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Poster for Son of Saul

Son of Saul

Seen it?

2015 | 107 min | War, Drama, Thriller

Friday Night Flick

Why it’s a Friday Night Flick

Critics loved it (96% on Rotten Tomatoes) and it won an Oscar. Make plans for this one.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for anyone who likes to be kept guessing and history buffs. If you loved Inglourious Basterds or Schindler's List, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood
Tense, intense.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 47 min.
What might put you off
  • Rated R: meant for adults.
  • It's in another language, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
  • Audiences were cooler on it than critics.

In the horror of 1944 Auschwitz, a prisoner forced to burn the corpses of his own people finds moral survival trying to save from the flames the body of a boy he takes for his son, seeking to give him a proper Jewish burial.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsVery strong

    96% on Rotten Tomatoes, 91 on Metacritic

  • AudiencesSolid

    7.1 out of 10

  • AwardsVery strong

    Won 1 Oscar: Academy Awards: Best Foreign Language Film. Won 1 Golden Globe: Golden Globe Awards: Best Foreign Language Film. Won 1 BAFTA: British Academy Film Awards: Best Film Not in the English Language. Won 1 Critics' Choice Award: Critics' Choice Awards: Best Foreign Language Film. Won 1 Cannes award: Cannes Film Festival: Best International Independent Film. Won 1 Independent Spirit Award: Independent Spirit Awards: Best International Film. Also nominated for 1 DGA Award. Plus 20 other awards.

  • Box office & staying powerSolid

    $10 million worldwide on a $1 million budget

  • Buzz & cultural impactBelow par

    About 96K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by László Nemes

  • Géza RöhrigSaul Ausländer
  • Levente MolnárAbraham
  • Urs RechnEli Biederman
  • Todd CharmontBearded Prisoner
  • Jerzy WalczakRabbi Frankel
  • Balázs FarkasSaul's Son
  • Gergö FarkasSaul's Son
  • Sándor ZsótérDr. Miklós Nyiszli
  • Marcin CzarnikFeigenbaum
  • Levente OrbánRussian Prisoner