It may feel like the horrors of the Holocaust are long past, but considering a good portion of U.S. citizens are either unware of it and others flat out denying it, it’s still an important topic. The Holocaust was horrible not only because millions of Jews were killed simply for being Jews, but the aftermath of those who survived it and the unspeakable trauma they endured for the rest of their lives. The Survivor is a new movie that examines exactly that. As the title insinuates, it is not only those who died but those who lived that have suffered.
On its face, The Survivor looks like a boxing film. Fighting is definitely part of it, but only just. The main character Harry Haft was indeed a boxer. Part of his journey included fighting other Jews within the concentration camps he was in, something of which he is ashamed. This only tells part of the story though, as Haft is most haunted by the loss of his love who he hopes to find in his new life. His goal is to make a name as professional boxer, praying that the boost in attention will reunite him with his long lost companion. The Survivor is a story of pain, regret, and suffering, and is honestly not that relatable even though it does offer a rare perspective.
The Survivor is a story of pain, regret, and suffering, and is honestly not that relatable even though it does offer a rare perspective
The only real criticism to levy at The Survivor is the pacing. It can be a bit slow, this probably being because director Barry Levinson and the writers didn’t want to leave anything out. There is no irrelevantly added information in the movie, but there was an obvious effort to pack in as much as possible. It can at times read as though Levinson and the team were not sure where best to place emphasis, but it’s still safe to say that enough attention was devoted to the key ideas of the film. Beyond the trivial critiques, there’s much to be appreciated about the picture as a whole. The cinematography is magnificent, both in black and white as well as in color. The boxing scenes are choreographed appropriately for fighters of that time period and the acting is top notch by EVERYONE. Ben Foster is the lead and the clear stand out, delivering a solid performance for the ages. His vulnerability was so transparent that it’s almost frightening, completely surrendering himself to the role in every aspect.
The Survivor is likely to strike the emotional nerves of many. The Holocaust and anything related to it is only one thing, which is sad. This movie is sad. It is heart breaking that any human being was subject to such cruel behavior, only to then have to bare it as a burden even after it’s over. What The Survivor teaches the public, is that it’s never really over. There is no going back for those who experienced such atrocity. The movie is worth the watch if even only to gain that precise understanding, and to be thankful that most will never have to find out for themselves.
