The Auschwitz Report (2021)

 

            “The Auschwitz Report” is a Slovak production directed by Peter Bebjak.  It was Slovakia’s entry for the Academy Awards Best International Film, but was not chosen.  It is the true story of two Jewish men who escaped from the concentration camp with proof of what was going on there.  The movie leads off with “Those who can’t remember the past are condemned to repeat it.

            April 7, 1944 was Rudolf Vrba (Peter Ondrejicka) and Alfred Wetzler’s (Noel Czuczor) first day of their adventure.  They are depicted in hiding.  A flashback shows how they collected information to encourage the Allies to bomb the camp.  Vrba had a job keeping records, so he could accurately estimate the number of Jews who were being killed.  Just when you think you have seen every dastardly act by Nazis in the camps, this movie has a scene where a German officer uses his horse to stomp on the heads of Jews buried to their necks.  And that’s not the last of the heinous actions.  You’ll be rooting for a bombing raid.  Rudolf and Alfred have hidden themselves to wait for the right moment to get through the fence.  They had to hide for three days because that was how long the guards would search for escapees.  You’ll definitely wonder if you could have done what they did.  To get the other inmates to rat out the duo, they are forced to stand for long periods of time.  Some die.  Vrba and Wetzler are aided by Polish resistance and helpful civilians.  Eventually, they are able to pass their information, including a Zyclon B label, to the Red Cross.  Spoiler alert: there will be no bombing. 

            If you are not familiar with the Vrba-Wetzler Report, this movie is a must see for people who want to dig deep into the Holocaust.  In most of the other Holocaust movies, the Jews are victims who have no control of their fates.  Here we have two men who were determined to control their own destiny.  And the destiny of the other inmates at Auschwitz.  You also rarely see Holocaust movies where someone escapes.  The duo’s escape was incredible and their trek was blessed by luck and fearless peasants.  It’s sad to think that all this was for naught.  Well, mostly naught.  Clearly, the Nazi’s were evil for how they mistreated the Jews, but a lower level of evil can be assigned to the Allied leaders for doing nothing to alleviate the suffering.  And they could not claim they didn’t know what was taking place at camps like Auschwitz.  You’ll really hate the Nazi officers, but you’ll also be angry towards the Red Cross.  The movie leaves the impression that their efforts were fruitless.  In reality, a Swiss diplomat was able to distribute the report to the point where the Nazis stopped deporting Hungarian Jews, saving possible 200,000 lives.

            The movie doesn’t take much liberty with the story.  But it is not a documentary.  Vrba had been in the camp for two years before the escape.  They had a lot of help from the escape committee.  Ondrejicka and Czuczor do a fine job as Vrba and Wetzler.  The film has some standout cinematography.  For instance, there is a scene in which hand-held and POV views create appropriate disorientation.  There are some long takes.  It’s an entertaining movie that will have you on the edge of your seat at times.  Unlike most Holocaust movies, this one has a happy ending.  It should have been happier in its post script, but evil comes in many guises. 

GRADE =  B