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A Filmmaker's Guide to the Best Films: The Holocaust

27th January - Holocaust Memorial Day

By Annie KapurPublished 4 years ago 7 min read
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I'm sure that many of you can think of many films to do with the historical terror that is the Holocaust. An absolute atrocity of modern historical events, it led to a cultural and legal reform all over the planet and, for the first time in the 20th century, we were all forced to question why nobody saw this earlier. Too many people died, too many people were hurt and so many children were led to their deaths by one madman.

The 27th of January is Holocaust Memorial Day and so, today we're going to discuss 10 of the greatest films that pay homage to those who died in one of the biggest crimes in human history. To this day, it makes me and many others angry to think that there are people out there that would not only do this to other people - but there are people that will stand by and let it happen. It hurts humankind.

Holocaust Memorial Day has been around for some time in the UK now and every year it is a remembrance of those who died rather than the sociopath who killed them. Every year, all over England and the countries of the UK, there have been services and events dedicated to the Holocaust victims and normally we have some famous person going to meet a Holocaust survivor. Yeah, it's pretty cool I know.

You really can't even begin to think about what the Holocaust survivors would've gone through let alone the ones who died there. It is absolutely criminal to stand by to this and let it happen and so, on this day, we're going to remember the stories that came out of this through cinema.

Why is Holocaust Cinema Important?

Holocaust Cinema is important because it seeks to remind us that this actually happened and to be honest, it didn't even happen very long ago - it hasn't even been 100 years. We still have survivors from this era and so, we can see exactly how close it was. I make an effort to watch Holocaust films because of the fact they teach us about the resilience of the human condition. There are still so many Jewish people left in that part of the world and so, it shows us that no, Hitler did not succeed and so - these Jewish people continue to live in peace. He really couldn't kill them all - they are far stronger than he is. The fact that Jewish People still live peacefully in Germany is basically like giving the middle finger to Hitler so we can clearly see how brave and courageous they are.

Holocaust cinema is also important because it reminds us about how far humans can go in hatred. I believe that Hitler was a man made of hatred and sin - he was a man who couldn't love and could not experience any kind of passionate positive emotion. This is his character flaw and ultimately, it was the passion and positivity of the allies and of the Jewish community that eventually led to his death. Why? Well because positivity for the human condition will always overcome hatred - it has been explored so many times in history. History hasn't been positive to the men who chose to play God.

I know I have mentioned this before but every time I watch a Holocaust movie, I am awe-inspired by the resilience of the Jewish Community and their ability to remain throughout this time period - their ability to go to their deaths and see their loved ones go to their deaths and yet, they weren't forgotten. History made sure of it. They had great will to live and even though millions died - we have to remember that we have 'survivors' as well. People who were led to their deaths and refused to go quietly, people who continued to live on through the persecution, people who fled to start a new life and continued creating and family, working on and living their lives. The people who died are one side of the story and on the same side, we must see the sheer courage of the Jewish People.

Now, let's take a look at the best films about the Holocaust (it was very hard to choose just ten!) - remember to celebrate memorial day by offering prayer and standing with your friends who may have had loved ones that died under the rule of one of the most evil men in all of history. Remember those who died, watch the films and learn about their courage:

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10. Train of Life (1998)

9. The Grey Zone (2001)

8. The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (2008)

Just a word about this film - it is one of my mother's favourite films and is actually my mother's favourite book of all time.

7. In Darkness (2011)

6. The Last Days (1998)

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5. The Long Way Home (1997)

I watched this film some years ago and even though yes, it is a documentary film, it still had the cinematic experience of a dramatisation. Then you have to just look at yourself and remember that no, this story was not made up. Even though it has a cinematic experience - everything is very much real. And that's why you'll find it so damn good - everything is real. And that's also why it'll probably make you cry as well.

4. Inglorious Basterds (2009)

Quentin Tarantino made this spectacular cinematic experience in order to make fun of Hitler's efforts to erase the Jewish People. A complete satire and over exaggeration of Hitler's already inhumane character - it portrays Hitler as just rather stupid. My history with this film is basically me skipping school in order to go to the store and buy the DVD and then, just going home to watch it on the day it was released. It is a great film to watch if you'd like to see Hitler getting shot lots of times. It may not be historically accurate but it's pretty good for those of us who have always wanted to see that one scene.

3. Hitler: The Rise of Evil (2003)

If you didn't watch this in GCSE History, then did you even go to school in England? This film concentrates on the fact that Hitler was just made of pure evil. It is a shocking look into the mind of an absolute madman with no intention of political good and is literally only gaining agency so that he can have an attempt at eradicating the Jewish Community. Obviously, it doesn't not only work, the film shows you his exact downfall and eventual suicide. At the start he's a madman and by the end, he's a madman and a coward who takes the easy way out. It is a shocking evil like you'll never see in your life (hopefully).

2. The Pianist (2002)

Normally regarded as one of the greatest films ever made, "The Pianist" (2002) is a great way of looking at a different point of view. With a concentration on realism and a take on the victim's story, this film gives us a very real look at what happens when someone's life comes to a sudden stop - loved ones are being taken away, people are being killed and war is in the air and on land. Trapped within this inhuman treatment, this film is a terrifying and chilling look into the lives of the Jewish Community in Europe during WW2.

1. Schindler's List (1993)

Submitted by Stephen Spielberg as his final project for his film degree, which he got in 93/94, this film is normally considered to go-to film when wanting to learn and remember the Holocaust. A stunning film that takes not only realism but takes the beautiful resilience of the Jewish Community and makes it into a film, it is a brilliant film that basis itself on the will to live. It reminds us about the conditions in which they lived, the way in which they survived and how, eventually, they wanted to live and work just like you and me. I love this film because it shows you just how courageous the Jewish People were at that time and how, even though they were persecuted in their own home - they continued to wake up everyday and carry on - working against their persecutors. It is a beautiful film about human resilience and I love watching it over and over again. You should too.

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About the Creator

Annie Kapur

190K+ Reads on Vocal.

English Lecturer

🎓Literature & Writing (B.A)

🎓Film & Writing (M.A)

🎓Secondary English Education (PgDipEd)

📍Birmingham, UK

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