BAU: ARTIST AT WAR

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres from director Sean McNamara, ShowBiz Direct and Republic Pictures is the story of a talent that saved many lives with BAU, ARTIST AT WAR.

Joseph Bau (Emile Hirsch) is a Jewish artist living in Krakow, Poland in 1943 as the Nazi’s wreak havoc across Europe. He is a talented artist but also talented at creating identification cards for his people feeling the need to be of help. The one person who isn’t happy about it is father Abraham (Eugene Lipinski) which upsets mother Cyla (Pam Kearns). Living in the Krakow, they are all rousted late in the night by soldiers sent to ‘liquidate’ the ghetto by sending all to the Plaszow concentration camp.

Kommendant Goeth (Josh Blacker) almost immediately calls Bau to his office wanting to use his artistry and map making skills. There, he meets Itzhak Stern (Adam Tsekhman), Oskar Shindler’s (Edward Foy) accountant who sets him up for the work Bau is to do. By day he fulfills the duties of map maker to stay alive and by night uses his art to bring a bit of joy to the other survivors. He also meets the lovely Rebecca (Inbar Lavi) who sees Bau as a little strange but intriguing.

Goeth’s henchman Franz Gruen (Yan Tual) has issues with Bau and has made it his personal mission to be as brutal as possible toward him. That doesn’t stop Bau from getting deeper in the camp learning more about Schindler and Itzhak’s plans and about Rebecca. The time will come when all must sacrifice in the name of the people and the name of survival. Years later it will be time to hold accountable those who tried to destroy a nation and Bau has a story to tell with unexpected help.

Hirsch as Bau gives us a look inside the life of an amazing artist who also had a talent for comforting people and helping to save them as well. Bau is a complex person from the very beginning as Hirsch gives his portrayal light in the darkest of times. Aware that every move that anyone in the camp makes could result in death, Hirsch’s Bau walks carefully and teeters on the edge of danger many times. This portrayal is moving and still allows for moments of smiles and hope.

Blacker as Goeth is the man everyone is afraid of and rightfully so. His willingness to end life has no limits and the constant threat by anyone around him is palpable. There seems to be only one person that doesn’t feel his wrath as Blacker doesn’t hesitate to take on the role of a man that is pure evil. Below him is Tual as Gruen, a man perhaps more ruthless than Goeth as he finds a twisted sense of accomplishment in his ending of life. He becomes focused on Bau and it brings on such brutality that spreads into others. Tual is also an actor bravely taking on a role that brings on such a visceral reaction of those watching, so well done.

Tsekhman as Stern works in Goeth’s office keeping things running smoothly and takes Bau under his wing as it were. Seeing the potential of what Bau can do for the cause of saving lives, Tsekhman’s role as Stern is one of strength, courage and cunning all in the name of helping his people survive insurmountable odds. Foy as Shindler is a man who has plans of his own that started out one way and turned into another. Taking advantage of the war for financial gain, it doesn’t take long before he realizes that he can do so much more than that and knows exactly how to make it all work.

Lavi as Rebecca meets Bau and isn’t sure what to make of him. Standing back, she watches how he is with others in the camp and especially with the young boy Michal and her heart changes. I love the strength Lavi shows in her portrayal of Rebecca and I was horrified at the scene with Goeth and held my breath many, many times. Lipinski as Abraham is a father who wants what’s best for his son even if he doesn’t truly understand him. Once they are in camp together, he begins to understand who he truly is and what he offers those around him. Kearns as mother Cyla understands her son Joseph and enjoys his sense of artistry and humor. She clearly is portrayed as a loving person and we see that in Kerarns’ performance. 

Shout out to Zuckerman as Michael who shows up in Bau’s life in 1971 with secrets of his own and has the chance to hear Bau’s story from beginning to end. 

Other cast include Chris Cope as Mietek, Michael Benyaer as Saul, Boris Bilic as Nathaniel, Aias Dalman as Michal, Dalias Blake as Alesky, Tori Griffith as Dyta, Leslie Deschutter as Alicija, Craig Erickson as Karl Richter and Josh Zuckerman as Michael.

Showbiz Direct is a pioneering motion picture distribution company dedicated to transforming the landscape of movie distribution. They stand as a direct catalyst for bringing deserving content into the limelight ensuring that voices have a chance to be heard and visions have the opportunity to be seen on the big screen. For more please visit www.showbizdirectdistribution.com.

Republic Pictures, originally founded in 1935, is revitalized under Paramount Global Content Distribution. Their library includes such films as BLACKBERRY, MILLERS IN MARRIAGE, MOTHER MOTHER, TWINLESS and BAD APPLES. For more please visit www.paramountmovies.com/Republic-Pictures.

BAU: ARTIST AT WAR is a remarkable film that could easily be watched alongside SCHINDLER’S LIST. The cinematography of black and white dotted with color brings an appreciation of the two eras being portrayed. The subject matter is always one that tugs at the heart because of the fear and intensity it brings up, especially in the world we find ourselves in now. People taken for no other reason than their Jewish ancestry, people taken because they were seen as inferior to a man with inferiorities of his own making, seem familiar?

The cast does a stunning job of bringing the story of Joseph Bau in this film. The running time of two hours and 10 minutes is worthy of every moment. This history of Joseph and Rebecca Bau is a stunning one and should be a teachable moment, and serve as a reminder to us all. Rebecca helped survivors of the Holocaust deal with their pain and Bau eventually worked for the Mossad and the Israeli Intelligence Agency returning to Israel in 1950.

In the end – it is all about love!