StyleSk8r
At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.
Horst in Translation (filmreviews@web.de)
"Auschwitz" is an American 15-minute documentary from 2015 and there's two really big names attached to this project, i.e. producer Steven Spielberg and narrator Meryl Streep. The place mentioned in the title of course makes it very obvious that of course this is another World War 2 themed documentary as Auschwitz is inevitably linked to the gruel deeds by the Nazis during these years 70-80 years ago. The subject makes sense of course as Spielberg's career-defining film is also about this, so his involvement here is not a great surprise- But still from some perspective it is as honestly this project is really nothing per se where you'd expect the names Spielberg and Streep to be a part of as most of the other names here are not too spectacular, even if they achieved some serious awards recognition too. Director Moll for example is an Oscar winner as welland composer Wallfisch is a Golden Globe nominee. Writer Graham worked with Spielberg in the past already too. Now as for the film itself, it summarizes a few aspects of Auschwitz and ut is nothing too spectacular or precise really, but given the runtime, this is also almost impossible to be honest. It's a decent addition and worth seeing for everybody with an interest in the subject like myself though, nothing more nothing less. Streep narrating was not too necessary, I think every other somewhat solid voice actor could have handled the part equally fine, but I guess they wanted her for the prestige and after all Spielberg and Streep also collaborated very recently on The Post, a film that added another Oscar nomination for both to the long list they already have. This short here obviously did not, even if it still scored some awards recognition. I recommend checking it out.
