• Privacy policy
  • T&C’s
  • About Us
    • FAQ
    • Meet the Team
  • Contact us
  • Guest Content
TLE ONLINE SHOP!
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Opinion
  • Elevenses
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Lifestyle
      • Horoscopes
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Thunderball
      • Set For Life
      • EuroMillions
  • Food
    • All Food
    • Recipes
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
  • JOBS
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
SUPPORT THE LONDON ECONOMIC
NEWSLETTER
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Opinion
  • Elevenses
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Lifestyle
      • Horoscopes
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Thunderball
      • Set For Life
      • EuroMillions
  • Food
    • All Food
    • Recipes
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
  • JOBS
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
No Result
View All Result
Home Film DVD & VOD

DVD Review: Son of Saul

Review by Leslie Byron Pitt/@Afrofilmviewer Son of Saul is the type of movie that has to be seen when the viewer in the right state of mind. Least they find themselves equally as trapped within the films tight compositions, as the titular Saul. A Jewish–Hungarian prisoner held within the confines of Nazi extermination camp Auschwitz, […]

Leslie Byron Pitt by Leslie Byron Pitt
2016-07-03 23:17
in DVD & VOD, Film, Film Reviews
FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmailWhatsapp

Review by Leslie Byron Pitt/@Afrofilmviewer

Son of Saul is the type of movie that has to be seen when the viewer in the right state of mind. Least they find themselves equally as trapped within the films tight compositions, as the titular Saul. A Jewish–Hungarian prisoner held within the confines of Nazi extermination camp Auschwitz, Saul Ausländer (Géza Röhrig) works at the camp as one of the infamous Sonderkommando. He aids Jews into the gas chambers, fed on lies of work and food, before recovering valuables and cleaning the area. A job with the only true reward being death, Saul works his operations with a bitter dispassion. One day he witnesses a boy who does not completely succumb to the gas. A flicker of recognition occurs as the boy is euthanized. It is here where the real story starts.

This is more than a difficult film to watch. It is at times a feature which is far easier to respect than to “enjoy” in a conventional sense. This doesn’t make Son of Saul any less important in its message. The sheer fact that its home video release comes at a time in which our own government’s distorted motivations and torrid in fighting have caused our leaders to lose sight of why they govern is one of deeply disturbing coincidence. It is in a film such as this, which remind us why many cannot allow governance do descend into some to the childishness which has occurred during the last few weeks. The film adeptly describes the worst things that can happen when such narrow mindedness allows evil to fester.

Son of Saul also shows humanity can be at its best, even when seemingly at its weakest. Saul’s knowledge of the boy’s heritage, has the prisoner embark on a campaign to rescue what’s left of his soul. What may seem like a pointless task quickly becomes a profound mission to remind us of what it means to be human. As we learn more about the history of Saul, the boy and the simple, yet affecting moral quest, we are once again made aware of what rights that we are lucky to have. Particularly with that of our last rites. Something which we are no witness to and yet hope for those left behind to respect and grant for us as we leave this existence.

This may be a debut piece, but it’s assuredly handled by director László Nemes. Its main visual conceit; boxing Saul within a tight 4:3 frame while retaining an incredibly shallow depth of field is something that could easily be considered as novel. However by obscuring the horrors that occur around its lead and utilising some extraordinary sound design work, we are often only left with the haunted and gaunt face of Saul as the weight of his role bears down on him. By staring into his face, we can only imagine the crimes that have been carried out, although the blurry, out of focus shots of naked bodies do much to inform us.

For all its technical bravado, it’s is the film’s quietest and simplest moments which provide the most emotional depth. From a near silent, low angled shot of Saul watching over the body of the child, to the simple framing of Saul’s face in detailed close-up. It’s a film which prises emotion from a viewer not with overwrought sentimentality, but with quiet, dignified modesty. It’s a film that can get so much out of very little.

While it was easy to get a little lost in translation with the film’s subplots during its second act (how I wish I could speak the various languages in the film many films I watch), it’s safe to say that it’s the images that do the work here. The films heavy yet redemptive climax ends with a character giving someone a small, sweet smile. After all we’ve seen, it’s an expression which becomes loaded with suggestion after the credits roll. Son of Saul is a difficult, yet rewarding experience. Many head to the cinema for escapism. Nemes urges us to remember. It wishes to imbue its viewer with a sense of perspective. Something that many have found so sorely missing recently.

Son of Saul is out on DVD on Monday 4th July

Content Protection by DMCA.com

RelatedPosts

‘Finite’ film documents battle between climate activists and fossil fuel corporations

Film Review: Skinamarink

Film Review: EO

Film Review: Enys Men

Subscribe to our Newsletter

View our  Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions

Trending on TLE

  • All
  • trending

Elevenses: Exposing the Tories’ Deepfake Illegal Immigration Bill

Elevenses: Rishi’s Finest Hour

Elevenses: Fear and Loathing in the New Conservatives

More from TLE

Tory MP to boycott England’s Euros games because they take the knee

Gay couple call on vicar to step down after he refuses to bless their marriage at village church

Milk with breakfast ‘lowers risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes’

Piers Morgan chastised by mental health charity over Meghan remarks

Are Goats man’s new best friends?

Watch: French govt won’t let energy prices rise while in UK Johnson advises people to buy a kettle

Court bailiffs sent to Luton Airport to get Wizz Air refund for customer

How To Make: Spaghetti & Meatballs

Six-time Grand Slam champion Becker ‘could be jailed’ with sentencing due to commece

Elevenses: The Beginning of the End

JOBS

FIND MORE JOBS

About Us

TheLondonEconomic.com – Open, accessible and accountable news, sport, culture and lifestyle.

Read more

Contact

Editorial enquiries, please contact: [email protected]

Commercial enquiries, please contact: [email protected]

Address

The London Economic Newspaper Limited t/a TLE
Company number 09221879
International House,
24 Holborn Viaduct,
London EC1A 2BN,
United Kingdom

SUPPORT

We do not charge or put articles behind a paywall. If you can, please show your appreciation for our free content by donating whatever you think is fair to help keep TLE growing and support real, independent, investigative journalism.

DONATE & SUPPORT

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.




No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Travel
  • JOBS
  • More…
    • Elevenses
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Tech & Auto
  • About Us
    • Meet the Team
    • Privacy policy
  • Contact us

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.