The Survivor

This review may contain spoilers!

 

The Survivor is a biopic which documents the life of Auschwitz survivor and boxer, Harry Haft. There have been a lot of stories that have dealt with the Nazi concentration camps and the treatment of Jews over the years, each has given perspective on more horror than can really be imagined. This film presents Haft's story which is something I was entirely enraptured by. The film cuts between his life as a boxer in America and black and white flashbacks of his life in the camps. Seeing Haft's life in the camps is the most compelling part of this narrative and I was extremely moved by it. Haft is detailed off labour duty after assaulting a guard in defense of his friend; he is retasked by an Oberführer to fight against other Jews for Nazi entertainment and gambling. The loser of these bouts was killed and Haft was forced to kill friends and people he knew in order to survive. I found the horror of this deeply unsettling, there is one moment in the film in which he fights a former professional French boxer in excess of 18 rounds. The conversations he had with Oberführer Schneider around the ethics of what the Nazis were doing to the Jews were some of the most compelling dialogue exchanges in the film; hearing the delusions these monsters convinced themselves of to carry on doing what they did was frightening but masterfully penned. Seeing Haft motivated to box in order for his name to get widespread in the hopes in his former partner, Leah, might read he is alive is extremely moving. I felt this character motivation was a great line that hooked through the whole feature and was fully realised in a very impactful final scene with Haft and Leah. Seeing the way war and the camps had permanently affected Haft's physchology is saddening to watch, and even more so when you see the generational impact that has between him and his children. Ultimately, it is a story that considers Haft in every way that matters and shows that so you are always informed and emotionally connected to the man's journey.

 

Barry Levinson commands his film with a powerful visual direction that I think highlights the heavy contrast between what is suffered in the concentration camps and the life Haft lives in America. The black and white style for the scene in the camps makes everything so stark and intense, scenes in which fights happen here look different and become more visceral. When we snap back to modern day everything feels a lot less commanding and intense, the colour almost draws you into a more relaxed stupor. Levinson's cinematography is unrivaled, the way he captures the inward intensity of PTSD and feeling like a traiotr in amongst your own people could only ever have been managed from his claustrophobic way of shooting those scenes. Also both the French Heavyweight scene and the Rocky Marciano fight scene are immediately some of the most memorable fight scenes I've watched in a boxing film. I also need to commend Hans Zimmer's work to craft yet another reflective and poignant score that uniquely underpins the struggle Haft lives through.

Billy Magnussen, who played Schneider, has found one of his best roles in years within this film; Magnussen strolls through the feature with a confidence and self-assurance that is deeply disarming. Vicky Krieps, who played Miriam Wofsoniker, is a very tempered and calm role which is a nice counter to Foster's gruffer figure; I found Krieps to present a path to healing with a kindness and affection that was very subtle and moving. Peter Sarsgaard, who played Emory Andersen, manages to both portray a sleazy figure and someone you couldn't help but like; Sarsgaard feels like a predator seeking out prey the way in which he portrays his reporter but has a compassionate streak to him too. Saro Emirze, who played Peretz Haft, is much more cynical figure than Foster's Haft; I loved the brotherly bond between these two and how they communicate and reason with one another. Danny DeVito, who played Charley Goldman, is fantastic in this mentor figure; he has a real likable no nonsense approach to the way he coaches that I really enjoyed. John Leguizamo, who played Bill 'Pepe' Miller, had a lot more levity than DeVito's coach which made for a nice difference; seeing Leguizamo be more energetic and lighter with Foster in the ring led to some very joyful scenes. Dar Zuzovsky, who played Leah Krichinsky, is such a lovely tragic figure in the film; the scene in which her and Foster's roles reunite is beautiful and one of the best final scenes in the film. Laurent Papot, who played Jean, is a role that will leave you feeling hollowed out; the scene in which Papot begs Foster's Haft to kill him left me absolutely speechless. Paul Bates, who played Louis Barclay, was a voice that really lent an important perspective to the film; the scene in which Bates talks about the buffalo soldiers and his character's brother is incredible.

 

However, the best performance came from leading protagonist, Ben Foster, who played Harry Haft. Foster portrays a man who speaks little but if often blunt and direct to the point. Haft is a hardened figure who has little time to mince words after what he has seen, often if he has something to present it is nothing less than the clear cut truth. Foster's voice and accent work throughout is incredible, I think he nails that Polish dialect and manner precisely. Watching a role with such determination to find the one he loves is deeply moving and pushes himself through some monstrous scenes in order to achieve his goals. I also loved the way in which Foster threw up walls and very reluctantly brought them down to show the trauma his character had to heal through. One of Foster's more compelling performances, and masterfully executed.

The issue I often found with The Survivor is how it cut to the modern day and had a lot of very inactive scenes. There are moments in which soft dialogue exchanges happen, or Haft is considering his next step in the America storyline. The consequences of this is that the tension really bleeds out of the film because we've just witnessed a concentration camp scene, which often sets the bar for quality in the feature. I also thought the choice to use some more classically inspired fades and transitions was a choice that affected the style of the film in a negative way, sometimes making the black and white styling less intensive that it often was.

Kingston Vernes, who played Alan Haft, is clearly not the strongest young actor; he delivers dialogue in a very rigid manner and isn't comfortable with the more complex ideas in the script.

A film that really openly and honestly lays bare the trauma from one of the worst moments in human history. I would give The Survivor an 8/10.