayal of the issues it depicts and gaining nominations for eleven Academy Awards (of which it won two, for Best Actor and Best Adapted Screenplay). It was also named by AFI as one of the top 10 courtroom dramas of all time during their 2008 “10 Top 10” event.
The Diary of Anne Frank (1959)
The 1959 film The Diary of Anne Frank is adapted from the play of the same name, which in turn is based on the real-life diary of Dutch teenager Anne Frank (portrayed in the film by Millie Perkins), which she kept while hiding from Nazis during World War II.
The film details her family life, relationships, and hobbies, painting the kind of realistic and often disturbing picture of life during the Holocaust that only an eyewitness account truly can. In turn, it received intense critical praise, winning eight nominations (including Best Picture) and three wins at the 1960 Oscars and earning itself a spot on AFI’s list of the most inspiring films of all time.
Life is Beautiful (1997)
In the 1997 Italian film Life is Beautiful, partially based on the book In The End, I Beat Hitler, what starts out as a seemingly perfect love story between imaginative bookshop owner Guido (played by Roberto Benigni, who also directed the film) and his beautiful and erudite wife Dora turns into something much more horrifying when their entire family (including their son, Giosué) is sent to a concentration camp, where they are split by gender.
Guido uses his quick wit to turn survival against the evils of the camp into a game for young Giosué, promising a future reward if the boy successfully completes the necessary tasks to keep himself out of trouble. The beautiful (and tear-jerking) story of love and devotion became a massive hit upon release, becoming one of the highest-grossing foreign-language films of all time and winning three Academy Awards.
The Pianist (2002)
Directed by Roman Polanski, 2002’s The Pianist tells the true story of Holocaust survivor Władysław Szpilman (played by Adrien Brody), who decides to hide in Warsaw during World War II despite the German authorities populating the area, witnessing several of the war’s biggest resistance operations and eventually being saved from discovery by heroic German officer Wilm Hosenfeld.
The film was released to critical acclaim, garnering praise for its acting, story, and artistic qualities, and it received seven nominations and three Oscars at the 75th Academy Awards.
Schindler’s List (1993)
One of the most universally recognized films of the past thirty years, Steven Spielberg’s 1993 hit Schindler’s List remained in the hearts of those who watched it long after the screen went black. The film follows Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson), a German magnate who saved the lives of hundreds of Jews during the Holocaust by employing them in his large selection of enamelware and ammunitions factories.
The film received universal acclaim for its story, which never shies away from the more gruesome elements of persecution, writing, which showcases tender moments of raw humanity, and acting, which was described by many outlets as brilliant and well-realized. While many of these films are amazing in their own right, Schindler’s List stands out as the rare film that hits all the right notes.
