The Auschwitz Report

For other uses of "Auschwitz Report", see Auschwitz Report (disambiguation).

The Auschwitz Report
Promotional release poster
SlovakSpráva
Directed byPeter Bebjak
Written by
  • Jozef Pastéka
  • Tomás Bombík
  • Peter Bebjak
Produced by
  • Rast'o Sesták
  • Peter Bebjak
Starring
  • Noel Czuczor
  • Peter Ondrejička
  • Jan Nedbal
  • Florian Panzner
  • Christoph Bach
  • Lars Rudolph
  • Wojciech Mecwaldowski
  • John Hannah
CinematographyMartin Žiaran
Edited byMarek Kráľovský
Music byMario Schneider
Production
company
D.N.A. Production
Distributed by
Release date
  • 28 January 2021 (2021-01-28) (Slovakia)
Running time
94 minutes
CountriesSlovakia
Czech Republic
Poland
Germany
LanguagesSlovak
Czech
Polish
German
English

The Auschwitz Report, also known as The Auschwitz Escape (Slovak: Správa), is a 2021 historical drama war film directed by Peter Bebjak, who also co-wrote the script. It was selected as the Slovak entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 93rd Academy Awards, but it was not nominated. It is a co-production by Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Germany.

Plot

The film is based on the true story of Rudolf Vrba and Alfréd Wetzler, two prisoners at the Auschwitz concentration camp who manage to escape with details about the camp's operation including a label from a canister of the pesticide Zyklon-B, used in the murders there. Once across the border into Žilina, Slovakia, they are asked by the resistance to type up their recollections, which later becomes known as the Vrba-Wetzler report. The pair are eventually introduced to a representative from the Red Cross, who despite disbelief at their claims agrees to pass on the report to the Allies.[1]

Cast

Production

The film was directed by Peter Bebjak, and co-written by Bebjak, Jozef Pasteka, and Tomas Bombik.[2] Cinematography is by Martin Ziaran.[3]

It is a co-production by Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Germany.[4]

Inventive techniques were used in filming, such as using an upside-down camera to film some of the action, showing the audience how it was being viewed by the protagonists. Bleached colours are used, reflecting the soggy greyness of the mud.[3]

Release

The film was released as The Auschwitz Escape on video-on-demand in Ireland[2] and the UK on 14 May 2021.[3]

Reception

Donald Clarke of The Irish Times gave the film 4 out of 5 stars, praising the script, and writes "Noel Czuczor and Peter Ondrejicka are models of restraint in the lead roles".[2]

Leslie Felperin, writing in The Guardian, also gave it 4 stars, stating that the film is "intensely impactful". He writes that the "acting is extraordinary throughout, especially from the two leads", and "Bebjack has managed to make a film that relates this chapter of history in a new way, employing inventive cinematic techniques to present the material".[3]

Accolades

Správa was selected as the Slovak entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 93rd Academy Awards, but it was not nominated.[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Slovak Historical Drama The Report to Be Released in USA". Film New Europe. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  2. ^ a b c Clarke, Donald (14 May 2021). "The Auschwitz Escape: Taut retelling of horror exposed". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 31 May 2021. Retrieved 20 October 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d Felperin, Leslie (19 May 2021). "The Auschwitz Escape review – death camp's secrets uncovered in powerful drama". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 October 2025.
  4. ^ "SLOVAKIA SELECTS "THE AUSCHWITZ REPORT" AS OSCAR CANDIDATE". www.betacinema.com. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  5. ^ "Slovensko pošle do boja o Oscara film Správa". Omediach. 6 November 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Auschwitz_Report